Newtown Yardley, PA Entertainment Guide Announcements

Princeton University Concerts Announces 2025-26 Season

March 28, 2025

Princeton University Concerts' 132nd year of programming includes the world's greatest classical music stars playing repertoire from early music to contemporary, including Princeton University Department of Music graduate students. The upcoming performance season marks 10 years of the Performances Up Close series and ushers in new directions for the ever-innovating Music & Healing series. Information is available at puc.princeton.edu.

 

PRINCETON, NJ—Princeton University Concerts (PUC)'s 2025-26 season offers more opportunities than ever before to experience the world's most celebrated musicians, among friends. From September 2025-April 2026, 23 performances span diverse artists, repertoire, and formats in which to experience chamber music. Curated series include:

·       Concert Classics Series: A tradition since 1894, this mainstage series presents world-renowned musicians in the intimate Richardson Auditorium.

·       Performances Up Close Series: Celebrating its 10th anniversary, this unique series invites audiences on stage with performers for informal, hour-long concerts. This season's programming honors standout themes from the series' past decade.

·       Music & Healing Series: A thought-provoking exploration of the intersection of music, healing, and the human experience. This season focuses on how music helps us process endings and transitions, featuring renowned artists such as choreographer Mark Morris, director Peter Sellars, and violinist Lisa Batiashvili.

·       Special Events: Two groundbreaking theatrical programs pushing artistic boundaries: Dies Irae (Day of Wrath), a dramatic multimedia work conceived by violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja responding to modern warfare and the climate crisis, performed in the Princeton University Chapel; and Emily—No Prisoner Be, a new semi-staged song cycle by Kevin Puts inspired by Emily Dickinson, performed by mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato and string trio Time for Three in Richardson Auditorium.

·       Community Engagement: All in the Family programing for children ages 3-12; programs curated by Princeton University Department of Music performance faculty and students as part of the Richardson Chamber Players; Do-Re-Meet pre-concert social events and documentary screenings at the Garden Theatre; and free programs including Live Music Meditations, the Annual Chamber Jam, and book discussions at the Princeton Public Library.

 

CONCERT CLASSICS SERIES

 

"When Philena Fobes Fine founded the Ladies Musical Committee in 1894—the seed that blossomed into today's Princeton University Concerts—they exclusively presented string quartets," notes PUC Director Marna Seltzer. "Our programming celebrates these beginnings by presenting the world's greatest string quartets and star string soloists at the lowest prices in the region. That said, there is something for everyone, including fans of great pianists and opera singers. All the artists are bringing exceptionally thoughtful programs, and many are making rare recital appearances."

 

The season opens with the return of the Belcea String Quartet on Thursday, October 23, 2025, following their electrifying collaboration with the Ébène String Quartet in a program of string octets last season. This year, each ensemble will take center stage in its own spotlight, with the Ébène Quartet performing on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.

 

Adding a unique twist, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Richard Tognetti, returns on Thursday, April 23, 2026, with an innovative program that transforms works originally composed for string quartet into striking new interpretations for chamber orchestra.

 

Acclaimed pianist Paul Lewis makes his long-awaited return to PUC on Thursday, November 6, 2025, with a program exploring the ongoing evolution of the sonata. This season also welcomes two sought-after pianists in highly anticipated PUC debuts, each performing alongside world-renowned string players. Spanish pianist Javier Perianes will take the stage with legendary violist Tabea Zimmermann on Thursday, March 19, 2026 in a duo program. Pianist Giorgi Gigashvili—the Georgian protégé of pianist Martha Argerich—joins celebrated violinist Lisa Batiashvili for her return appearance on Thursday, April 30, 2026.

 

February 2026 will bring two more exciting PUC debuts. On Thursday, February 5, 2026, tenor Benjamin Bernheim, hailed as "the most beautiful tenor voice since Luciano Pavarotti" (Süddeutsche Zeitung), will perform with Canadian pianist Carrie-Ann Matheson. Many may recognize Bernheim from his performances at the closing ceremonies of the Paris Olympics and at the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral. The following Thursday, February 12, 2026, the Marmen String Quartet, who have developed a reputation for their refreshing and daring interpretations at prestigious venues like Wigmore Hall and the BBC Proms, will explore the deep connection between folk traditions and the most innovative voices in classical music, including Canadian composer Cassandra Miller.

