This time of year is crazy busy in Tucson’s classical music scene.
We have three concerts this week that we think are worth your attention.
- New kid in town: There’s a new classical music arts presenter with a familiar name on the letterhead. Chuck Tennes, formerly with UA Presents, introduced the nonprofit Arts Tucson in January with the Zoppé family circus. This weekend, he follows up with one of the world’s most celebrated singing ensembles, the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir.
The Estonian’s program includes music of Tchaikovsky and Sibelius as well as Estonian composers Arvo Pärt and Veljo Tormis, an internationally revered choral composer who died on Jan. 21.
The Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir performs at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, at the Berger Center for the Performing Arts, 1200 W. Speedway. Tickets are $40 for adults, free for anyone under 25 with an ID; True Concord Voices & Orchestra patrons get a $10 discount; Tennes serves on True Concord’s board of directors. Details: artstucson.org
- Roll over, Beethoven: OK, not exactly, but whenever Beethoven is on the lineup expect fireworks, the earth to rumble and the walls to shake. On Sunday, Feb. 12, Dove of Peace Lutheran Church is bringing Beethoven’s piano masterpieces to its Beethoven Piano Sonata Project in a program of “Fiery Apassionata.”
Admission is free but donations will be accepted to support the Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse.
A trio of pianists of varying experience will perform at this one, part of the church’s 13th season. Here’s the program and the lineup: Sonata No. 5 in C minor performed by Georgina Lavery, originally from New Zealand. Sonata No. 24 in F-sharp major played by University of Arizona doctoral student Yi-Qing Tang. Sonata No. 23 in F minor performed by acclaimed concert pianist Stephen Cook, who recently earned his doctoral degree from Arizona State University.
Sunday’s concert begins at 2 p.m. at Dove of Peace, 665 W. Roller Coaster Road. Details: doveofpeacetucson.org
- The next big thing? Remember years back when an unknown pianist named Lang Lang was on the lineup for Arizona Friends of Chamber Music, and then a few years later he was headlining Carnegie Hall? Tucson earned bragging rights for having seen him before he was, well, Lang Lang.
On Sunday, Feb. 12, we could experience a similar moment when rising international violinist Suyeon Kang plays the Friends’ Piano and Friends Series at Leo Rich Theatre, 260 S. Church Ave. Pianist Chih-Yi Chen will accompany.
The program includes Ravel’s Posthumous Violin Sonata, Mozart’s Violin Sonata in B-flat and “Faust Fantasy” by Wieniawski.
Tickets to Sunday’s concert are $30, $10 for students at arizonachambermusic.org or at the door.
