Ottawa (July 17, 2007) — Chamberfest ’07 kicks off with a grand opening Gala July 21 and closes with what may be the final Ottawa performance by international countertenor James Bowman on August 4. With 278 performers in 117 events over a 15-day period, it remains the largest chamber music festival in the world.

Launched in 1994 as an International Chamber Music Festival it offers events for all musical tastes and ages in a variety of informal settings. Organized by the Ottawa Chamber Music Society (OCMS), recitals are held in churches, museums, on the lawns of Rideau Hall, in plazas and even under bridges.

As in years past, dance, poetry, readings and storytelling are integrated into several events. Concerts start as early as 10 am, with performers on the late night shows taking their final curtain calls long past midnight.

This year’s theme: ‘A Musical Tour of the World’ draws its inspiration from both traditional and new chamber works performed by classically trained musicians from more than 38 countries. The eclectic nature of the Festival provides a range of interpretations and original works on both conventional and traditional instruments. This diversity of styles and sounds will intrigue regular audiences and attract new listeners to chamber music.

From choral to crossover, Chamberfest has never looked like this before.

Something old, something new, and something entirely different.

Chamberfest ’07 racks up a number of Firsts

Premieres: No less than 13 premiere works, many by regional or Canadian artists. One composition, written by Marjan Mozetich, is dedicated to two long-time Festival supporters as well as volunteers past and present. It will be performed by the Gryphon Trio. (July 25) Established in 1993, this ensemble has played in every Chamberfest since its inception, and as a result has built up a loyal following among Ottawa audiences.

Tutorials from the Masters: Two masterclasses by André Laplante (July 26) and the Shanghai Quartet. (July 28). Also incorporated into the programme are two workshops: one by Red Chamber to musicians from Ottawa’s Chinese community (July 24); the other by El Viento Flamenco (July 31) for flamenco guitarists.

Film/Discussion: Michael Ostroff’s film on the making of Ann & Séamus, with a discussion on the possible resurgence of chamber opera led by the composer Stephen Hatfield. (July 30)

Symposium Tie-in: Four concerts featuring works either written or influenced by Arnold Schoenberg will be held in tandem with a three-day Symposium at Carleton University. (July 26 to 29) Schoenberg’s three children will open a multi-media exhibit at Christ Church Cathedral. (July 26)

Young Performers Take the Stage: The Galaxie Rising Stars Gala Concert brings many of Canada’s award winning young musicians to Ottawa. (July 22) In addition, the Young People’s Concert of Junior Rising Stars features talented musicians aged 8 to 18 playing piano, strings, flute and clarinet. (July 30)

Grieg’s 100th Anniversary: To celebrate the 100th anniversary of Edvard Grieg, six of Louis Lortie’s students from Italy’s famed Imola piano institute will each play 11 of the composer’s 66 Lyric pieces.

Chamberfest ’07 headliners and Piano Series

• Ottawa-born Angela Hewitt will launch Chamberfest ’07 and the six-concert piano series at an opening Gala (July 21) with German cellist Daniel Müller-Schott. Hewitt also plays the third concert in the piano series on July 23.
• Louis Lortie, who is also the Festival’s first artist-in-residence, plays four piano recitals: one with Hélène Mercier and two with French violin virtuoso Augustin Dumay. (July 23 to August 2)
• The Berlin Philharmonic Wind Quintet – all five original members of this celebrated ensemble established in 1988 during the Herbert von Karajan era – will make their first, long-awaited appearance at the Festival. (July 28)
• The Vienna Piano Trio, rated by the Washington Post as “one of the world’s leading groups for violin, cello and piano,” return to Ottawa by popular demand. (July 29, 30 and 31)
• Acclaimed piano virtuoso André Laplante and the Moscow String Quartet play the demanding, but intoxicatingly beautiful Dmitri Shostakovich Piano Quintet. (July 27)

Chamberfest ’07 Beethoven Series

• This year’s line-up includes the complete cycle of Ludwig van Beethoven’s string quartets played by four of the world’s finest chamber music ensembles, each from a very different cultural background: the Leipzig String Quartet (Germany); the Moscow String Quartet (Russia); the Shanghai Quartet (China); and, the St. Lawrence String Quartet (Canada).

