Curtis on Tour

North America

Eric Owens and Singers from the Curtis Opera Theatre

A quartet of emerging artists from the Curtis Opera Theatre joins bass-baritone Eric Owens, director of vocal studies and the Curtis Opera Theatre. Sharing the stage with their mentor, these rising stars of the operatic stage will perform gems from the lieder and song repertoire, followed by operatic arias and ensemble pieces.

Europe

Soprano and Piano Trio

An all-alumni ensemble from Curtis tours Europe with a program featuring soprano and strings. A new commission by faculty member Richard Danielpour joins Ravel’s brilliant and colorful Piano Trio in A minor and other works.

Latin America

Guitar Quartet

Curtis on Tour returns in-person to Latin America this fall for the first time since 2019 in an exciting program featuring Curtis President Roberto Díaz (’84), a violist who enjoys an international performing career, and celebrated faculty guitarist Jason Vieaux. Staples of the guitar cannon will be paired with lesser known works featuring Latin American composers.

North America

L’Histoire du Soldat

A thrilling tale of trickery and magic, Igor Stravinsky’s L’Histoire du Soldat comes to life through an ensemble of musicians from the Curtis Institute of Music. “One of the world’s leading music academies” (BBC Culture), Curtis’s performers team up with beloved actor and narrator John de Lancie, who voices the characters; award-winning performer David Shifrin (Clarinet ’71); and prominent recitalist Soovin Kim (Violin ’99). The program, designed for audiences in North America, also features works by Penderecki, Poulenc, and Curtis alumnus Viet Cuong. 

Curtis Symphony Orchestra 

The Curtis Symphony Orchestra brings a youthful exuberance to new audiences in its first-ever U.S. West Coast and Asia tour. Under the direction of Osmo Vänskä, who previously led the ensemble in U.S. East Coast and European tours, the talented young musicians of Curtis showcase sparkling virtuosity and masterful artistry. They are joined on the program by piano sensation Yefim Bronfman, one of the newest additions to the faculty, in award-winning interpretations from the concerto repertoire.

Asia

Curtis Symphony Orchestra 

The Curtis Symphony Orchestra brings a youthful exuberance to new audiences in its first-ever U.S. West Coast and Asia tour. Under the direction of Osmo Vänskä, who previously led the ensemble in U.S. East Coast and European tours, the talented young musicians of Curtis showcase sparkling virtuosity and masterful artistry. They are joined on the program by piano sensation Yefim Bronfman, one of the newest additions to the faculty, in award-winning interpretations from the concerto repertoire.

Europe

Trio Zimbalist

Following a highly successful Fall 2021 tour of Europe, where it garnered acclaim for “precision and feverish intensity” (Greece’s EfSyn), Trio Zimbalist returns to Europe with Curtis on Tour in Spring 2023. Don’t miss this chance to witness the latest addition to Curtis’s artist management initiative and hear iconic works from the piano trio repertoire.

North America

Clarinet and Viola Quintets

Curtis on Tour returns to Nantucket and New England for its annual festival of performances and presentations, featuring violist Roberto Díaz and clarinetist David Shifrin. For over ten years, Curtis on Tour has been proud to connect with summer audiences through these special offerings.

Europe

Clarinet, Viola, and Piano

Curtis on Tour presents a dynamic trio of chamber musicians drawn from its alumni artists. Michael Rusinek, principal clarinet of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Ayane Kosaza, violist of the GRAMMY-nominated Aizuri Quartet, and Steven Lin, an award-winning piano soloist, pair Classical and Romantic masterworks with a clarinet trio commissioned for Curtis on Tour from alumnus Daron Hagen.

In addition to national and international tours, Curtis on Tour manages professional performance engagements for Curtis students and recent graduates, providing emerging artists with the matchless experience of appearing with leading ensembles and presenting organizations.

Professional engagements are added on a rolling basis as they are confirmed.

2022: Cello Quintet—U.S.

