They say “life is a cabaret,” so why shouldn’t we celebrate Richmond in song? Revel in contemporary American life and the Richmond experience with this recital of cabaret songs, including special commissions from CMSCVA by Virginia composers Emily Graham, Zachary Wadsworth, Riley Peters, Betsy Podsiadlo, and Donovan Williams. Performed by soprano Sheila Dietrich, bass-baritone Paul Max Tipton, pianist Carsten Schmidt, violinist Grant Houston, and clarinetist Ian Tyson. Featuring four songs about Richmond: Indivirigiaduality – music and lyrics by Emily Graham Sunday at the Manchester Flood Wall – music by Betsy Podsiadlo, with lyrics by Tom Jakob. Landler (”Murals”) – music by Donovan Williams, with lyrics by Roscoe Burnems. Two songs about being a teenaged musician: Music Theory Blues – music and lyrics by Riley M. H. Peters. Lost in the Brass – Music by Tommy Newman, with lyrics by Gaby Alter. And two songs about modern love: Personal Ad – music by Zachary Wadsworth, with lyrics by Angela Lehman. The Text Message Song – music and lyrics by Drew Gasparini. Register for this free event here.

The freedom and joy of 1930’s Germany cabaret culture was swept away by the winds of fascism and war. Travel back to this unique period in musical history and experience irreverent cabaret songs and beautiful instrumental works from Jewish composers from the time, and “For a Look or a Touch,” by contemporary American composer Jake Heggie. Set simultaneously in the present and in the years surrounding World War II, it tells the story of two idealistic young men whose lives and love were swept away by the tides of war.  Program: Irreverent songs by Hanns Eisler and Friedrich Hollaender. Selections from Arnold Schoenberg’s groundbreaking cabaret piece, “Pierrot Lunaire,” featuring performing artist Gwen Grastorf. Franz Schreker’s romantic chamber music piece “The Wind.” And Jake Heggie’s dramatic work for voice, actor and ensemble “For a Look or a Touch,” featuring actor Doug Schneider and bass-baritone Paul Max Tipton.

Celebrate CMSCVA’s 20th anniversary (and the dawn of chamber music) with music by the “father of the string quartet,” Joseph Haydn, and young composers from Richmond in this sun-themed concert. The premiere of a new work by Richmond native Kyle Valorose joins music from Haydn’s collection nicknamed the “Sun Quartets,” opus 20, in which Haydn developed compositional techniques that were to define chamber music for the next 200 years. Register for this free event here.

  Before candlelight concerts became popular, CMSCVA presented this concept seventeen years ago with “Bach by Candlelight,” one of the favorite concerts from our past 20 years. This year, we present a revival of this concert with elegant and emotional music from  J. S. Bach’s solo cello suites and violin partitas, played in candlelight. Intimate music perfect for a winter’s night performed by violinist Johnny Gandelsman and cellist James Wilson.

Through the month of January, CMSCVA celebrates our contribution to the chamber music repertoire with a digital festival of pieces we have commissioned and premiered. Enjoy works written for CMSCVA in the past four years that have transformed the chamber music repertoire and delighted audiences throughout Richmond.  Shuying Li, Eight Immortals and the Sea Kevin Day,  Surgent Zachary Wadsworth Palaces of Memory, and C/1995 O1 Kenyon Duncan, we go where we need to go Angélica Negrón, A través del manto luminoso Brian Raphael Nabors, Soul Bop And the Our Pictures project with works by Chloe Biggs, Benjamin Broening, Krystal Folkestad, Antonio Garcia, and Donovan Williams.  

CMSCVA continues its theme of “20” in celebration of our 20th anniversary with Romantic music from the late 19th century. Edward Elgar’s Serenade opus 20 makes its CMSCVA debut in a special arrangement for strings and flute, and is joined by Borodin’s famous String Quartet in D major, written as a 20th anniversary wedding gift for his wife. This concert is presented in partnership with the Richmond Public Library’s Gellman Room Concerts. Register for this free event here.

What could celebrate our 20th anniversary more perfectly than a performance of Felix Mendelssohn’s exhilarating Octet, opus 20? We pair this famous piece of chamber music with a joyful fanfare commissioned for this year from Richmond’s own Donovan Williams, and celebrate the 100th anniversary years of composers Maurice Ravel and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor.

Built in 1753, members of the Randolph family called Wilton home for over 100 years and entertained some of the most notable political figures including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Having survived the Revolutionary and Civil War, the Wilton House has a rich and complex history. CMSCVA returns to this historic setting for a program of Baroque music performed on period instruments. Because of the intimate size of the Wilton House venue, this concert is offered on two dates.

Built in 1753, members of the Randolph family called Wilton home for over 100 years and entertained some of the most notable political figures including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Having survived the Revolutionary and Civil War, the Wilton House has a rich and complex history. CMSCVA returns to this historic setting for a program of Baroque music performed on period instruments. Because of the intimate size of the Wilton House venue, this concert is offered on two dates. Please note that this event is sold out. Tickets may become available at a later date. Please contact us at 804-304-6312 or at cmscva@yahoo.com for more information.

Beethoven’s famous Septet, opus 20, is one of the true party pieces in history. Its tunes have been whistled in the streets of Europe and America for over 200 years. Join CMSCVA for an hour of sparkling music by Beethoven, and the premiere of a piece by Antonio García that brings this 19th century masterpiece to its place in 21st century Richmond. Register for this free event here.