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This year, the 90 concerts present groups as diverse as the Hogtown Syncopators, a Toronto jazz ensemble, and Quato Bozzini’s Music for Contemplation (at the Sacred Space at the Beechwood National Memorial Centre).
There will be traditional Taiwanese and Chinese music (Sizhu) from the Chai Found Music Workshop, and the New Zealand String Quartet with its classic and contemporary repertoire playing Beethoven, Shostakovich, and contemporary composer John Psathos.
“It’s going to be a blast,” says Glenn Hodgins, OCMS executive director. “I think the overall artistic quality is just phenomenal.”
Chamberfest 2011 celebrates the 200th anniversary of the birth of Hungarian pianist Franz Liszt, with many performances of the famous composer offered by the artists.
There will be a special conference on Liszt at Carleton University, and one of the highlights of the festival will be the Bach Choir doing Liszt’s “Stations of the Cross.”
“We think of Liszt as being the pianist without peer, and he also did works for other [instruments and the voice],” Hodgins said.
The festival is also dedicated to the memory of music critic Jacob Siskind, who generously bequeathed over $1 million to Chamberfest last year.
The opening and closing concerts feature prominent Canadian sopranos and promise to be spectacular.
“Let me point out that the Festival Gala is an absolute highlight—the opening concert in particular with the NAC orchestra and starring soloist Karina Gauvin,” Hodgins says.
“Mozart: Song and Dance…and Serenade!,” the opening gala on July 23, presents Gauvin singing Mozart with the National Arts Centre orchestra.
The closing gala highlights Juno winner Isabel Bayrakdarian with pianist Anton Kuerti, along with six other groups or performers including Grammy-winning Pacifica Quartet. The performers will play seven pieces in total, including four of Liszt’s works.
Returning this year are “Chamber Chats,” informal sessions at which experts discuss the day’s program and festival artists provide short performances. They are usually held at 10:00 a.m. at Dominion-Chalmers United Church. Admission is free.
Speaking of free concerts, there will be six flashmob-style events by the Asphalt Orchestra, a New York street music band. This 12-piece marching band will make its Canadian debut with six “Guerilla Gigs” somewhere in the Byward Market on July 30 and 31.
There will also be free “Bring the Kids” events and four Al fresco concerts on the front lawn of Rideau Hall.
The festival runs from July 23 through August 5. Information and a full list of all presentations can be found at www.ottawachamberfest.com/concerts. Tickets can be ordered online at www.ottawachamberfest.com/tickets or by calling 613-234-6306.