2021: Flute, Strings, and Piano Virtual Tour—Latin America

2021: Piano Trio—Europe

2021: BROADCAST: Flute, Strings, and Piano—New England

2020: Dover Quartet Virtual Tour—Latin America

2020: BROADCAST: Strings, Guitar, and Voice—New England

2019–20: Vera Quartet and Meng-Chieh Liu, piano—U.S.

2020: Curtis Symphony Orchestra with Osmo Vänskä and Jonathan Biss—U.S.

2019: Woodwinds and Strings Ensemble—U.S.

2019: Flute, Piano, and Strings—Asia

2019: Voice, Strings, and Piano—Europe

2019: Flute, Guitar, and Strings—New England

2019: Clarinet Trio—Latin America

2019: Piano Quartet—Europe

2019: Intimacy of Creativity—Hong Kong

2019: Vocal Quartet—U.S.

2018: Piano Quartet—U.S.

2018: Zorá Quartet—Europe

2018: Leonard Bernstein Centenary Celebration—U.S.

2017: String Sextet—Latin America

2017: Curtis Symphony Orchestra—Europe

Curtis Symphony Orchestra in the U.S.: Winter 2020

Durham, N.C. | CVNC: February 6, 2020

“The Curtis Symphony Orchestra is a young classical ensemble, uniquely gifted and well-trained, advancing in experience every day. Add a renowned conductor like Vänskä and a world-class pianist like Biss and you have an extraordinary concert experience. Those who braved the rainy, stormy night were richly rewarded.”

Read the full review

Vera Quartet and Meng-Chieh Liu in the U.S.: Fall 2019–Spring 2020

Rockport, Mass. | The Boston Musical Intelligencer: November 11, 2019

“Meng-Chieh Liu…wove magic into every note (or bundle of notes) he sent our way.”

“The [Vera Quartet] made the most of Beethoven’s dramatic contrasts…”

Read the full review

Flute, Guitar, and Strings in New England: July 2019

Kingston, R.I. | Providence Journal: July 24, 2019

The touring ensemble opened the Kingston Chamber Music Festival on July 24, 2019 to great reviews, including this one from the Providence Journal, which characterized the concert as a “virtuosic showdown,” adding that “Piazzolla’s “Histoire du Tango” came to life magnificently” and “[Joshua] Smith gorgeously dispatched the Mozart.”

Read the full review

Clarinet Trio in Latin America: June 2019

Santiago, Chile | CNN Chile: June 26, 2019

President Roberto Díaz appeared on television as part of a tour to Latin America, which included stops in his home country of Chile. (Interview begins at 15:44)

Reñaca, Chile | Tell Magazine: June 2019

President Díaz was also featured in print.

Read the full article

Piano Quartet in the U.S.: October 2018

Miami, Fla. | South Florida Classical Review: October 26, 2018

“With their handling of the shifts between determined attacks and tender, blossoming notes, the musicians brought Brahms’ sprawling score to life.”

Read the full review

Piano Quartet in Asia: March 2018

Hong Kong | Chamber Muse: March 30, 2018

“Joined by alumnae pianist Natalie Zhu, the Curtis kicked off the Fauré quartet with turbulent emotion, full of swirling musical ideas.”

Read the full review

Leonard Bernstein Centenary Celebration Tour: Spring 2018

Palm Beach, Fla | Palm Beach Daily News: March 19, 2018

“The quartet did a great job of moving together. In a piece that is easily too sentimental, this group played with the right amount of sincerity.”

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String Sextet in Latin America: Fall 2017

Santiago, Chile | El Mercurio: October 21, 2017

“The scherzo, which seems to pay homage to Beethoven’s humor, and the final rondo were exquisite at the hands of this group of teacher and disciples.”

Read the translated review

Curtis Symphony Orchestra in Europe: Summer 2017

Bremen, Germany | Bremer Nachrichten: May 24, 2017

“There is no need to mention this brilliant youth orchestra’s flexible modulation and intuitive musicality…They also gave an impressive performance of Krzysztof Penderecki’s Double Concerto for Violin, Viola and Orchestra. Lush sound and subtle rhythmic motor skills led to an electrifying night of music.”

Read the translated review

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