Newport Classical celebrates spring with two Chamber Series concerts

It’s one of the most beautiful times of the year in Newport, and we are looking forward to welcoming you to our May and June Chamber Series concerts at the Newport Classical Recital Hall, which has a freshly restored and redesigned stage just in time for spring! On May 19 we’ll present the incredible saxophonists of the Kenari Quartet, and on June 9 we’ll conclude this season’s Chamber Series with a performance by rising-star violinist Stella Chen with Newport Classical favorite, pianist Henry Kramer. As always, we offer a relaxed atmosphere, including a complimentary glass of wine and mingling with fellow audience members at intermission.

The Kenari Quartet delivers truly inspiring performances that transform the saxophone into a core chamber music instrument. They have been called “flat-out amazing” and praised for their “stunning virtuosity” by Cleveland Classical. In Newport, their concert will include music by Pulitzer Prize and three-time GRAMMY-winning composer Jennifer Higdon, Bach’s Italian Concerto (originally composed for harpsichord and arranged to showcase Kenari’s signature sound), plus A Schumann Bouquet by William Bolcom, Joel Love’s In Memoriam, and Guillermo Lago’s Ciudades. The quartet formed at Indiana University in 2012, and their name is derived from the Malay word “kenari,” which translates to “songbird.” We look forward to having them on our stage on May 19.

Stella Chen joins us for our Chamber Series Finale on June 9, combining forces with pianist Henry Kramer in a program that embraces music ranging from the Romantic era in Germany and Norway through 20th century Poland and England, with influences of the folk traditions of the composers’ home countries and their personal stories threaded throughout. Stella garnered worldwide attention with her first-prize win at the 2019 Queen Elizabeth International Violin Competition, followed by the 2020 Avery Fisher Career Grant and 2020 Lincoln Center Emerging Artist Award. Her debut album, Stella x Schubert, was recorded with Henry and released in March, with The Strad praising her “focus and charisma.” Stella and Henry’s concert features Schumann’s Violin Sonata No. 1 in A Minor, Op.105; Grażyna Bacewicz’s Partita; Eleanor Alberga’s No-Man’s-Land Lullaby, and Grieg’s Violin Sonata No. 2 In G Major, Op. 13.

As part of Newport Classical’s desire to create connections between classical music, the artists who perform it, and the Newport community, the Kenari Quartet, Stella Chen, and Henry Kramer will visit Newport-area public schools to perform for and speak with students, through Newport Classical’s Music Engagement Initiative. We look forward to sharing their talent and insights with the community.

A reminder that tickets are also on sale now for our 2023 Newport Classical Music Festival, which includes 27 concerts this summer between July 4-23, bringing timeless music for today to Newport’s stunning historic mansions and venues including The Breakers, The Elms, Castle Hill Inn, Chinese Tea House, and more. Tickets are selling fast, so visit newportclassical.org today to plan your one-of-a-kind summer experience, or give us a call if you need help choosing from the many fantastic concerts.

In advance of their concerts this spring, we caught up with the Kenari Quartet and Stella Chen to find out what they are looking forward to about coming to Newport:

Newport Classical: Which piece on your program are you the most excited to perform and why?

The Kenari Quartet: We are particularly excited to perform Joel Love's In Memoriam to close out the first half of our program. This piece is the very first work that we commissioned nearly eight years ago, and it has since become an iconic staple of the saxophone quartet repertoire.

Stella Chen: I’m especially excited to share Alberga’s No-Man’s-Land Lullaby and Grieg’s Violin Sonata No. 2 with the Newport audience. The Alberga is rarely played, and is based on poems about the World Wars. It’s incredibly tortured, dark, and haunting, and centers obsessively around a melody that doesn’t occur in its full form until the very end of the piece – it’s a melody the audience will recognize. While Grieg’s third sonata is often played, the second is not, and in my opinion it’s better. It’s sparkly, beautiful, full of charm – it’s a sonic fairy tale!

Newport Classical: How do you curate programs for recitals?

The Kenari Quartet: There is a rich history of traditional French repertoire composed for saxophone quartet throughout the 20th century, as well as incredibly innovative and exciting works being written by composers around the world who are alive today. We also enjoy showcasing the instrument's ability to convincingly perform transcribed works from Romantic, Classical, and Baroque eras. For example, our Newport Classical program will include two works – by J.S. Bach and Robert Schumann – that were originally written for piano.

Stella Chen: The most obvious starting point is that I have to love every piece on the program! After that, I always try to introduce something new to the audience. In this case, all but the Schumann are actually not played very often. There’s a good balance of light and dark, quirky dancing and soulful singing, beauty and terror.

Newport Classical: What is your approach to educational engagement and what is your favorite age range to engage?

The Kenari Quartet: One of our favorite methods of educational outreach involves incorporating audience participation and improvisation to demonstrate the communicative power of music. This approach has been particularly impactful for elementary-age students who generally don't have preconceived notions of what music can or “should” be. They always have a blast exercising their imaginations!

Stella Chen: I really enjoy playing for elementary school children. I grew up at the Perlman Music Program, where we put on educational concerts every summer. I love seeing the instinctive, uninhibited, and truly honest reactions that kids have to music, whether it be Eine Kleine Nachtmusik or the most complex Bartok quartet. I think my responsibility is simply to generously share my enthusiasm with young people. Early exposure is so essential for the continued appreciation of classical music.

Newport Classical: Is there anything in particular you are looking forward to doing in Newport?

The Kenari Quartet: We would love to check out the Newport Cliff Walk if we're able to manage some downtime between rehearsals!

Stella Chen: I’m looking forward to enjoying the seafood and just enjoying the exquisite beauty of Newport, RI. And one more silly thing – I’m looking forward to hopefully seeing Jill Chin at a concert and going to visit Audrey’s Coffee Lounge as a secret Bachelor enthusiast!

Tickets for Newport Classical’s concerts can be purchased online at www.newportclassical.org or by calling the Box Office at 401-849-1133 x1.

Gillian Friedman Fox is the Newport Classical executive director. Her column runs monthly in The Newport Daily News and on newportri.com.

This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Newport Classical spring concerts: Kenari Quartet, Stella Chen