 

SPECIAL EVENTS

 

Two groundbreaking, theatrical programs define this season's Special Events: Emily—No Prisoner Be (Sunday, February 22, 2026), a new work by Kevin Puts for mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato and string trio Time for Three inspired by Emily Dickinson, and Dies Irae (Day of Wrath, Thursday, March 26, 2026), violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja's powerful multimedia reflection on war and climate change, performed together with the University's own Richardson Chamber Players and the Princeton University Chapel Choir, and amplified by the evocative setting of the Princeton University Chapel.

 

"These two leading ladies are always pushing the boundaries of the concert experience," says Seltzer. "We're so fortunate that, because of our ongoing relationship with both Joyce and Patricia, they chose Princeton as the place to bring these extraordinary projects to life."

 

PERFORMANCES UP CLOSE SERIES (10-Year Anniversary)

 

This beloved series, where audiences sit on stage alongside the artists, turns 10 with a season celebrating its innovative spirit and nodding to the many kinds of programs it has hosted over the past decade: exciting artistic collaborations such as the Takács String Quartet with special guest violist Jordan Bak (September 25, 2025); genre-defying musicians like cellist Abel Selaocoe who blends classical cello with the traditions of his South African roots and throat singing (September 30, 2025); bringing to life the conviviality of baroque jam sessions, for which early music band Ruckus and flutist Emi Ferguson are so renowned (November 13, 2025); giving voice to underrepresented instruments like the accordion, as performed by Théo Ould on December 10, 2025; and the personal connections at the heart of all chamber music, manifested through the hometown return of violist Natalie Loughran, a Princeton High School alumna, alongside her ensemble the Castalian String Quartet.

 

Do-Re-Meet social events for music lovers, including pre-concert speed dating, speed friend-ing, and an LGBTQIA+ Mingle, will be paired with select concerts on this series as an extension of the community-building heart of the Performances Up Close series. These events are available for priority registration to curated series subscribers and will become available to single ticket buyers on September 8, 2025.

 

MUSIC & HEALING SERIES

 

For the past three seasons, PUC's Music & Healing series has delved deeply into the intersection of music, healing, and the human experience. As kamancheh master Kayhan Kalhor poignantly expressed during his appearance in the series, "Music is life." The 2025-26 season continues this exploration centered on one of life's most inevitable truths: endings—and the new beginnings they create.

 

On Wednesday, October 8, 2025, legendary choreographer Mark Morris, one of the most prolific and musically insightful artists of our time, will reflect on how he is preparing his dance company and his body of work with an eye towards his own mortality in a conversation interwoven with dances performed by members of his company titled The Dance Lives On: Contemplating Artistic Legacy.

 

On Wednesday, December 3, 2025, MacArthur "Genius" Fellow and visionary opera and stage director Peter Sellars will lead an intimate conversation, Mourning through Music, sharing how some of his most powerful artistic works have emerged from his darkest moments—and how music has helped both himself and others navigate grief and loss.

 

The series concludes on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, with an evening featuring daring violinist Lisa Batiashvili in Sounding Defiance: Georgia & Ukraine, a powerful reflection on music's resilience in the face of attempted cultural erasure.

 

Patrons are also encouraged to attend the Special Event Dies Irae, violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja's urgent musical response to the concept of the end of the world, performed in the Princeton University Chapel on Thursday, March 26, 2026.

 

"Lisa Batiashvili has poignantly said, 'First of all, we are human beings, and then we are musicians—not the other way around,'" says Outreach Manager Dasha Koltunyuk. "We look forward to exploring this idea together with our audiences."

