Beethoven piano program concludes Feb. 15

UNIVERSITY PARK — Pianist Wu Han, violinist Philip Setzer and cellist David Finckel will perform three Ludwig van Beethoven compositions at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15, in Schwab Auditorium, University Park. The concert brings to an end a two-season program of Beethoven piano trios at Penn State.

A Wall Street Journal critic called Han and Finckel, who have performed professionally together since the 1980s, “the power couple of chamber music.” The musicians co-founded and operate ArtistLed, classical music’s first musician-directed Internet-based recording company, as well as Music@Menlo, an annual Silicon Valley chamber festival and workshop program. They also are co-artistic directors of The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.

Setzer, a founding and current member of Emerson String Quartet, performs often as part of a trio with Han and Finckel. He is on the faculty at the State University of New York at Stony Brook and presents master classes worldwide.

“Wu, Finckel and Setzer have played together for so long (Finckel and Setzer since they were teenagers) that their ensemble is seamless,” wrote a Washington Post reviewer. “The three moved with almost sensual rhythmic subtlety from moments of high energy to supreme calm and back again.”

Tickets are $44 for adults, $15 for University Park students and $34 those 18 and younger. They are available at www.cpa.psu.edu or by calling (814) 863-0255 or (800) ARTS-TIX. Tickets also are available at three State College locations: Eisenhower Auditorium (weekdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.), Penn State Downtown Theatre Center (weekdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and Bryce Jordan Center (weekdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.).