November 2, 2025, 2:00
Music at the Movies
Experience an afternoon of cinematic chamber music performed by the Isles Ensemble, including works by compositional giants of the silver screen — as well as a few surprises along the way. Guest artist Maria Jette narrates the delightfully autumnal tale of “The Open Window,” with accompanying music by Beethoven, Haydn, Bartók, and more. Korngold’s exquisite String Quartet No. 2 anchors the second half of the concert, featuring the lush textures and beautiful melodies that would characterize his evocative film scores of the 1930s and 40s.
February 1, 2026, 2:00
February is SUMMER in Brazil
Warm up with great music from Brazil and be dazzled by superstar Brazilian recorder virtuoso Clea Galhano. The concert will also include a special musical tribute to our beloved colleague Ken Freed who died suddenly on June 29th. And…the post-concert reception will feature treats from Brazil!
“Arrival” for String Quartet Marcelo Zarvos
“Choro Manso” Recorder and Strings Alexandre Lunardelli
Cantilena from Bachianas Brasileiras #5 Recorder and Strings Heitor Villa-Lobos
Assabio a Jato “The Jet Whistle” Recorder and Cello Heitor Villa-Lobos
Concerto in C major for Recorder and Strings Vivaldi
2 Pop Songs on Antique Poems for String Quartet Dinuk Wijeratne
I. A Letter from the Afterlife II. I Will Not Let You Go
March 8, 2026, 2:00
Letters from the Past
Join us for a unique concert experience blending chamber music and spoken word, as we journey through themes of love, memory, and the echoes of forgotten voices. Through the lens of historical letters and evocative music, the program offers intimate insights into the relationships and artistry of celebrated composers. Composer, David Evan Thomas, will read excerpts of letters between the two couples for context.
“Madrigals” for violin & viola ( 1949 ) Bohuslav Martinu
String Quartet, Opus 8 ( 1935 ) Vitêzslava Kaprálová
Romance #1, Opus 22, (1853) for violin & piano Clara Schumann
Quintet for piano & strings (1842) Robert Schumann
May 3, 2026, 2:00
Celebrating Three Centuries of Women Composers
The final concert of our 2025-26 season will celebrate the important contributions women composers have made over the past three centuries.
Works by Fanny Mendelssohn and Amy Beach will be interspersed with a couple of surprising new discoveries, including a newly unearthed suite from 1932 for unaccompanied viola by British composer, Imogen Holst, and a charming string quartet by the little-known 19th century Swedish composer, Laura Valborg Aulin. The centerpiece of the program will be Libby Larsen’s Sorrow Song Jubilee for string quartet, a work that is based on African-American spirituals and heavily influenced by Dvorak’s iconic “American” quartet. Please join us as we pay homage to the immense talent and creativity of female composers, including one of Minnesota’s true cultural treasures, Libby Larsen, during her 75th birthday season.
String Quartet No. 1 in F Major (1884) Laura Valborg Aulin
Suite for Solo Viola (1932) by Imogen Holst
Sorrow Song and Jubilee for String Quartet (2014) Libby Larsen
Fantasia in G minor for Cello and Piano (1829) Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel
Trio, Op. 150, for Violin, Cello, and Piano (1938) Amy Beach
