Wu Han joins The Society of the Four Arts as an Artistic Advisor

PALM BEACH, FLA.: The Society of the Four Arts proudly welcomes Wu Han to its team as an Artistic Advisor for Classical Music in partnership with Director of Programs Sofia Vollmer Maduro. Leading an unusually multifaceted artistic career, Wu Han has risen to international prominence as a concert performer, artistic director, recording artist, educator, and cultural entrepreneur. 

On her new role with the Four Arts, Wu Han says, “Music has the power to elevate and to inspire. With this stressful pandemic year, we all understand music can bring us beauty and hope. To have art and music in our lives is what makes a civilized society. I am extremely honored to be associated with this distinguished organization and I look forward to many more opportunities to bring the best music to the Four Arts. I feel very privileged and grateful.”

Wu Han describes designing a concert as akin to “being a curator in the world’s largest museum.” She uses her point of view and vast knowledge of classical music to bring audiences along for the most satisfying journey of great performances and cohesive programs. Named Musical America’s Musician of the Year in 2012, the world-renowned pianist and her husband, cellist David Finckel, are Co-Artistic Directors of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (CMS), the leading global chamber music institution, which celebrated its 50^th anniversary in 2019.

Wu Han and David Finckel were scheduled to return to the Four Arts as Beyer Artists-in-Residence (generously supported by Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Beyer) this season, leading an “Around Dvorák” mini-festival from February 7 through February 14. However, the festival has been rescheduled due to pandemic-related government guidelines, which recommend against travel at this time. This very special week-long festival will take place next year instead, from February 6 through February 13, 2022.

In place of the 2020-21 festival, Wu Han has graciously arranged for the Four Arts to present three virtual performances for the Palm Beach community. On Sunday, February 7, join the Four Arts and CMS for the virtual presentation, “Beethoven Cello Sonatas,” David Finckel and Wu Han’s performance of some of the composer’s historic sonatas as well as lectures that lead the audience on a journey through his life.

The second virtual performance, on Wednesday, February 10, will be “Across the Centuries,” a beautifully filmed program created from CMS’s remarkable HD digital archives. This carefully curated video concert, featuring works from the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic periods, includes Wu Han herself performing Dvorák’s Quintet in A Major, a highly melodic, colorful work written at the height of Dvorák’s creative output. Not to be overlooked, the program also showcases two lesser-known, though no less enticing, works: ex-ballet dancer and French composer Jean-Marie Leclair’s Baroque period Concerto for Violin in B-flat Major, and Joseph Haydn’s whimsical Sonata in G Major for Keyboard. As a bonus, audiences will enjoy interviews woven into the show by three of CMS’s stellar artists.

On Saturday, April 17, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s beloved family series, Meet the Music, hosted by Bruce Adolphe (CMS Resident Lecturer and Director of Family Programs) will introduce the joys of music to young people. In a screening of “Leave it to Ludwig,” Adolphe is joined by the esteemed Escher String Quartet and young pianist, Benjamin T. Rossen, as Beethoven comes to life to share the stories behind his work and inspiration.

February 7 at 3 p.m.: Beethoven Cello Sonatas

February 10 at 7:30 p.m.: Across the Centuries

April 17 at 1 p.m.: Leave it to Ludwig

For more information on the virtual performances, please visit www.fourarts.org. 

ABOUT THE SOCIETY OF THE FOUR ARTS
Since its founding in 1936, The Society of the Four Arts offers a dynamic lineup of cultural programming, including notable speakers, concerts, films, educational programs, and art exhibitions. The campus is home to beautiful sculpture and botanical gardens, a library and children’s library, and a state-of-the-art educational facility. The Four Arts is a 501(c)3 nonprofit charity and all programs are open to the public. For more information please visit www.fourarts.org.

ABOUT THE CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY OF LINCOLN CENTER

The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (CMS) is one of eleven constituents of the largest
performing arts complex in the world, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, which includes the New York Philharmonic, New York City Ballet, Lincoln Center Theater, and The Metropolitan Opera. Through its many performance, education, recording, and broadcast activities, it brings the experience of great chamber music to more people than any other organization of its kind. Under the artistic leadership of David Finckel and Wu Han, CMS presents a wide variety of concert series and educational events for listeners of all ages, appealing to both connoisseurs and newcomers. The performing artists constitute a revolving multi-generational and international roster of the world’s finest chamber musicians, enabling CMS to present chamber music of every instrumentation, style, and historical period. CMS’s incomparable digital presence, which regularly enables CMS to reach hundreds of thousands of listeners around the globe annually, includes: A growing number of live-streamed programs; more than 750 hours of performance and education videos free to the public on its website; a 52-week public radio series across the US; radio programming in Taiwan and mainland China; appearances on American Public Media; the new monthly program “In Concert with CMS” on the ALL ARTS broadcast channel; and performances featured on Medici.tv, Tencent, and SiriusXM’s Symphony Hall channel.

ADDITIONAL LINKS

More images can be accessed here.

For more information on Wu Han, please click here.