25-26 Season Press Release

CARMEL, CA (July 7, 2025) — Chamber Music Monterey Bay (CMMB) announces its 59th season, presenting five evening concerts by world-class ensembles at the historic Sunset Center in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Concerts will be held on Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., preceded by complimentary pre-concert lectures at 6:30 p.m., offering audiences deeper engagement with the repertoire and performers.

The 2025–2026 season continues CMMB’s mission to enrich the cultural life of the Central Coast by presenting exceptional chamber music performances, commissioning new works, and supporting community education and outreach initiatives. This season reflects CMMB’s dual commitment to preserving the legacy of chamber music while advancing its evolution through contemporary voices.

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SEASON OPENING CONCERT

Escher String Quartet with Luke Fleming, Viola
Saturday, November 1, 2025 | 7:30 p.m. | Sunset Center, Carmel
Free pre-concert lecture at 6:30 p.m.

The season begins with the Escher String Quartet, internationally acclaimed for its nuanced interpretations and praised as “truly exceptional” (The Guardian). They will be joined by Luke Fleming, violist and Artistic Director, Manhattan Chamber Players.

• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – String Quartet in E-flat Major, K. 428

• Chris Rogerson – String Quintet (2025) – A CMMB co-commission and West Coast premiere

• Johannes Brahms – String Quintet No. 2 in G Major, Op. 111

 

This performance highlights CMMB’s continued leadership in commissioning new works, bridging tradition and innovation for future generations.

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CONCERT II

Lysander Piano Trio
Saturday, January 10, 2026 | 7:30 p.m. | Sunset Center, Carmel
Free pre-concert lecture at 6:30 p.m.

Described by The New York Times as offering “polished and spirited interpretations,” the Lysander Piano Trio returns with a vibrant program of emotionally charged 20th- and 21st-century works alongside a beloved Romantic masterwork.

• Udi Perlman – Nostos (2022)

• Mieczysław Weinberg – Piano Trio in A Minor, Op. 24

• Antonín Dvořák – Piano Trio No. 3 in F Minor, Op. 65

 

This concert illustrates chamber music’s global reach and emotional depth, from modern reflection to Romantic grandeur.

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CONCERT III

Morgenstern Trio
Saturday, February 28, 2026 | 7:30 p.m. | Sunset Center, Carmel
Free pre-concert lecture at 6:30 p.m.

Germany’s Morgenstern Trio, celebrated for their “breathtaking virtuosity” (Kleine Zeitung), brings a thoughtful and diverse program featuring lyrical tradition and modernist intensity.

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• Ludwig van Beethoven – Piano Trio in C Minor, Op. 1, No. 3

• Frank Martin – Trio on Irish Folk Tunes

• Arnold Schoenberg, trans. Steuermann – Verklärte Nacht, Op. 4

 

This performance spans the expressive spectrum of the piano trio form, from Classical structure to emotionally expansive modernism.

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CONCERT IV

Dover Quartet
Saturday, March 28, 2026 | 7:30 p.m. | Sunset Center, Carmel
Free pre-concert lecture at 6:30 p.m.

Recognized by BBC Music Magazine as “one of the greatest quartets of the last 100 years,” the Dover Quartet presents a deeply expressive program blending historical depth with contemporary brilliance.

• Jessie Montgomery – Strum

• Franz Joseph Haydn – String Quartet No. 27 in D Major, Op. 20, No. 4

• Karol Szymanowski – String Quartet No. 1 in C Major, Op. 37

• Felix Mendelssohn – String Quartet No. 6 in F Minor, Op. 80 (“The Lick Quartet”)

 

This concert affirms CMMB’s dedication to programming that challenges, inspires, and uplifts.

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SEASON FINALE

Calidore String Quartet
Saturday, May 2, 2026 | 7:30 p.m. | Sunset Center, Carmel
Free pre-concert lecture at 6:30 p.m.

Closing the season is the Calidore String Quartet, described by The New York Times as possessing “deep reserves of virtuosity and irrepressible dramatic instinct.”

• Franz Joseph Haydn – String Quartet No. 65 in D Major, Op. 76, No. 5

• Dmitri Shostakovich – String Quartet No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 110

• Ludwig van Beethoven – String Quartet No. 14 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 131

 

An evening of musical gravity and brilliance, this finale offers a masterclass in the enduring power of the string quartet.​

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About Chamber Music Monterey Bay

Founded in 1966, Chamber Music Monterey Bay is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to presenting a world-class concert series, commissioning new works, and offering education and outreach that makes chamber music accessible to diverse communities. Its programming reflects a commitment to artistic excellence, cultural stewardship, and education for audiences of all ages.

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