Press

“Led by Artistic Directors Eric and Colin Jacobson, the program anchors the spirit of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, featuring Conrad Tao’s acclaimed, explosive interpretation within a broader narrative of musical innovation. From the pastoral beauty of Copland’s Appalachian Spring Suite and Margaret Bonds’ soulful Troubled Water to contemporary rhapsodies by Jessie Montgomery and the ensemble's own Christina Courtin, this performance bridges the gap between classical tradition and modern energy.”

— Caramoor (March 2026)

“Three boundary-pushing concerts by The Knights—led by artistic directors Eric and Colin Jacobsen—range from a creative program centered on Mozart and his contemporary, Saint-Georges, to the New York premiere of a new work by Nico Muhly, performed in collaboration with Brooklyn Rider.”

— Carnegie Hall (February 2025)

“Cloud Variations feels emblematic of a broader shift in contemporary performance—one in which language, sound, and technology are increasingly intertwined. Though staged only once, its debut offers a glimpse into where hybrid classical work is headed.”

— Public Seminar (December 2025)

J. Mae Barizo, Poet & Performer
Sayuri Ishida, Actor
George R. Miller, Stage Director
Yuchang Xiao, Wearable Art/Costume Design
Jessie Char & Maxwell Neely-Cohen, Sound Design

“A musical roller coaster of a journey bursting with drama, detail and invention…With pianist [Jeffrey] Kahane in top form, and conductor Eric Jacobsen and The Knights’ orchestral collective alive to the concerto’s every twist and turn, here is a dazzling concerto du jour that glows with an echilarating sense of its own clear purpose and inevitability.”

— Gramophone Magazine (November 2025)

“Dreamed up in a living room and now touring around the world, The Knights have evolved from an informal meeting of friends to a premier US-based chamber orchestra. Known for its diverse and adventurous programming that features a wide range of collaborators, The Knights have surprised and delighted audiences on the world’s iconic stages and in neighborhood parks, plazas, and bars. With a unique structure that empowers members to steer the group artistically, the ensemble delivers distinctive performances that captivate fans of classical music and beyond.”

— Carnegie Hall (2025)

“I’m loving this new piano concerto by Gabriel Kahane…He wrote this concerto, ‘Heirloom,’ for his dad, infusing it with family history and weaving in quotes from one of his own best-loved songs. The music is dressed in a colorful post-romantic style, echoes of Rachmaninoff.”

— Tom Huizenga for NPR’s All Songs Considered (2025)