 

ALL IN THE FAMILY & RICHARDSON CHAMBER PLAYERS

 

The 2025-26 season will also feature All in the Family concerts and performances by the Richardson Chamber Players, a resident ensemble of Princeton University performance faculty, distinguished guest artists and supremely talented students. On Saturday, October 18, 2025 at 1PM, musicians from The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center will be joined by host Bruce Adolphe for a performance curated for children ages 6-12 at Richardson Auditorium. Relaxed-format performances curated for children ages 3-6 and neurodiverse children will take place on Saturday, March 14, 2026 at 1PM and 3PM, with host Rami Vamos leading us on a kid-friendly exploration of classical music. The Richardson Chamber Players will present a concert on Sunday, November 2, 2025 at 3PM at Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall and will perform as part of violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja's Dies Irae production on Thursday, March 26, 2026.

 

SUBSCRIPTION & TICKET INFORMATION

 

Princeton University Concerts continues to offer the lowest ticket prices in the region.

Curated Series Subscriptions are now available, including the Concert Classics Subscription (8 concerts starting at $208), Performances Up Close Subscription (5 concerts for $170), and Music & Healing Subscription (3 events for $66), with the option to add on Special Events to any series. Beginning May 12, audiences can create their own packages by selecting three or more concerts across series. Single tickets go on sale August 4 online and September 8 by phone. More details at puc.princeton.edu.

 

Patrons enrolled in qualifying aid programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, and public housing, as well as to NJ Families First Discovery Pass holders, are encouraged to enroll in PUC's Admit All program. Admit All provides access to discounted tickets for $11 or less at select concerts throughout the season. Those interested in participating in the Admit All program can visit puc.princeton.edu/admit-all or call the PUC office at 609-258-2800 to learn more.

 

Free opportunities, including Live Music Meditations, Book Group discussions at the Princeton Public Library, and the Annual Chamber Jam, will be announced at a later date.

 

For more information, please visit puc.princeton.edu or call 609-258-2800.

 

 

THE 2025–26 SEASON

(Organized by series, then chronologically)

*Denotes Princeton University Concerts debut

 All events are held at Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall on the Princeton University campus unless otherwise noted.

 

CONCERT CLASSICS SERIES (8 CONCERTS)

Hear the world's most vibrant and celebrated classical musicians—both fan favorites and long-awaited debuts— within the intimacy of Richardson Auditorium on our mainstage series.

 

Thursday, October 23, 2025 | 7:30PM

BELCEA STRING QUARTET

Mozart String Quartet No. 19 in C Major, K. 465 "Dissonance" | Brett Dean New String Quartet (composed for the Belcea Quartet) | Beethoven String Quartet No. 16 in F Major, Op. 135

 

Thursday, November 6, 2025 | 7:30PM

PAUL LEWIS, Piano

Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 10, No. 1 | Thomas Larcher Piano Sonata (New Commission) | Schubert Piano Sonata No. 21 in B-flat Major, D. 960

 

Thursday, February 5, 2026 | 7:30PM

BENJAMIN BERNHEIM*, Tenor

CARRIE-ANN MATHESON*, Piano

Henri Duparc L'invitation au voyage, Chanson triste, Phidylé | Ernest Chausson Poème de l'amour et de la mer, La fleur des eaux, La mort de l'amour | Frederic Mompou Damunt de tu només les flors | Alberto Ginastera Canción al arbol del olvido | Giacomo Puccini Mentìa l'avviso, Terra e mare, Sole e amore | Joseph Kosma Les feuilles mortes | Charles Trenet Douce France | Jacques Brel Quand on n'a que l'amour

 

Thursday, February 12, 2026 | 7:30PM

MARMEN STRING QUARTET*

Haydn String Quartet in B-flat Major, Op. 76, No. 4 "Sunrise" | Cassandra Miller Leaving (2011) | Bartók String Quartet No. 2 in A Minor, Sz. 67 | Debussy String Quartet

 

Thursday, March 19, 2026 | 7:30PM

TABEA ZIMMERMANN, Viola

JAVIER PERIANES*, Piano

Robert Schumann Fantasiestücke, Op. 73 | Johannes Brahms Sonata in E-flat Major, Op. 120 No. 2 | Benjamin Britten Lachrymae, Op. 48 | Dmitri Shostakovich Viola Sonata, Op. 147

 

