Superstar pianist André Watts and a stellar lineup of other artists will help Cincinnati’s Linton Music Series celebrate its 40^th anniversary next season.

“In planning Linton’s 40th anniversary season, we wanted to uphold Dick Waller’s tradition of ‘music-making among friends’ that he established 40 years ago,” said co-artistic directors Jaime Laredo and Sharon Robinson, speaking of Linton’s founder Dick Waller.

“The season features so many world-class artists that are looking forward to gathering in Cincinnati to make great music together. It’s the combination of these artists, intimate settings, and captivated audiences that really makes Linton Chamber Music concerts so special.”

When Waller established the series at the First Unitarian Church in Avondale, he was then the principal clarinetist of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. His idea was to collaborate in chamber music with his colleagues in the orchestra as well as from around the country. Frequently, the stars who headlined CSO concerts at Music Hall would stay an extra day or two for chamber music programs at the Linton.

That collaborative effort has continued to this day. The 40^th anniversary season will include superb artists such as the pianist Yefim Bronfman, violinist Augustin Hadelich – who is Musical America’s 2018 Instrumentalist of the Year — and Russian pianist Danill Trifonov, an artist who is considered a legend in the making.

“Cincinnati audiences are so fortunate to have this unique opportunity to hear these musicians in two different settings. It really doesn’t exist elsewhere and sets Cincinnati apart from other cities,” say Laredo and Robinson.

Over the years, the series has expanded to offer a Monday night concert in Loveland’s Congregation Beth Adam. And it has a popular “Peanut Butter & Jam” series for the younger set.

From the beginning, the series has always been about the camaraderie of the musicians, points out Jim Howland, a board member.

“Everyone is paid the same fee, no matter who they are or their status in the world. That’s been a constant from the beginning,” he says.

Among the highlights, Bronfman will join the New York String Quartet in Schumann’s gorgeous Quintet for Piano & Strings in E-flat Major.

Watts will perform with violinists Laredo and Bella Hristova, violist Nokuthula Ngwenyama, and cellist Robinson for Franck’s F Minor Piano Quintet. Hadelich will perform a recital for violin and piano with the excellent pianist Ran Dank (now on CCM’s faculty), as a “subscriber bonus” concert.

The series favorite Opus One will perform a fascinating program of Lowell Liebermann and Amy Beach. And the season will conclude with a blockbuster: Trifonov, who is also a composer, will perform his own Piano Quintet with CCM’s acclaimed Ariel Quartet.

For ticketing information: 513-381-6868, lintonmusic.org.

The full season:

October 14/15, 2018  — Masterworks for Strings

Jaime Laredo, violin; Cathy Meng Robinson, violin; Hsin-Yun Huang, viola; Misha Amory, viola; Sharon Robinson, cello; Keith Robinson, cello

Program:

Mozart Prelude & Fugue after Bach for String Trio

Schoenberg Verklärte Nacht (Transfigured Night)

Schubert Quintet for Strings in C Major

November 11/12 — CSO Friends & Anna Polonsky

Anna Polonksy, piano; Stefani Collins Matsuo, violin; Christian Colberg, viola; Ilya Finkelshteyn, cello; Dwight Parry, oboe; William Winstead, bassoon

Program: Poulenc Trio for Oboe, Bassoon, & Piano; Mozart Quartet for Oboe & Strings in F Major; Dvořák Quartet for Piano & Strings in D Major, No. 1

December 2, 2018 — Yefim Bronfman  & The New York Philharmonic String Quartet

Yefim Bronfman, piano*

New York Philharmonic String Quartet: Frank Huang, violin; Sheryl Staples, violin; Cynthia Phelps, viola; Carter Brey, cello

Program:

Haydn String Quartet No. 2 in D Minor, No. 2, Quinten

Shostakovich String Quartet No. 9 in E-flat Major

Schumann Quintet for Piano & Strings in E-flat Major

January 20/21, 2019  — The Return of André Watts

André Watts, piano; Jaime Laredo, violin; Bella Hristova, violin; Nokuthula Ngwenyama, viola; Sharon Robinson, cello

Program:

Mozart Duo for Violin & Viola

Bartók Duos for Two Violins

Franck Quintet for Piano & Strings in F Minor

SUBSCRIBER BONUS

March 17, 2019  — Augustin Hadelich  & Ran Dank

Augustin Hadelich, violin; Ran Dank, piano

Program:

Brahms Sonata for Violin & Piano No. 2 in A Major

Janáček Sonata for Violin & Piano

Franck Sonata for Violin & Piano

FOUNDER’S PROGRAM

Opus One + One

Program: Kristapor Najarian A Tale for Two Violins

April 7/8, 2019 — Opus One

Ida Kavafian, violin

Steven Tenenbom, viola

Peter Wiley, cello

Anne-Marie McDermott, piano

with Ani Kavafian, violin

Lowell Liebermann Quartet for Piano & Strings

Amy Beach Quintet for Piano & Strings

SEASON FINALE

May 5/6, 2019 — The Artistry of Trifonov  & The Ariel Quartet

Daniil Trifonov, piano; The Ariel Quartet

Gershon Gerchikov, violin

Alexandra Kazovsky, violin

Jan Grüning, viola

Amit En-Tov, cello

Program to include: Daniil Trifonov Piano Quintet