Chamberfest ’07 Family and Coffee Concert Series

• Five concerts devoted to families, incorporating dance and story-telling such as Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf. (July 23 to 30)
• Four 10:00 am coffee concerts, where the audience can mingle with performers for a post-concert coffee. (July 23 to August 3)

Chamberfest ’07 international and cross-over music

In keeping with the Festival’s tradition of expanding our understanding of chamber music to include other world cultures outside the European classical music tradition, Chamberfest ’07 will also present some of the finest interpreters of music from China, India, Indonesia and the Middle East.

• The Red Chamber Ensemble and Randy Raine-Reusch play traditional Chinese compositions (as well as new music) on July 25 and 26, while the Shanghai Quartet plays works by contemporary Chinese composers. (July 27)
• Renowned Arabic virtuosos Simon Shaheen (oud), Jamey Haddad (percussion) and vocalist Maryem Tollar join with the Gryphon Trio in Crossings: A musical passage from West to East. (July 27)
• Mrdrangam maestro Trichy Sankaran and Autorickshaw bring their classical Karnetic music from India as well as a contemporary fusion of western and South Asian musical styles in their East Meets West concert. (August 2)
• The Evergreen Club Contemporary Gamelan play compositions with an exotic repertoire from West Java. (August 3)

Chamberfest ’07 free concerts!

• Gatineau-based Norteño bring the sultry heat of Nuevo Tango to the lawns of Rideau Hall. While young rising stars: the Duo Similia twins; award winning pianist Serhiy Salov and violinist sensation Jinjoo Cho; soprano Julie Nesrallah and Caroline Léonardelli (harp), provide the perfect ending to a summer afternoon. (July 22)
• Duo Similia are back with music from Italy and Argentina under the Plaza Bridge. (July 24)
• El Viento Flamenco bring a dash of sizzle to Bank of Canada Plaza. (July 31)
• Five live CBC broadcasts from Studio Sparks with Eric Friesen feature headliner musicians. (July 23 to 27)
• East Village Opera Company returns to Ottawa with its own rock-inspired take on classic arias in a benefit performance for the proposed new Community Concert Hall. (July 31)

Chamberfest ’07 Early Music Programme

• musica intima perform Five Centuries of Sacred Music. (July 23 and 24)
• Celebrated choreographer James Kudelka premieres his dance interpretation of Passacaglia’s violin solo, with Laurence Lemieux and the Theatre of Early Music ensemble. (July 28)
• London Handel Players present their trademark series of profiles on great Baroque composers featuring of J.S. Bach (July 31), Jean-Marie Leclair (August 3) and George Frideric Handel (August 3).
• Matthew Wadsworth, blind since birth, has carved out a stellar career since switching to lute from classical guitar and memorizing an entirely new repertoire. (August 2)

Chamberfest '07 Music for Voice

• James Bowman – arguably the most accomplished countertenor of his time – will make what may be his final Ottawa appearances (August 4) after announcing his retirement from international assignments.
• Soprano Nancy Argenta and the Theatre of Early Music present three programmes featuring George Frideric Handel — including Argenta’s award-winning rendition of Henry Purcell’s Odes. (August 3 and 4)
• Tenor Charles Daniels, baritone Peter McGillivray, and countertenor Daniel Taylor give several concerts featuring masterworks of the baroque era. (August 1-4)

Contact Information:

Frances Phillips, (613) 234-8008 Ex. 241; Mob. (613) 852-7848; or email media@chamberfest.com

Dian Prodanov, (613) 234-8008 Ex. 243; or email communications@chamberfest.com

Karen St. Aubin, (613) 234-8008 Ex. 244; or email events@chamberfest.com

Ottawa Chamber Music Festival Switchboard, (613) 234-8008.

Notes to editors/ ...

Notes to editors

The entire Chamberfest ’07 programme can be viewed at: http://www.chamberfest.com/english/festival/schedule.html

Fact Sheets for Chamberfest ’07 and Ottawa Chamber Music Society can be viewed at: http://www.chamberfest.com/english/media_room/backgrounders/index.html

After July 20, Artist Biographies will be available at http://www.chamberfest.com/english/media_room/artist_bios/

For advance Media Accrediation and Press Kit please drop an email to media@chamberfest.com

For on-site Media Accreditation, please contact Frances Phillips, (613) 852-7848.

For a list of recent (past 12 months) discography by Chamberfest ’07 artists please contact media@chamberfest.com

For a list of premiere works at Chamberfest ’07 please contact media@chamberfest.com

Press Releases, Photographs

Throughout the Festival ...

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Photographs of Chamberfest ’07 will be posted as they become available on http://www.chamberfest.com/photos