Wednesday, April 8, 2026 | 7:30PM

ÉBÈNE STRING QUARTET

Mozart String Quartet No. 15 in D Minor, K. 421 | Ravel String Quartet | Brahms String Quartet No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 51, No. 2

 

Thursday, April 23, 2026 | 7:30PM

AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

RICHARD TOGNETTI, Director

Franz Schubert "Quartettsatz" in C Minor, D. 703 | John Luther Adams New Work | Ralph Vaughan Williams The Lark Ascending | Fanny Mendelssohn String Quartet No. 1 in E-flat Major, Op. 12

 

Thursday, April 30, 2026 | 7:30PM

LISA BATIASHVILI, Violin

GIORGI GIGASHVILI*, Piano

Beethoven Violin Sonata No. 3 in E-flat Major, Op. 12, No. 3 | Bartók Violin Sonata No. 1, Sz.75 | Josef Bardanashvili New Work | Franck Violin Sonata in A major

 

 

PERFORMANCES UP CLOSE SERIES (5 CONCERTS)

Sit on Stage! Experience these one-hour concerts up close in an intimate, immersive setting. Celebrate the 10th anniversary of this beloved series—now available as a subscription for the first time. Enjoy music that's immediate, informal, and perfectly timed for your schedule.

 

Thursday, September 25, 2025 | 6PM & 9PM

TAKÁCS STRING QUARTET

JORDAN BAK, Viola

W.A. Mozart String Quintet No. 3 in C Major, K. 515, String Quintet No. 4 in G Minor, K.516

 

Tuesday, September 30, 2025 | 6PM & 9PM

ABEL SELAOCOE*, Cello

Works by J.S. Bach, new works by Michel van der Aa and Ben Nobuto, and more

Presented in collaboration with the African Music Ensemble

 

Thursday, November 13, 2025 | 6PM & 9PM

RUCKUS Early Music Band*

EMI FERGUSON, Flute

"Fly the Coop," a joyous, kaleidoscopic romp through some of J.S. Bach's most playful and transcendent works, including his flute sonatas and keyboard works.

 

Wednesday, December 10, 2025 | 6PM & 9PM

THÉO OULD*, Accordion

Works by Bach, Piazzolla, Bartók, Villa-Lobos, Rameau, and others

Presented in collaboration with Princeton Sound Kitchen

 

Sunday, March 1, 2026 | 3PM & 6PM

CASTALIAN STRING QUARTET

Leoš Janá?ek String Quartet No. 2 "Intimate Letters" | Felix Mendelssohn String Quartet No. 5 in e-flat Major, Op. 44, No. 3

 

MUSIC & HEALING SERIES (3 EVENTS)

Explore the intersection of music, healing, and human experience through conversation and performance with multifaceted artists. This season, the series explores how music helps us navigate endings—shaping artistic memory, offering solace in times of loss, and sustaining cultural heritage.

 

Wednesday, October 8, 2025 | 7:30PM

MARK MORRIS, Choreographer

"The Dance Lives On: Contemplating Artistic Legacy"

A conversation with Mark Morris, permeated by selections of his choreography.

 

Wednesday, December 3, 2025 | 7:30PM

PETER SELLARS*, Director

"Mourning through Music"

A conversation with Peter Sellars, permeated by live performance.

 

Wednesday, April 29, 2026 | 7:30PM

LISA BATIASHVILI, Violinist

"Sounding Defiance: Georgia & Ukraine"

A conversation with Lisa Batiashvili complemented by live performance, featuring the violinist alongside her fellow Georgian, pianist Giorgi Gigashvili.

 

To further explore music's role in navigating endings and envisioning new beginnings, Music & Healing series subscribers have the exclusive opportunity to add the Special Event "Dies Irae" to their subscription at a 20% discount.

