David Finckel and Wu Han
String Theory at the Hunter, in partnership with Lee University and the Hunter Museum of American Art, will conclude its 15th season with cello and piano duo David Finckel and Wu Han. This event will take place on Tuesday, May 7, at 6:30 p.m.
“I would not be who I am today without David and Wu Han, who always lead by example, and String Theory certainly would not be here without them,” says Dr. Gloria Chien, String Theory founder and artistic director. “We are always thrilled to welcome David and Wu Han back to String Theory and show them the seeds they have planted years ago and how beautifully it has blossomed in the last 15 years.”
The May 7 performance will feature Mendelssohn’s Sonata No. 2 and Grieg’s Sonata for Cello and Piano.
A special pre-concert feature, “Pregame with Bob,” will take place at 5:45 p.m., in which Chattanooga Symphony and Opera Music Director Emeritus Bob Bernhardt will discuss the evening’s program, giving an in-depth look at the featured composers and works, including interviews with the artists.
Another pre-concert feature is a local collaboration with Classical 90.5 WSMC called String Theory Hour, airing on Tuesday, April 30, from 7-8 p.m. This will be a dedicated hour celebrating String Theory artists past and present, curated by Dr. Chien and providing listeners with a sneak preview of the upcoming concert.
In high demand year after year among chamber music audiences around the world, cellist David Finckel and pianist Wu Han, recipients of Musical America’s Musicians of the Year Award, appear each season at the most prestigious venues, concert series, and festivals across the United States. The duo’s repertoire spans virtually the entire literature for cello and piano, including all the significant works of the modern repertoire.
Mr. Finckel’s dynamic musical career has included performances as recitalist, chamber artist, and orchestral soloist. The first American student of Mstislav Rostropovich, he was winner of the Philadelphia Orchestra’s junior and senior divisions, resulting in two performances with the orchestra. In 1979, he joined the Emerson String Quartet, and during 34 seasons garnered nine Grammy Awards and the Avery Fisher Prize. His quartet performances and recordings include quartet cycles of Mozart, Beethoven, Schumann, Mendelssohn, Brahms, and Shostakovich, as well as collaborative masterpieces and commissioned works. Mr. Finckel is currently a professor at the Juilliard School and Stony Brook University.
Born in Taiwan, Ms. Han came to the United States as a graduate student, where her talent quickly came to the attention of noted musicians. Mentored by pianists such as Lilian Kallir, Menahem Pressler, and Rudolf Serkin, Han thrived at the Marlboro and Aspen Music Festivals and subsequently won the prestigious Andrew Wolf Award. She currently serves as Artistic Advisor for Wolf Trap’s Chamber Music at the Barns series and for Palm Beach’s Society of the Four Arts, and in 2022 was named Artistic Director of La Musica in Sarasota, Fl.
Mr. Finckel and Ms. Han married in 1985 and divide their time between touring and residences in New York City and Westchester County.
“David and Wu Han's commitment to the next generation of young musicians is unparalleled,” says Dr. Chien. “Through their work at both the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and Music@Menlo, they have cultivated a whole generation of young artistic directors – ambassadors who are bringing chamber music to all corners of the world. They have helped me find my own voice as a young musician, showed me what is possible, and empowered me to reach for the stars.”
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.
Tickets for the Tuesday evening performance are on sale now through May 7 and are $45 for general admission, $35 for Hunter members, and $10 for students and music teachers.
To purchase tickets, or for more information, visit https://www.stringtheorymusic.org/ or call 414-2525.