After 34 years, Chamber Music West will play its final concert Monday at Faith Presbyterian Church with classical cellist David Finckel and pianist Wu Han.
“It’s a sad affair that we’ve come to this, but necessary because the audience doesn’t support this type of music sufficiently anymore,” said Jane King, treasurer on the board of directors for Chamber West. “There is a change in taste of music lovers.”
During its tenure, Chamber West has brought many national classical music acts to various venues including Mountain View and Sundal Recreation Center auditoriums, as well as Bellevue Heights and Faith Presbyterian Church.
“The first few seasons had a subscription rate of 800 people, and now it’s just over 200,” King said. “And I also remember when the first concert was sold out and a radio station carried the show, because so many people wanted to go and could not.”
King said Chamber Music West started when a group of residents didn’t want to travel to Scottsdale, the only city that had chamber music at the time.
“That’s when we got together and decided to bring chamber music to Sun City,” King said. “Times are different now, but we’re going to end with a fantastic concert.”
Wu Han and Finckel, who are married, have performed for Chamber Music West before and enjoyed each of the concerts in Sun City.
“I’ve loved coming and performing here, because you really do get a sense that the audience loves this type of music,” Wu Han said.
Finckel also is cellist for the eight-time Grammy-winning Emerson String Quartet, which includes two honors for Best Classical Album. He and Wu Han have served as artistic directors of The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center since 2004.
“It’s certainly a treasure, and we will be sad when Chamber Music West is gone,” said Wu Han. “We are grateful they chose us as their final concert.”
The concert will be performed at Faith Presbyterian Church, 16000 N. Del Webb Blvd., beginning at 7:30 p.m. A preview lecture starts at 6:30 p.m. All seating is reserved.
Single tickets are $25 and can be purchased through the Chamber Music West office at 623-972-0478 or at the venue. Student tickets are free with a valid ID.
