Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) will welcome back the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center for a 2026 summer residency from July 12–26.
Curated by Artistic Directors David Finckel and Wu Han, the season features five programs that traverse a remarkable spectrum of chamber music — from Mozart to Marsalis, with works by Dvořák, Beethoven, Barber, Villa-Lobos, and more.
As the nation approaches America’s 250th, several programs also nod to the evolution of American music, highlighting composers such as Gershwin, Barber, Bernstein, and Marsalis. During Spa Little Theater’s historic renovation, all performances will take place at the Arthur Zankel Music Center at Skidmore College.
“As Spa Little Theater enters this important restoration phase, we are proud to continue our longstanding partnership with CMS. We are also deeply grateful for our ongoing collaboration with Skidmore College, whose Arthur Zankel Music Center provides a beautiful and welcoming home during the renovation.”
Elizabeth Sobol, Chief Executive Officer of Saratoga Performing Arts Center.
The 2026 summer season opens with “Dvořák’s Quintet in A Major” (July 12), featuring works by Mozart, Ravel, and Gershwin. Subsequent programs include “From Haydn to Copland” (July 15), “Burleigh, Dvořák, and Beethoven” (July 19), and “Winds Around the World” (July 22), highlighting the richness of wind repertoire alongside piano and strings. The season concludes with the Calidore String Quartet (July 26), performing works by Franklin (attrib.), Haydn, Mozart, Hugo Wolf, and Wynton Marsalis.
Kicking off the season to lead the opening program is CMS Co-Artistic Director Wu Han (piano). Guest artists for the 2026 summer residency include Stella Chen, Danbi Um, Matthew Lipman, Sterling Elliott, Evren Ozel, Michael Stephen Brown, Sahun Sam Hong, Orion Weiss, Aaron Boyd, Sean Lee, Lawrence Dutton, Milena Pájaro-Van De Stadt, Mihai Marica, Juho Pohjonen, Demarre McGill, James Austin Smith, Romie De Guise-Langlois, Marc Goldberg, Nathaniel Silberschlag, and the Calidore String Quartet.
All 2026 CMS events will take place in the Helen Filene Ladd Concert Hall in Arthur Zankel Music Center at Skidmore College while the Spa Little Theater undergoes renovation. Sunday performances are at 3 p.m., and Wednesday performances are at 7:30 p.m. Visit spac.org for more information.
Subscriptions to all five performances are available for purchase from November 20-26. SPAC members will receive their member discount on subscriptions; non-members will receive $5 off the regular ticket price. SPAC member pre-sales begin December 1, tiered by membership level. Single ticket sales begin on December 5 at 10:00 a.m. Ticket prices range from $51.75-$71.75 per ticket, inclusive of all applicable fees. Purchases of three or more summer 2026 Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center programs will receive a $5 discount on the regular ticket price, per ticket. Visit spac.org or call the box office at 518-584-9330 to purchase.
The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center residency is presented by Charles Schwab – Maureen Parker.
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center: July 12-26, 2026
SUN, JULY 12 | 3PM: Dvořák’s Quintet in A Major
Wu Han, piano
Evren Ozel, piano
Stella Chen, violin
Danbi Um, violin
Matthew Lipman, viola
Sterling Elliott, cello
Mozart Trio in E major for Piano, Violin, and Cello, K. 542
Ravel Sonata for Violin and Piano
Gershwin Three Preludes for Violin and Piano (arr. Heifetz)
Dvořák Quintet in A major for Piano, Two Violins, Viola, and Cello, Op. 5
WED, JULY 15 | 7:30PM: From Haydn to Copland
Michael Stephen Brown, piano
Sahun Sam Hong, piano
Lun Li, violin
James Thompson, viola
Nicholas Canellakis, cello
Ian David Rosenbaum, percussion
Haydn Trio in C major for Piano, Violin, and Cello, Hob. XV:27
Mendelssohn Quartet in C minor for Piano, Violin, Viola, and Cello, Op. 1
Brahms Selected Hungarian Dances for Piano, Four Hands
Bernstein Three Meditations from Mass for Cello and Piano (1971, arr. 1977)
Copland El Salón México for Piano and Percussion (arr. Bernstein)
SUN, JULY 19 | 3PM: Burleigh, Dvořák and Beethoven
Orion Weiss, piano
Aaron Boyd, violin
Sean Lee, violin
Lawrence Dutton, viola
Milena Pájaro-Van De Stadt, viola
Mihai Marica, cello
Burleigh Southland Sketches for Violin and Piano
Dvořák Trio in G minor for Piano, Violin, and Cello, Op. 26
Beethoven Quintet in C major for Two Violins, Two Violas, and Cello, Op. 29
WED, JULY 22 | 7:30PM: Winds Around the World
Juho Pohjonen, piano
DeMarre McGill, flute
James Austin Smith, oboe
Romie De Guise-Langlois, clarinet
Marc Goldberg, bassoon
Nathaniel Silberschlag, horn
Beethoven Sonata in F major for Horn and Piano, Op. 17
Barber Summer Music for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, and Horn, Op. 31
Villa-Lobos Trio for Oboe, Clarinet, and Bassoon
Taktakishvili Sonata for Flute and Piano
Jongen Rhapsody in D minor for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, and Piano, Op. 70
SUN, JULY 26 | 3PM: Calidore String Quartet
Calidore String Quartet
Jeffrey Myers, violin
Ryan Meehan, violin
Jeremy Berry, viola
Estelle Choi, cello
Franklin Quartet No. 2 in F major for Three Violins and Cello
Haydn Quartet in E-flat major for Strings, Hob. III:38, Op. 33, No. 2, “The Joke”
Mozart Quartet in B-flat major for Strings, K. 589, “Prussian”
Wolf Italian Serenade for String Quartet
Marsalis At the Octoroon Balls for String Quartet
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