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Smithsonian Chamber Music Society

2018-2019 Season Subscriptions On Sale Starting July 27, 2018
Single Tickets Available Starting Sept. 17, 2018

Select a Series:
Axelrod String Quartet Series
Masterworks of Five Centuries Series

The 42nd season of the Smithsonian Chamber Music Society (SCMS) features musical masterpieces from the early 17th century to the early 21st, played on some of the world’s most highly prized musical instruments. Concerts take place in the newly endowed Nicholas and Eugenia Taubman Hall of Music at the National Museum of American History.

Kenneth Slowik, SCMS artistic director and recipient of the Smithsonian Distinguished Scholar Award, again curates a series of pre-concert talks one hour prior to each concert (except the Nov. 18 concert).

Learn more about the Smithsonian Chamber Music Society

Axelrod String Quartet Series

members of the Axelrod Quartet Smithsonian Chamber Music Society audiences are privy to the unparalleled opportunity of hearing two magnificent quartets of instruments—one made by Antonio Stradivari, the other by his teacher Nicolò Amati—in this popular three-concert series.

General Details

Dates & Music

Sat., Oct. 27, 2018; Sun., Oct. 28, 2018
Joseph Haydn: Quartet in G Major, Op. 77, No. 1
Ludwig van Beethoven: Quartet in C Minor, Op. 18, No. 4
Franz Schubert: Quartet in D Minor, D 810, Death and the Maiden

Sat., Jan. 26, 2019; Sun., Jan. 27, 2019
Joseph Haydn: Quartet in F Major, Op. 77, No. 2
Béla Bartók: Quartet No. 2, Op. 17
Felix Mendelssohn: Octet in E-flat Major, Op. 20
with The Omer Quartet: Mason Yu and Erica Tursi, violins; Jinsung Hong, viola; Alexander Cox, violoncello

Sat., May 4, 2019; Sun., May 5, 2019
J.S. Bach: The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080

Programs, locations, and artists subject to change.

Masterworks of Five Centuries Series

Smithsonian Chamber Music Society This eight-concert series features several artists and ensembles including the Smithsonian Chamber Players and Smithsonian Consort of Viols.

General Details

  • All Masterworks concerts start at 7:30 p.m.; pre-concert lecture starts at 6:30 p.m. (except both November concerts)
  • UPDATED: All concerts will be held at the Nicholas and Eugenia Taubman Hall of Music in the American History Museum.
  • TICKETS:

Dates & Music

Sat., Oct. 20, 2018; Sun., Oct. 21, 2018
Franz Schubert: Schwanengesang, D 957
Robert Schumann: Piano Quintet, Op. 44

The Smithsonian Chamber Players: Aaron Sheehan, tenor; Ian Swensen and Marilyn McDonald, violins; Gregory Luce, viola; Myron Lutzke, violoncello; Kenneth Slowik, fortepiano

Sat., Nov. 17, 2018; Sun., Nov. 18, 2018 (ADDED SATURDAY DATE; PROGRAM AND LOCATION UPDATED)
Reinbert de Leeuw: Im wunderschönen Monat Mai: Three times seven Lieder after Schumann and Schubert (2004)

The Smithsonian Chamber Players: Katja Herbers, actress; Kenneth Slowik, piano & direction

Please note there is no pre-concert talk for this concert.

Sun., Dec. 16, 2018
J. S. Bach: Suite in A Major, BWV 806Z
J. S. Bach: Sonata in G Major, BWV 1019
Joseph Haydn: Sonata in G Minor, Hob. XVI: 44
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Sonata in G Major, K301/293a

The Smithsonian Chamber Players: Edwin Heuzinga, violin; Kenneth Slowik, harpsichord and fortepiano

Sat., Jan. 5, 2019; Sun., Jan. 6, 2019
Consort Music of Richard Mico and William Lawes

The Smithsonian Consort of Viols: Kenneth Slowik, Lucine Musaelian, Zoe Weiss, Catherine Slowik, Arnie Tanimoto, viols; with Thomas MacCracken, organ

Sun., Jan. 20, 2019
J. S. Bach: Suite in A Minor, BWV 807
J. S. Bach: Sonata in C Minor, BWV 1017
Joseph Haydn: Sonata in E Minor, Hob. XVI: 34
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Sonata in D Major, K306

The Smithsonian Chamber Players: Marc Destrubé, violin; Kenneth Slowik, harpsichord and fortepiano

Sat., Feb. 2, 2019
J. S. Bach: Suite in G Minor, BWV 808
J. S. Bach: Sonata in B Minor, BWV 1014
Joseph Haydn: Sonata in C Major, Hob. XVI: 50
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Sonata in A Major, K305/293d

The Smithsonian Chamber Players: Marilyn McDonald, violin; Kenneth Slowik, harpsichord and fortepiano

Sun., Feb. 17, 2019
J. S. Bach: Suite in F Major, BWV 809
J. S. Bach: Sonata in F Minor, BWV 1019
Joseph Haydn: Sonata in G Major, Hob. XVI: 40
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Sonata in B-flat Major, K454

The Smithsonian Chamber Players: Mark Fewer, violin; Kenneth Slowik, harpsichord and fortepiano

Sat., March 2, 2019
J. S. Bach: Suite in E Minor, BWV 810
J. S. Bach: Sonata in E Major, BWV 1016
Joseph Haydn: Sonata in F Major, Hob. XVI: 23
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Sonata in E-flat Major, K302/293b

The Smithsonian Chamber Players: Adriane Post, violin; Kenneth Slowik, harpsichord and fortepiano

Sat., March 16, 2019; Sun., March 17, 2019
Ludwig van Beethoven: Three Marches, Op. 45; Große Fuge, Op. 134
Franz Schubert: Rondo in A Major, D 951; Fantasie in F Minor, D 940

The Smithsonian Chamber Players: Pedja Muzijevic and Kenneth Slowik, fortepiano

Sat., April 6, 2019; Sun., April 7, 2019
Robert Schumann: Quartet in A Major, Op. 41, No. 3
Anton Bruckner: Quintet in F Major, WAB 112

The Smithsonian Chamber Players: Vera Beths and Meredith Riley, violin; Steven Dann and Jasper Snow, viola; Kenneth Slowik, violoncello

Sat., May 11, 2019
J. S. Bach: Suite in D Minor, BWV 811
J. S. Bach: Sonata in A Major, BWV 1015
Joseph Haydn: Sonata in D Major, Hob. XVI: 37
Wolfgang Amadus Mozart: Sonata in C Major, K303/293c

The Smithsonian Chamber Players: Aisslinn Nosky, violin; Kenneth Slowik, harpsichord and fortepiano

Programs, locations, and artists subject to change.