This summer, classical music will once again take center stage in Rockport as the 44th Annual Rockport Chamber Music Festival brings world-class musicians to Cape Ann. From June 13 through July 13, the festival, held at the Shalin Liu Performance Center, will showcase a mix of renowned chamber musicians and rising stars in the field. Additional performances will follow on July 25 and August 3.
The lineup was announced this week, and tickets go on sale April 1.
Curated by Artistic Director Barry Shiffman, the festival has long been a highlight for classical music enthusiasts, offering performances that range from celebrated masterworks to contemporary compositions. This year’s lineup includes both returning favorites and debut performances by internationally acclaimed artists. The festival opens on June 13 with a performance of J.S. Bach’s Goldberg Variations by pianist Angela Hewitt, widely recognized for her interpretations of Bach’s keyboard works. Later in the festival, a special two-concert event on July 5 and 6 will commemorate the 100th anniversary of French composer Gabriel Fauré’s death, featuring celebrated musicians Joshua Bell (violin), Steven Isserlis (cello), Jeremy Denk (piano), Irène Duval (violin), and Blythe Teh Engstroem (viola).
Newcomers to the Rockport stage include Cheng² Duo (June 20), Marmen Quartet (June 21), Galvin Cello Quartet (June 22), Janoska Ensemble (June 14), and GRAMMY Award-winning soprano Karen Slack. Festival regulars such as the Dover Quartet, A Far Cry, Parker Quartet, Imani Winds, Alessio Bax, and Santiago Cañón-Valencia will also return. Other highlights include performances by pianists Jonathan Biss and
Yulianna Avdeeva, and a concert featuring Richard Strauss’s Metamorphosen performed by A Far Cry with commentary from author Jeremy Eichler.
The festival will also introduce a world premiere composition by Peter Golub, written for trumpet, violin, and piano, and performed by Jens Lindemann (trumpet/flugelhorn), Stephen Prutsmann (piano), and Chee-Yun (violin). The piece is dedicated to the resilience of communities affected by California’s devastating wildfires.
The festival concludes on July 13 with a Midsummer Celebration, featuring Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21 and Violin Concerto No. 5. Violinist Pinchas Zukerman and pianist Jan Lisiecki will perform alongside the Rockport Festival Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Earl Lee, winner of the 2022 Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award.
The Rockport Chamber Music Festival, hosted by Rockport Music, has been a key cultural event on Cape Ann for more than four decades. Locals love the festival’s venue, the Shalin Liu Performance Center, because it’s located downtown and right off Bearskin Neck and its stage features a stunning (and highly distinctive) oceanfront backdrop. The venue is also known for its superior acoustics. Festival tickets available by subscription starting April 1; single tickets on sale April 10.
