OPUS 71 CONCERTS
Chamber Music Series
We are an artist-curated chamber music series that provides free concerts to our community in New York City.
ALL CONCERTS TAKE PLACE AT:
Fridays at 1 PM
Church of the Blessed Sacrament
152 West 71st St. New York, NY 10023
New season announced!
Masterworks Series
SEASON OPENER -“AUTUMN WIND”
with Carol Wincenc, Flute
September 25, 2026
Friday @1pm
We can’t believe it’s our 5th season already! What better way to begin than with the long-awaited rescheduling of this colorful program featuring legendary flutist Carol Wincenc as a special guest artist joining Opus 71 co-founders Matthew Cohen and Zhenni Li-Cohen in trios and duos by Maurice Duruflé, George Gershwin, Frank Zappa and more!
Debut Series
“MUSICAL MEMORIES”
with Gabrielle Després, Violin
December 11, 2026
Friday @1pm
We welcome the internationally acclaimed violin virtuoso Gabrielle Després to Opus 71 Concerts! A first prize-winner of the Irving M. Klein International String Competition and the Juilliard Concerto Competition, she has performed as a soloist and chamber musician around the world. Come and witness Gabrielle in a thrillingly moving performance–program to be revealed!
Jazz Series
“BLUE NOTES”
with Addison Frei, Piano
February 19, 2027
Friday @1pm
Opus 71’s favorite jazz piano virtuoso Addison Frei returns for a program of standards, original compositions, and the charming Cocktail Music for piano by Steven Gerber, with additional improvisations by the performer. Not to be missed!
Preview Series
SEASON FINALE – “WORLDS COLLIDE”
with Trio Phōs
April 2, 2027
Friday @1pm
We’re thrilled to host the Opus 71 Concerts debut of Trio Phōs for our 5th season finale! This fascinatingly unique ensemble of piano, cello, and clarinet represents three different worlds: piano, strings, and woodwinds, each with their own unique timbre. A variation on the standard piano trio, the clarinet takes the place of the violin adding a new dimension of sonic possibilities. Program to be revealed!
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Past Seasons
Preview Series
SEASON OPENER – “LYRIQUE”
with CC Guitar Duo
October 31, 2025
Friday @1pm
We welcome the award-winning CC Guitar Duo to Opus 71 for the inaugural concert of our 4th season! From the lyricism of Grieg and Ravel to the introspective melodies of Satie and Gerber, via the clarity and vivacity of Tailleferre, Lyrique offers a unique portrait of piano music from the 19th century to the present day, arranged for two guitars.
Debut Series
“DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH”
with Gratz-Cohen-Schwarz String Trio
December 12, 2025
Friday @1pm
Often overshadowed by the string quartet, the string trio is a fascinating chamber music formation consisting of equal bass, treble, and alto voices–a true joining of soloists!. Special guest artists Eric Gratz (violin) and Julian Schwarz (cello) make their Opus 71 debuts joining co-artistic director Matthew Cohen (viola) for a colorful program featuring rarely-heard masterpieces by two incredible composers, Steven Gerber and Wilhelm Berger.
Masterworks Series
“BLUISH GROOVE”
with Formosa Quartet
February 6, 2026
Friday @1pm
The Formosa Quartet returns to Opus 71! Featuring a selection of quintessential Americana through the last century, this eclectic program includes arrangements for string quartet of works by Muddy Waters, Benny Goodman, and George Gershwin as well as selections from Dvorak’s American Quartet, At the Octaroon Balls by Wynton Marsalis, and Steven Gerber’s Gershwiniana.
Jazz Series
SEASON FINALE – JAZZ RECITAL
with Addison Frei, Piano
April 10, 2026
Friday @1pm
Back by popular demand, jazz virtuoso Addison Frei presents a program of standards, original compositions, and the Variations for piano by Steven Gerber, with additional variations improvised by the performer. Not to be missed!
Date summary
- November 15, 2024 – “Death and the Maiden” with the Formosa Quartet
- January 10, 2025 – “Winter Wind” featuring Carol Wincenc
- March 21, 2025 – “Dialogues” with Noémie Raymond and Zhenni Li-Cohen
- April 25, 2025 – “Jazz it up a little” with Addison Frei
Debut Series
“SEASON OPENER – ROSAMUNDE AND POP”
with the Formosa Quartet
November 15, 2024
Friday @1pm
We are thrilled to welcome the Formosa Quartet to Opus 71 Concerts to open the first concert of our 3rd season! Schubert’s iconic String Quartet #13 in A minor is the titular work and emotional heart of the program; in striking contrast but no less riveting is Clancy Newman’s Pop Un-Popped; a set of virtuosic transcriptions for string quartet of #1 pop songs from around the world.
Masterwork Series
“WINTER WIND”
with Carol Wincenc, FluteJanuary 10, 2025 RESCHEDULED — TBA
Friday @1pm
Come ring in the new year with a colorful program featuring legendary flutist Carol Wincenc as a special guest artist joining Opus 71 co-founders Matthew Cohen and Zhenni Li-Cohen in trios by Maurice Durufle, Gerber’s Folksong Transformations and more!
Preview Series
“DIALOGUES”
with Noémie Raymond-Friset, Cello and Zhenni Li-Cohen, Piano
March 21, 2025
Friday @1pm
A cello and piano duo program named after the performers’ new CD release, this tempestuous lineup includes Sergei Rachmaninov’s Sonata in G minor, Rebecca Clarke’s Sonata in it’s rarely performed version for cello and piano, and Steven Gerber’s DIalogue for cello and piano–a perfect complement to this album release recital.
Jazz Series
“JAZZ IT UP A LITTLE”
with Addison Frei, Piano
April 25, 2025
Friday @1pm
A regular Opus 71 guest artist, acclaimed jazz pianist Addison Frei, returns for a solo jazz piano potpourri of standards, new compositions, and lesser-known masterpieces. Steven Gerber’s Cocktail Music rounds out this eclectic line-up beautifully, showcasing the ideal crossover of classical and jazz.
OPUS 71 CONCERTS 