SPAC: Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center 2025 Summer Season at Spa Little Theater

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Performing Arts Center welcomes the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center back to Spa Little Theater for its summer residency from June 15 – Aug. 17. 

Led by Artistic Directors Wu Han and David Finckel, the season is highlighted by the SPAC debut of the Viano Quartet, one of the most sought-after young ensembles today and recipients of the prestigious 2025 Avery Fisher Career Grant. The next generation of star soloists gracing the stage include pianist George Li, following his 2024 SPAC debut with The Philadelphia Orchestra, and cellist Sterling Elliott, alongside the return of audience favorites Arnaud Sussman, Matthew Lipman and Stella Chen. 

“Since expanding our partnership with CMS, we have had the privilege of opening the doors of Spa Little Theater to new and returning audiences, all four seasons of the year. We look forward to welcoming this dynamic roster of artists to Saratoga this summer, under the brilliant direction of Wu Han and David Finckel,” said SPAC CEO Elizabeth Sobol, in a statement.

The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s summer season opens with “Beethoven and Dvořák,” led by Wu Han (June 15), followed by “Great Sonatas” featuring Beethoven, Brahms, and Mozart (June 22). The series continues in July with programs anchored by “Mendelssohn’s String Quintet in A Major” (July 13), and “Beethoven’s Quintet for Piano and Winds” (July 20). Included in the season is the SPAC debut of the Viano Quartet (Aug. 10) in a program offering classic string quartets by Haydn, Mendelssohn and Shostakovich, and a closing program with major works by “Shostakovich and Dohnányi” (Aug. 17) featuring CMS artistic co-director, cellist David Finckel. 

Anchored by Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Artistic Directors Wu Han (piano) and David Finckel (cello), this season’s guest artists include violinists Chad Hoopes, Stella Chen, Bella Hristova, Arnaud Sussman, Danbi Um, Julian Rhee and Sean Lee; violists Matthew Lipman and Paul Neubauer; cellists Paul Watkins, Nicholas Canellakis and Sterling Elliott; pianists George Li, Gilles Vonsattel, Evren Ozel, Sahun Sam Hong, and Anna Geniushene; clarinetist Sebastian Manz; flutist Tara Helen O’Connor; oboist James Austin Smith; bassoonist Marc Goldberg; Nathaniel Silberschlag on horn, and the Viano Quartet. 

All summer 2025 CMS events will take place at the Spa Little Theatre (19 Roosevelt Drive, Saratoga Springs,). There is one performance of each program at 3 p.m. Doors open at 2 and the house opens at 2:30pm. 

For full season subscriptions to all six summer programs, single performance tickets and other information, go to: spac.org.