GTMF announces 2025 chamber music lineup – JH News&Guide

Musicologists count an astounding 722 compositions in the catalogue of Ludwig von Beethoven, written over a scant 45 years, starting when he was just 11 years old. They include his canonical nine symphonies as well as concertos, overtures, operas, incidental music and other orchestral works.

But the vast majority of Beethoven’s music, 80% or so, was chamber music: his sublime piano sonatas and string quartets; pieces featuring flute, violin, cello, viola, even mandolin; trios, quartets, quintets and sextets; and dozens of songs, dances and other short pieces.

The same can be said for many, if not most, “classical” composers, from J.S. Bach right up through today’s contemporary writers. While there is nothing to compare to the awesome power of an orchestra consisting of 60, 80, 100 or more musicians, there’s also nothing that compares with the intimacy of chamber music.

And so, every year for the past 63 years, the Grand Teton Music Festival has always programmed plenty of works for small ensembles, not only to offer audiences a sampling of this vast and essential realm of music, but also to give the members of the festival orchestra chances to gather to enjoy the close conviviality that chamber music demands and engenders.

The Grand Teton Music Festival put tickets for individual concerts of its 64th season on sale on Tuesday (subscriptions went on sale in February), and also announced details of its 2025 Benoliel Chamber Music Series, named for the late champion of arts and culture, and longtime GTMF donor and board member Peter Benoliel, who died Feb. 17 at the age of 93.

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