 

SPECIAL EVENTS

Patrons who purchase a series subscription can add one or both of the following Special Events at a discounted rate when placing a subscription order:

 

Sunday, February 22, 2026 | 3PM

JOYCE DiDONATO, Mezzo-soprano

TIME FOR THREE String Trio

Kevin Puts Emily—No Prisoner Be, a new, semi-staged song cycle based on poems of Emily Dickinson 

 

Thursday, March 26, 2026 | 7:30PM at the Princeton University Chapel

PATRICIA KOPATCHINSKAJA, Violin

Princeton University Chapel Choir

Richardson Chamber Players

Dies Irae

A semi-staged multimedia work conceived by violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja merging a fierce musical enactment of the day of judgment with a sharp critique of war and the climate crisis as drivers of our self-destruction, weaving together the compositions of Giacinto Scelsi, Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber, George Crumb, Jimi Hendrix, Antonio Lotti, John Dowland, and Galina Ustvolskaya to evoke a haunting final "day of wrath."

 

RICHARDSON CHAMBER PLAYERS (2 CONCERTS)

Formed in 1994–95 on the occasion of PUC's 100th anniversary, this mixed ensemble comprises Princeton University's performance faculty, distinguished guest artists, and supremely talented Princeton University students. 

 

Sunday, November 2, 2025 | 3PM

Program to be announced at a later date

 

Thursday, March 26, 2026 | 7:30PM at the Princeton University Chapel

The Richardson Chamber Players will perform in violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja's Dies Irae, a semi-staged musical portrayal of judgment day that reflects on war and the climate crisis, spanning music from John Downland to Jimi Hendrix.

 

ALL IN THE FAMILY—2 PROGRAMS FOR KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES

PUC nurtures a lifelong love of music by offering kids a chance to encounter chamber music in person through two special programs featuring world-class musicians.

 

Saturday, October 18, 2025 | 1PM

"Meet the Music: Musical Fairy Tales" with The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and host Bruce Adolphe

Curated for kids ages 6-12 and their families

 

Saturday, March 14, 2026 | 1PM & 3PM

"Little Listeners: Time for Music" with host Rami Vamos

A relaxed-format concert curated for kids ages 3-6, including neurodiverse children, and their families

Works by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Dvo?ák, Rorem, and Leroy Anderson

 

LIVE MUSIC MEDITATION

PUC's internationally acclaimed, groundbreaking initiative, a partnership with the Princeton University Office of Religious Life, pairs guided meditation with live performance by the world's greatest musicians. The hour-long, free sessions, are held throughout the year. Dates and artists TBA. 

 

ANNUAL CHAMBER JAM

Princeton University Concerts' Annual Chamber Jam is an opportunity for amateur musicians of all ages and levels to make music alongside professional artists. Past participants include members of the Berlin Philharmonic with conductor Gustavo Dudamel, Chicago Symphony Winds, East Coast Chamber Orchestra, Escher String Quartet, St. Lawrence String Quartet, Takács String Quartet, and the Tenebrae Choir. The 2025-26 Chamber Jam artists are to be announced.

 

DO-RE-MEET

Concertgoers can extend their experience with pre-concert social events for music lovers. Presented by Princeton University Concerts in partnership with Risa Grimaldi of TheSinglesGroup.com. These events are held at the historic Maclean House on the Princeton University campus, just steps away from the concert hall. Do-Re-Meet events are available for priority registration to Performances Up Close series subscribers and will become available to single ticket buyers at a later date.

 

Thursday, September 25, 2025 | 7 PM
Pre-Concert Speed Dating
Paired with Takács String Quartet & Jordan Bak, Viola (Performances Up Close, 9 PM)

Tuesday, September 30, 2025 | 7 PM
Pre-Concert Speed Friend-ing
Paired with Abel Selaocoe, Cello (Performances Up Close, 9 PM)

Wednesday, December 10, 2025 | 7 PM
LGBTQIA+ Mingle & Holiday Ugly Sweater Party!
Paired with Théo Ould, Accordion (Performances Up Close, 9 PM)

Sunday, March 1, 2026 | 1 PM
Pre-Concert Speed Dating
Paired with Castalian String Quartet (Performances Up Close, 3 PM)

 

AT THE MOVIES

Enjoy films related to the programs and artists on our series through our partnership with the Princeton Garden Theatre, the community's local nonprofit arthouse theater. Screenings TBA.