String Theory To Present Spectacular Sextet: “Tchaikovsky And Brahms”

String Theory at the Hunter, in partnership with Lee University and the Hunter Museum of American Art, will continue its 13th season on Tuesday, April 5, at 6:30 p.m., with “Tchaikovsky and Brahms.”

“This evening will bring a spectacular showcase of musical talent,” said Dr. Gloria Chien, String Theory founder and artistic director. “I look forward to everyone experiencing Brahms’ extraordinary string sextet and Tchaikovsky's Souvenir de Florence with us.”

In keeping with arts organizations in the area, proof of vaccination is no longer required, though masks are recommended.

The concert will feature cellists Nick Canellakis and Colin Carr, violists Matthew Lipman and Tien-Hsin Cindy Wu, and violinists Chad Hoopes and Arnaud Sussmann. They will perform Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Sextet in D minor, Op. 70 Souvenir de Florence and Johannes Brahms’ Sextet in B-flat major, Op. 18. 

Tchaikovsky’s sextet was composed in response to his honorary membership into the Saint Petersburg Chamber Music Society following a visit to Florence, Italy. Brahms’ sextet was immediately labeled as “even more beautiful than anticipated” by his dear friend Clara Schumann.

Mr. Canellakis¸ Mr. Hoopes¸ Mr. Lipman, and Ms. Wu are all making their Chattanooga debuts for this event.

A “superb young soloist,” Mr. Canellakis has captivated audiences around the world with his innovative techniques and “rich, alluring tone.” He has appeared in concertos, recitals, and music festivals throughout the United States and the world, including Europe and Asia tours with Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, at the Louvre in Paris, Carnegie Hall with the American Symphony Orchestra, the Seoul Arts Center, and Music in the Vineyards. He is the artistic director of Chamber Music Sedona in Arizona and an artist of CMS. He is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music and New England Conservatory.

Mr. Carr has served as a professor at the Royal Academy of Music and on the faculty of the New England Conservatory, St. John’s College of Oxford, and Stony Brook University. He regularly appears throughout the world as a soloist, chamber musician, recording artist, and teacher, playing with major orchestras worldwide. He has been a frequent guest at the BBC Proms and has twice toured Australia. As a member of the Golub-Kaplan-Carr Trio, he recorded and toured extensively for 20 years.

A consistent yet versatile performer, Mr. Hoopes has performed with orchestras including San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Houston, National Symphony, Minnesota, Colorado, and the National Arts Centre. He is a frequent performer with CMS and at the Menuhin Festival in Gstaad, Switzerland; the Rheingua Festival; and Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Mr. Hoopes was Munich Symphony Orchestra’s first artist-in-residence and studied at the Cleveland Institute of Music and the Kronberg Academy.

Appearing around the world both as a soloist and chamber music performer, Mr. Lipman has performed with orchestras such as the Chicago Symphony, the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, the Minnesota Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic and in venues including Seoul’s Kumho Art Hall, Wigmore Hall, the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and Carnegie Hall. He is also a recording artist and published contributor to several magazines. Mr. Lipman makes frequent appearances at numerous music festivals and performs on tour and at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall with CMS. He studied at The Julliard School, is an alum of the Bowers Program, and occupies the Wallach Chair at CMS.

Mr. Sussmann has captured the attention of classical critics and audiences around the world. He has appeared with the American Symphony Orchestra, Stamford Symphony, Chattanooga Symphony, Minnesota Sinfonia, Lexington Philharmonic, Jerusalem Symphony, and France’s Nice Orchestra. He has presented in recital in Omaha, New Orleans, Tel Aviv, and Paris, and appears regularly at music festivals around the nation. A dedicated chamber musician, he is a member of CMS and has frequently appeared with them in New York and on tour. Mr. Sussmann is a recording artist and has been featured on PBS’ “Live from Lincoln Center” broadcasts. He trained at the Conservatoire de Paris and The Juilliard School.

Ms. Wu is a soloist, chamber musician, and educator through North and South America, Europe, and Asia. She has been featured as a soloist in orchestras such as the National Symphony Orchestra at Taiwan, the Odessa Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Russian State Symphony Orchestra, and frequently performs at music venues and festivals around the world. She has taught at the University of Southern California and curated programs for the Da Camera Society in Los Angeles as the artistic partner. She is currently the music director of New Asia Chamber Music Society and founded Sunkiss’d Mozart. 

Art Connections will take place at 5:30, giving String Theory attendees the opportunity to visit the Hunter galleries and hear former Hunter Chief Curator Ellen Simak and Maestro Robert Bernhardt discuss works from the Hunter collection that relate to the music featured in the concert.

Tickets are on sale now through April 5 and are $45 for general admission, $35 for Hunter members, $10 for students and music teachers, and $25 for groups of 20 or more.

String Theory was founded in 2009 by Dr. Chien to expose new audiences to chamber music, invigorate the local classical music scene, and cultivate a future generation of music lovers.

To purchase tickets, or for more information, visit https://www.stringtheorymusic.org/concerts/tchaikovsky-and-brahms or call 414-2525.