ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Friends of Chamber Music next year will host one of the biggest names in classical music in a world premiere of a work it co-commissioned from a world-renowned composer.
The April 2, 2025, Joshua Bell concert with his soprano wife Larisa MartÃnez will cap a season that includes appearances by several world-renowned chamber music ensembles including the Takács Quartet and the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ debut of the Aris Quartett.
World-renowned violinist Joshua Bell and his soprano wife Larisa Martinez will perform the world premiere in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ of a piece commissioned for them.
The Bell concert is a cornerstone of the 2025 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Desert Song Festival, which also will include the return of two popular vocalists to ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ stages.
Ballet ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, meanwhile, will present seven company premieres in a season that includes the return of the holiday classic “The Nutcracker†with ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Symphony Orchestra and the return of the Dia de los Muertos ballet “Spirit Garden,†created in 2016 by Ballet ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Associate Artistic Director and resident choreographer Cheiko Imada.
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Season tickets for both organizations are on sale through their websites: and .
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Friends of Chamber Music
It’s been more than 10 years since Imani Winds played a concert with ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Friends of Chamber Music. They return Feb. 5, 2025.
Performances are held at Leo Rich Theater, 260 S. Church Ave., unless noted; 0-577-3769
Accordion virtuoso Hanzhi Wang, Oct. 13
The French string ensemble Modigliani Quartet, Oct. 23
Czech-born Bennewitz Quartet with pianist Arsentiy Kharitonov, Nov. 20
Pianist Jeremy Denk joins Takács Quartet, Dec. 4
Dover Quartet makes a quick encore after headlining the 2024 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Winter Chamber Music Festival, Jan. 15, 2025
Cellist Hayoung Choi makes her ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ debut, Jan. 26, 2025
After a 10-year absence, Imani Winds returns to a ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ stage, Feb. 5, 2025
Super group the SPA Trio — soprano Susanna Phillips, violist Paul Neubauer and pianist Anne-Marie McDermott — introduce themselves as part of the 2025 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Desert Song Festival, Feb. 19, 2025
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Winter Chamber Music Festival, March 2-9, 2025; festival celebration is March 8, 2025
Aris Quartett plays its first ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ concert, March 19, 2025
Award-winning young Hong Kong-born pianist Aristo Sham plays a Piano & Friends recital, March 30, 2025
Violin great Bell shares the stage at Crowder Hall, 1017 N. Olive Road, on the University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ campus, with his soprano wife, performing the world premiere of a song cycle by John Corigliano, April 2, 2025. Part of the 2025 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Desert Song Festival.
2025 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Desert Song Festival
Mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke, with pianist Myra Huang at the 2020 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Desert Song Festival, is back in 2025 for two festival events with the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Symphony Orchestra.
Performances are held at venues throughout ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ as noted. Tickets are available from presenting organizations; tucs8-546-3305
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Early Music hosts its popular Baroque Music Festival, Jan. 10-12, 2025, Grace St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 2331 E. Adams St.
True Concord Voices & Orchestra is hosting a recital with bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green, Jan. 16, 2025, Holsclaw Hall, 1017 N. Olive Road, in the University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ School of Music
Mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke joins ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Symphony Orchestra for Mahler 3, Jan. 24 and 26, 2025, Linda Ronstadt Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Theatre Company mounts “Blues in the Night,†Jan. 26-Feb. 15, 2025, Temple of Music & Art, 330 S. Scott Ave.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Opera brings Puccini’s great “La Bohème†to Linda Ronstadt Music Hall, Feb. 1, 2025
Mezzo Sasha Cooke returns to the TSO for “Mahler & Schumann,†Feb. 1-2, 2025, Catalina Foothills High School, 4300 E. Sunrise Drive
Tenor Carlos Zapien joins Ballet ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ and the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Guitar Society Feb. 14-16, 2025, Leo Rich
Soprano Susanna Phillips, who has played several ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Desert Song Festival events over the years, returns with her SPA Trio — from left, Phillips, violist Paul Neubauer and pianist Anne-Marie McDermott — for an ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Friends of Chamber Music recital.
Soprano Susanna Phillips, a repeat offender to the festival, returns with her trio SPA, Feb. 19, 2025, at Leo Rich
Violin great Joshua Bell and his soprano wife Larisa MartÃnez perform the world premiere of a new song cycle commissioned by the festival and ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Friends of Chamber Music, April 2, 2025, Crowder Hall, 1017 N. Olive Road, on the UA campus
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Opera presents a recital with tenor Stephen Costello, April 3, 2025, at UA’s Holsclaw Hall
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Symphony Orchestra presents the choral masterpiece “Carmina Burana,†April 4 and 6, 2025, Music Hall
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Opera closes out the festival with “Aida,†April 19, 2025, Music Hall
Ballet ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
Performances are held in downtown venues as noted; ball0-903-1445
“Footprints At the Fox,†part of the Fox ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Theatre’s Kids in the Theatre Family & Youth Program, Sept. 19, Fox ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Theatre, 17 W. Congress
“Spirit Garden,†the first time the ballet has performed the work by resident choreographer Chieko Imada since 2018. Program also includes the second act from “Swan Lake,†Nov. 1-3, Leo Rich Theater
“The Nutcracker,†featuring ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Symphony Orchestra, Dec. 20-22, Linda Ronstadt Music Hall
“From ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ With Love,†Feb. 14-16, 2025, Leo Rich
“Modern Masters,†March 14-16, Leo Rich
Performers Ana MarÃa MartÃnez, soprano, Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor, the Philharmonia Orchestra and UC Berkeley Chorus & Volti perform "Dreamers." The music is by Jimmy Bellido and lyrics by Nilo Cruz. The composer Jimmy Lopez Bellido and tenor Michael Fabiano are performing the world premiere of “Quiet Poems,†commissioned by the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Desert Song Festival. The texts are from poems written by Nilo Cruz, with whom Lopez collaborated on the opera “Bel Canto†and an oratorio “Dreamers.†Video Courtesy Jimmy Lopez Bellido.
Contact reporter Cathalena E. Burch at cburch@tucson.com. On Twitter @Starburch
Cathalena E. Burch
Reporter
