Pianist Shai Wosner Joins Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Tonight

Pianist Shai Wosner, recognized for his exceptional artistry, musical integrity and creative insight, returns to the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center to perform in a program of Brahms's late solo and chamber works. The program opens with the Trio in A Minor for Clarinet, Cello, and Piano, Op. 114, and Sonata in D Minor for Violin and Piano, Op. 108, for which Mr. Wosner is joined by David Shifrin on clarinet, Timothy Eddy on cello, and Erin Keefe on violin. Mr. Wosner then performs two solo works, the Intermezzo in E-flat Major for Piano, Op. 117, No. 1, and Rhapsody in E-flat Major for Piano, Op. 119, No. 4. The program also includes the Quintet in B minor for Clarinet, Two Violins, Viola, and Cello, Op. 115. The performance takes place tonight, October 21 at 7:30 p.m. at Alice Tully Hall.

In the last decade of his life, Brahms decided to stop composing altogether, but after meeting a virtuoso clarinetist, he was inspired to write once again. This concert, titled "Brahms the Master," showcases works written by the composer in this final period. Mr. Wosner says of the program, "There is a lifetime's worth of emotional experience and musical intellect in every bar of Brahms' late works, and as always with Brahms, these two facets are not in competition with each other but rather lift one another in the most inspired way imaginable." This same program is performed prior to the Alice Tully concert as a part of CMS on Tour, with appearances in Denver, CO on Wednesday, October 15; Iowa City, IA on Thursday, October 16; and Sonoma, CA on Saturday, October 18.

An avid chamber musician, Mr. Wosner is widely sought after by colleagues for his versatility and spirit of partnership. In addition to his chamber performances, his solo recital programming encompasses a broad range of repertoire, from Beethoven and Mozart to Schoenberg and Ligeti, as well as music by his contemporaries. Widely praised for his interpretations of Schubert's solo repertoire, Mr. Wosner has performed the composer's solo works in recitals in the US and at London's Wigmore Hall.

On January 28 and February 1, Mr. Wosner curates a two-part recital series at the 92nd Street Y. Titled The Schubert Effect, the concerts demonstrate the far-reaching influence Franz Schubert has had on composers over the past 200 years. Joined by the Parker Quartet, Mr. Wosner juxtaposes Schubert's works with Missy Mazzoli's Isabelle Eberhardt Dreams of Pianos for Piano and Electronics, as well as György Kurtág's Aus der Ferne V and Moments musicaux, both scoredfor string quartet.

This season, Mr. Wosner's orchestral engagements include performances of Mozart concertos with the Hamburg Symphony with Jeffrey Tate and with the Indianapolis Symphony and Krzysztof Urba?ski. He also makes his debut with the Orchestre symphonique de Québec with Fabien Gabel, playing Ravel's Piano Concerto for the Left Hand. In November, he performs solo works by Schubert and Ms. Mazzoli on a recording to be released by Onyx. Onyx released Mr. Wosner's solo recording of a selection of piano works by Schubert that incorporate elements of folk music in October 2011 and his debut solo recording of works by Brahms and Schoenberg in August 2010. In October 2013, Cedille Records released Signs, Games + Messages, his first joint recording with Jennifer Koh, featuring works by Bartók, Janá?ek and Kurtág.