The violin features prominently in chamber music and throughout Chamberfest, but here are six violin-centric performances you may want to watch for.
James Ehnes & NACO
Thursday, July 20, 19:00
Grammy Award-winning violinist and long-time Chamberfriend James Ehnes opens Chamberfest with a blockbuster, leading the NAC orchestra’s final concert of the season with a program of Bach’s violin concertos. Hot off the heels of recording, Ehnes and the orchestra are ready to bring you an intimate performance at its peak.
Duo Concertante
Monday, July 24, 12:00 PM
Duo Concertante centres the violin, played by Nancy Dahn, in balance with the piano of Timothy Steeves. In this programme, they celebrate women composers with a programme including three works commissioned by the duo: Ottawa’s Kelly-Marie Murphy’s “Dance Me to your Beauty with a Burning Violin,” Jocelyn Morlock’s “Petrichor,” and Dawn Avery’s “Iotsistokwaronion.”
Duo Concertante are also presenting an adaptive concert on the theme of Girl Power!
Mark Fewer
Tuesday, July 25, 19:00
Chamberfest favourite Mark Fewer returns with a lush and passionate program including Ernest Chausson’s Concerto for Violin, Piano, and String Quartet, and a newly commissioned work from Yellowknife’s award-winning contemporary composer Carmen Braden. Fewer’s “intrepid” and “genre-bending” violin playing will be joined by celebrated Canadian pianist Jeanie Chung and the Thalea String Quartet.
You can also catch Mark Fewer in Tom Allen’s “J.S. Bach’s Long Walk in the Snow“.
Salon Concert
Tuesday August 1, 12:00 PM
Welcome to our musical salon! The salon was the original house concert – the cultural happening of Schubert’s time – where like-minded people gathered to perform and savour new music and to discuss art, ideas, and politics. The salon was also a space where women’s voices (both artistic and intellectual) were heard and valued. This concert features the Chamberfest Artists-in-Residence, including violinist Emily Kruspe, violist Nadia Sirota, cellist Bryan Cheng, and pianist Philip Chiu.
Parting Wild Horses Mane
Saturday, July 29, 12:00 PM
Chamberfest is excited to present this unique, multi-disciplined, all-Canadian event. Combining martial arts with music, prize-winning Tai Chi Chuan players Jonathan Krehm, David Robert, and Evonne Tan join Ottawa’s Ironwood Quartet in an ode to both the Chinese martial art, and to Canadian artistry. The Ottawa premiere of works by Evan Mitchell, Kevin Lau, and Alexina Louie, alongside a performance of Parting Wild Horse’s Mane by one of Canada’s most widely-known composers, R. Murray Schafer, frames Tai Chi Chuan demonstrations of forms and weapons in this mesmerizing performance.
Closing Night Mashup
Thursday, August 3, 19:00
Chamberfest 2023 is closing with a bang, Chamberfest style! We’re rounding up some of the world’s finest chamber musicians for a mashup concert, featuring performances by star-studded Chamberfest Artists-in-Residence Lauren Anker, Bryan Cheng, Philip Chiu, Chamberfest Artistic Director Carissa Klopoushak, Emily Kruspe, Sean Rice, and special guest violist Nadia Sirota. This collaborative event features chamber music favourites, new music, and music from around the world in a program celebrating the old and new, expressed in the spirit of fresh observation and collaboration.
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