Event
Ehnes and Friends
Naples Philharmonic Wang Chamber Music
James Ehnes, violin
Orion Weiss, piano
Musicians of the Naples Philharmonic
Schubert — Rondo in B Minor
Jennifer Higdon — Book of Brass for Brass Quintet
Chausson — Concerto for Violin, Piano and String Quartet, Op. 21
Leading piano soloist and chamber collaborator Orion Weiss joins celebrated violinist and Artis—Naples Artistic Partner James Ehnes and musicians of the Naples Philharmonic for a performance that traces the breadth of the chamber repertoire. Schubert’s incendiary Rondo in B Minor, a master class in technical precision and expressive range from the early Romantic era, opens the program. Turning to the present, Jennifer Higdon’s high-energy Book of Brass for Brass Quintet provides a contemporary burst of color before the performance concludes with Chausson’s Concerto for Violin, Piano and String Quartet, a late-Romantic work of striking drama and intimacy.
The Wang Chamber Music series is generously sponsored by David* and Cecile Wang.
* Deceased
James Ehnes
James Ehnes
James Ehnes has established himself as one of the most sought-after musicians on the international stage. Gifted with a rare combination of stunning virtuosity, serene lyricism and unfaltering musicality, James is a favorite guest at the world’s most celebrated concert halls.
Recent and upcoming orchestral highlights include the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, NHK Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra and The Cleveland Orchestra.
A devoted chamber musician, James is the artistic director of the Seattle Chamber Music Society and the leader of the Ehnes Quartet. As a recitalist, he performs regularly at Wigmore Hall, Carnegie Hall, Symphony Center Chicago, Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Verbier Festival, Dresden Music Festival and Festival de Pâques in Aix-en-Provence.
James, who began violin studies at the age of 5, became a protégé of the noted Canadian violinist Francis Chaplin at 9 and made his orchestral debut with L’Orchestre symphonique de Montréal at 13, has an extensive discography and has won many awards for his recordings, including two Grammys, three Gramophone Awards and 12 Juno Awards—the most of any classical musician in history.
James is a member of the Order of Canada and the Order of Manitoba, a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and an honorary fellow of the Royal Academy of Music, where he is a visiting professor. Since 2024, he has been a professor of violin at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. James plays the “Marsick” Stradivarius of 1715.
Orion Weiss
Orion Weiss
One of the most sought-after soloists and chamber music collaborators of his generation, Orion Weiss is widely regarded as a “brilliant pianist” (The New York Times) with “powerful technique and exceptional insight” (The Washington Post). With a warmth to his playing that outwardly reflects his engaging personality, Weiss’ “delicate, even fingerwork” (Washington Classical Review) and “head-spinning range of colors” (Chicago Tribune) have dazzled audiences around the world. He has performed with all of the major orchestras of North America, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic and New York Philharmonic.
Known for his affinity for chamber music, Weiss performs regularly with violinists Augustin Hadelich, William Hagen and James Ehnes; pianists Michael Brown and Shai Wosner; and the Ariel String Quartet, Parker Quartet and Pacifica Quartet. As a recitalist and chamber musician, he has appeared at venues and festivals including the Ravinia Festival, the Aspen Music Festival, Tanglewood, the Kennedy Center, the Mariinsky Theatre (St. Petersburg), the Edinburgh International Festival and the Lucerne Festival, among many others.
Other highlights from Weiss’ recent seasons include the release of his Arc recital trilogy; a recording of Korngold’s Piano Concerto for the Left Hand and other works with Leon Botstein and TON; and recordings of Gershwin’s complete works for piano and orchestra with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and JoAnn Falletta.
Naples Philharmonic
Naples Philharmonic
Founded in 1982, the Naples Philharmonic normally performs over 140 orchestral and chamber concerts, as well as opera and ballet, education, community and special event concerts from September through June each year.
Meet the Musicians
Alexander Shelley
Artistic and Music Director Meet Alexander
Jack Everly
Principal Pops Conductor Meet Jack
James Ehnes
Artistic Partner Meet James
Manuel López-Gómez
Associate Conductor Meet Manuel
