Jeremy Denk, Leonidas Kavakos and Emmanuel Pahud are guests for the 2024-25 Schubert Club International Artist Series

Ross Raihala, Pioneer Press
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American pianist Jeremy Denk, Greek violinist Leonidas Kavakos and Swiss flutist Emmanuel Pahud are among the guest artists who will perform during the newly announced 2024-25 Schubert Club International Artist Series.

“Once again, Schubert Club’s artistic committee and I have had the fascinating experience of reviewing dozens of artists and ensembles,” said artistic and executive director Barry Kempton in a news release. “Of particular importance to us this year has been encouraging artists to offer programs which include less familiar music that they believe deserves greater prominence.”

Now in its 142nd year, the Schubert Club is Minnesota’s oldest arts organization. The upcoming season includes both the International Artist Series, held at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in downtown St. Paul, and Music in the Park, which features more intimate chamber music concerts at St. Paul’s St. Anthony Park United Church of Christ.

Subscriptions are priced from $280 to $105 for the International Artist Series and $125 for Music in the Park. They are on sale now via schubert.org or by phone at 651-292-3268. Single ticket sales open in August.

In a special presentation, the Arts Partnership (Minnesota Opera, the Ordway, Schubert Club and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra) will host the Midwest premiere of seven time Grammy Award-winner Terence Blanchard’s “Fire Shut Up in My Bones” at 2 p.m. Feb. 23. The work premiered at the Metropolitan Opera in 2021 and was the first opera written by a Black composer to be performed at the Met.

The International Artist Series includes:

  • American pianist Jeremy Denk, whose program will celebrate works for solo piano by women composers spanning several centuries and will conclude with works by Schumann and Brahms; 3 p.m. Oct. 13, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15.

  • Greek violinist Leonidas Kavakos will perform all of Johann Sebastian Bach’s solo violin sonatas and partitas over the course of two different programs; 2 p.m. Nov. 12, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 13.

  • Swiss flutist Emmanuel Pahud will make his Schubert Club debut in a rare Midwest appearance; 7:30 p.m. Jan. 22.

  • Norwegian pianist Leif Ove Andsnes will perform the works of two Norwegian composers, Edvard Grieg and Geirr Tveitt; 7:30 p.m. March 28, 2025.

  • British saxophonist Jess Gillam will make her Schubert Club debut with a program of works by baroque composers alongside masters of the modern era, including Philip Glass, Meredith Monk and Astor Piazzolla; 7:30 p.m. April 16, 2 p.m. April 17, 2025.

The Music in the Park Series concerts take place at 4 p.m. and include:

  • The Chiaroscuro Quartet will perform music of the Classical and early Romantic periods on gut strings and with historical bows; Oct. 27.

  • New piano quintet Espressivo! will make their Music in the Park Series debut; Nov. 24.

  • Cellist Tommy Mesa will make his Twin Cities recital debut with pianist Michelle Cann; Jan. 26.

  • The Jerusalem Quartet will perform the string quartets of Shostakovich; March 23 and April 27, 2025. (The quartet will also perform three 7:30 p.m. shows on March 24-25 and April 25, offering all 15 Shostakovich quartets across five concerts. Subscribers have the option of adding the three nights.)

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