The Lyric Chamber Music Society of New York
A Rising Star in New York’s Classical Music Constellation
Our Mission:
Providing a forum to the world's finest performers to explore and expand the repertoire of chamber music in the intimate setting for which it was written.
Discovering, nurturing and introducing to a wide audience up-and-coming young virtuosos from around the world.
Creating music education programs for children and ensuring tomorrow's audience for classical music.
Michael R. Bloomberg, Mayor, City of New York:
“Dear Friends: It is a great pleasure to welcome everyone to the Eighth Anniversary celebration of the Lyric Chamber Music Society of New York.
New York may be better known for its large orchestras and concert halls, but the Lyric reminds us of the unique reward of well-chosen music played in an intimate environment by skills musicians. Our City's music lovers, a discriminating lot, have been quick to embrace the Lyric, which has showcased more than 25 extraordinary young artists and numerous members of major orchestras working with a repertoire that includes new, classic and unusual work.
The Lyric is dedicated to expanding its audience through outreach in New York City's public schools, which are home to a vast and receptive audience. We applaud this arts organization and its supporters on behalf of all those who have discovered the joys of chamber music at a performance of the Lyric.”
Zubin Mehta:
“The Lyric Chamber Music Society [is] a wonderful new addition to the musical life of our time. . . . You are filling our need for an organization that effectively brings the great chamber music literature to the public’s attention and speaks out on behalf of music education for our young people.”
Daniel Barenboim:
"The Lyric Chamber Music Society of New York is presenting some of the finest musicians in the world playing some of the greatest music ever written. I am delighted to be involved. Since your first concert . . . you have earned a reputation for artistic excellence."
Jean-Pierre Rampal:
“The Lyric Chamber Music Society of New York is a rising star in the music world, brimming with talent, extraordinary music making, and innovative education programs. I encourage anyone who loves and cares about music to support and help you.”
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Jean- Pierre Rampal performing at the Lyric's “Double-Header” with Claudi Arimany, April 1998 |
In just eight seasons since its debut in the spring of 1998, the Lyric Chamber Music Society is recognized by musicians, the press, and audiences as one of the preeminent chamber music organizations in the country. Founded to present the works of the giants of the past and present, the Lyric performs masterpieces of chamber music literature and unusual repertoire in the intimate salon of an elegant Fifth Avenue mansion and at Victor Borge Hall- giving the music the personal ambience in which it was intended to be heard.
The Lyric has attracted to its roster some of the world's most distinguished musicians, accomplished orchestral players, and up-and-coming young talent. More than a dozen Concert Masters and first chair players of the New York Philharmonic and Metropolitan Opera Orchestra as well as extraordinary jazz musicians have chosen the Lyric as their musical second home. Young artists who are recognized in music circles as the next generation of performing greats - many handpicked by the Lyric's legendary Advisory Board - regularly get an opportunity to introduce themselves to a wider audience. Such has been the creative energy and sense of possibility flowing from our concerts that in the brief period since our inception one new trio has already been formed under our auspices and two have made their New York debuts.
Reaching out to an ever-widening audience, Lyric virtuosos bring the inspiring scope of music's possibilities to thousands of New York public school students and reach millions of listeners on National Public Radio. As New Yorkers and visitors look to the Metropolitan Opera for opera and the New York Philharmonic for symphony, more and more people are turning to the Lyric Chamber Music Society of New York for chamber music and "chamzz," a Lyric innovation: programs combining classical music and jazz.
A Luminary Advisory Board
Some of the most renowned and beloved musicians of our time make up the Lyric's Artistic Advisory Board, Maestro Daniel Barenboim, Mezzo-Soprano Marilyn Horne, Maestro Zubin Mehta, composer Ned Rorem, Maestro Gerard Schwarz, Guarneri String Quartet violinist Arnold Steinhardt and violist Michael Tree, and pianist André Watts. Roberto Minczuk, the first Associate Conductor of the New York Philharmonic since Leonard Bernstein, represents a new generation of international maestros. The Lyric is also proud to welcome three additional extraordinary jazz musicians as its most recent Board Members: saxophonist and clarinetist Paquito D'Rivera, Trumpeter Lew Soloff, and composer and saxophonist Daniel Schnyder. The Lyric remembers founding Board Members Victor Borge, Jean-Pierre Rampal, and Jascha Zayde.
Orchestral and Jazz Greats in an Intimate Chamber Setting
The Lyric has fast become a favorite with heralded orchestral players by giving them a forum to perform as soloists and as chamber ensemble players. Lyric audiences have been thrilled to experience up close, in the personal atmosphere of our intimate concert salon, Concert Masters and principal players from leading international orchestras interpreting masterpieces of the chamber music canon.
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New York Philharmonic concertmaster, Glen Dicterow with violist Karen Dreyfus |
Artist-in-Residence Program
Artist-in-Residence pianist Richard Bishop, winner of The Best Accompanist Award at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Competition and duo-recitalist with the late Isaac Stern and others, lends his creative counsel and virtuosity to the Lyric. Additional background about Richard is available here.
Discovering and Nurturing the Next Generation
The Lyric regularly gives New York audiences the opportunity to be a part of the early chapters of tomorrow's distinguished musical careers. Pianist Tatiana Goncharova, who regularly performs with legendary violinist Pinchas Zukerman; clarinetist Igor Begelman, winner of the 2000 Avery Fisher Career Grant; and Grammy nominee violinist Philip Quint are just three of tomorrow's stars we have showcased. As the Lyric gives young talent the opportunity to perform with eminent musicians in front of a New York audience, to be reviewed by the national press from The New York Times to The Washington Post, and be broadcast on National Public Radio, word is out in conservatories and music schools that the Lyric is a haven for rising virtuosos.
Programming that’s Adventurous yet Rigorous
"Adventurous," The New York Times has called the Lyric, for our repertoire spanning from the Renaissance to the present, a combination of classic canonical chamber works, rarely performed compositions, and contemporary pieces. Beethoven's "Kreutzer Sonata" may be followed by a sonata by Poulenc, Gershwin by Jobim, Bizet by bossa nova, or J.S. Bach transcribed for four marimbas in a world premiere composed for our artists
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Music Legend Paquito D’Rivera |
Tributes to Contemporary Composers
Each season we dedicate an evening, or a series of evenings, in special tribute to a composer. Maestro Kurt Masur of the New York Philharmonic joined us for our two-evening Schnittke Celebration in 2000. Sofia Gubaidulina was on hand in 2001 to speak about her work and hear it performed by the all-woman Moscow String Quartet, for whom she had written it. In 2002 at our Ror-a-thon, the Lyric's 79th Birthday Celebration for American composer Ned Rorem, Judy Collins, the composer, and other artists performed. In conjunction with the Ravinia Festival, we were proud to present the New York premiere of Mr. Rorem's "Aftermath," a song cycle composed to commemorate the terrorist attacks of September 11. In 2004, Jon Deak, composer and Co-principal Bass of the New York Philharmonic, performed his own compositions and Schubert's "Trout" Quintet with colleagues. In the spring of 2006, we celebrated Peter Schickele, Composer, Conductor, Humorist, and Discoverer of P.D.Q. Bach with a pre-concert interview, a program of his own music, and a post-concert reception.
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Moscow String Quartet |