Photo via Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum
Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum
Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum
Yaniv Dinur, the Milwaukee Chamber Music Festival’s artistic director, is once again presenting a delightful three-day festival of in the Villa Terrace Museum and Gardens, a spectacular Italianate Villa overlooking Lake Michigan in Milwaukee’s Historic Water Tower neighborhood. The rule of three applies and Dinur told me he hopes to continue the chamber music festival (now in year three) again in 2027 and going forward. More threes: the exciting three string quartets from Beethoven’s Op 59, two trios, and the triads in another piece—one of each in each program.
Dinur is a concert pianist and was the Resident Conductor with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra from 2015-2023. (He’s returning to the MSO next February to conduct a concert of Mozart and Shostakovich.) He explained that he created the Chamber Music Festival because there were no classical concerts in Milwaukee in the summer. “If you wanted to experience live classical music during the summer, you had to drive a few hours,” he says. “But not anymore!”
The first concert, 7 p.m. Thursday, August 27, begins with the first of Beethoven’s three Razumovsky string quartets composed in 1806. They were commission by and dedicated to the Russian ambassador in Vienna, Count Andreas Razumovsky. This concert is based on folk inspired themes and traditions. Ilana Setapen and Alexander Ayers (violins), Elizabeth Breslin (viola) and Madeleine Kabat (cello) comprise the quartet.
Intermission will provide an opportunity to enjoy the museum and view from the back portico. Afterwards, Dinur will be joined by Setapen and Kabat for the Rachmaninoff Trio élégiaque No. 1 in G minor and Smetana’s Piano Trio in G minor. Rachmaninoff composed the trio in January of 1892 when he was 18. He was the pianist when it premiered less than two weeks later. The Smetana Trio was written in 1855, revised and premiered in 1858 but not published until 1880. It dedicated to the memory of his eldest daughter, Bedřiška.
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The 7 p.m. Friday, August 28 concert features Beethoven’s Razumovsky Quartet #2. Equally exciting as #1, the second movement is mesmerizing and sets the stage for what’s to come in the second half. Jeanyi Kim and Ji-Yeon Lee (violins), Nathan Hackett (viola) and Madeleine Kabat (cello) form the quartet tonight.
After intermission, the clarinetist Todd Levy will join the quartet for Brahms’ Clarinet Quintet. The German clarinetist Richard Mühlfeld inspired Brahms to resume composing. In 1891 Brahms wrote this quintet as well as a clarinet trio. Finally, Dinur will be joined by Levy to play the minimalist piece “Spiegel im Spiegel” composed by the Estonia composer Arvo Pärt in 1978. You will hear the piano play what seems like an endless series of rising triads.
On Sunday, August 30, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. the festival concludes with Beethoven’s Razumovsky Quartet #3 in C major. Jeanyi Kim and Ji-Yeon Lee (violins), Alejandro Duque (viola) and Peter Thomas (cello) comprise the quartet. Dinur explains that “the mysterious, harmonically daring opening of the quartet inspired me to program French music in the second half.” Two additional compositions by Debussy and Franck complete the program.
Debussy’s Sonata for Flute, Viola, and Harp was composed in 1915 and popularized this combination of instruments. Violist Duque will be joined by Jennifer Bouton (flute) and Julia Coronelli (harp) for this melodically haunting composition. Finally, Dinur and cellist Peter Thomas will conclude the Festival with Franck’s Cello Sonata. Originally composed for violin and piano in 1887 it was later arranged for cello and piano by cellist Jules Delsart.
Third Annual Milwaukee Chamber Music Festival at Villa Terrace Museum and Gardens, August 27, 28 and 30. For tickets and more information, visit villageterrace.org.
