The Hermitage Piano Trio
Saturday, October 8, 2016, 7:00 p.m.

Descending from the great Russian musical tradition, the Hermitage Piano Trio is distinguished by its exuberant musicality, interpretative range, and sumptuous sound. Comprised of “three of Russia’s most spectacular young soloists” (Washington Post), the elite trio of violinist Misha Keylin, cellist Sergey Antonov, and pianist Ilya Kazantsev will perform trios by Mendelssohn, Shostakovich, Glinka, and Suk. www.hermitagepianotrio.com

Corbin Beisner, piano
Saturday, November 12, 2016, 7:00 p.m.

Returning to the FME concert series by popular demand, Corbin Beisner will present a program of piano sonatas by Beethoven, including the famous Pathetique, Apassionata, and Waldstein sonatas. Mr. Beisner is currently studying piano at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, having received his Bachelors of Music summa cum laude from the Hartt School of Music in 2009. Mr. Beisner has performed to great acclaim throughout the United States and Europe, and was the first prize winner at international piano festivals in Obidos, Portugal, Barcelona, Spain, and Freiburg, Germany.

The CitySingers of Hartford
Saturday, December 10, 2016, 4:00 p.m.

In a celebration of joy and renewed hope for peace, CitySingers of Hartford presents a montage of seasonal motets from the Renaissance period to the present, as well as carols inspired by traditional folksongs. Along with a cappella choral arrangements and selections accompanied by harp, woodwinds, bells, percussion and pipe organ, the audience will be invited to join in singing unique arrangements of familiar carols. Featured works will be the winter segment of British composer Larry Ashmore’s Four Seasons and varied settings of In Dulci Jubilo! www.citysingers.org

The Alturas Duo with Gonzalo Cortes
Saturday, March 11, 2017, 7:00 p.m.

The only group of its kind, the Alturas Duo brings together guitarist Scott Hill and charango / viola player Carlos Boltes. The duo will be joined by flutist and Andean woodwind specialist Gonzalo Cortes for a program of music from Latin America, including the Brazilian composers, Sergio Assad and Raimundo Penaforte, the Cuban composer, Leo Brouwer, the Argentine composer, Ariel, and folk music from Chile learned in the oral tradition. Performed on the guitar, charango, viola, pan flutes, quena (Andean flute) and classical flute! www.alturasduo.com

Martim Almeida, piano and Tyler Tan, violin
Saturday, April 8, 2017, 7:00 p.m.

Two remarkable young musicians, both teenagers, will display their dazzling talent performing Grieg’s Violin Sonata in Cminor for violin and piano, as well as virtuosic solo works for violin and for piano. Pianist Martim Almeida, a native of Portugal, and violinist Tyler Tan, a Connecticut native, are joint winners of the 2015 CT Virtuosi Institute Youth Competition.

The Sebastians
Sunday, May 14, 2017, 4:00 p.m.

The Sebastians are a dynamic and vital musical ensemble specializing in music of the baroque and classical eras. Lauded as “everywhere sharp-edged and engaging” (The New York Times), the Sebastians have also been praised for their “well-thought-out articulation and phrasing” (Early Music Review) and “elegant string playing… immaculate in tuning and balance” (Early Music Today). The group will present a grand program of music by J.S. Bach and his contemporaries, Handel and Telemann including Bach’s famous Musical Offering. www.sebastians.org