For immediate release

International headliners at the 13^th Festival

 

Ottawa (Tuesday, April 25, 2006) – The 13^th Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival from July 22 – August 5, presented by the Ottawa Chamber Music Society, is delighted to offer 120 concerts with more than 250 musicians this summer. Festival fans will be in store for another year of cutting-edge, innovative programming and should consider purchasing tickets early to this year’s Pass-Plus line-up.

 

One of the most critically acclaimed singers on the international stage today, Canadian tenor Richard Margison will perform in the Opening Gala concert on July 22 for the world’s largest chamber music festival. He has performed in many of the world's leading opera houses including the Metropolitan Opera, the Vienna Staatsoper, the San Francisco Opera, Covent Garden and the Sydney Opera.

 

One of the world’s great brass ensembles, the Empire Brass, internationally famous for its virtuosity and unparalleled diversity of repertoire will make its 2^nd appearance this summer. “One family, five pianos and 50 fingers add up to the biggest classical music sensation in years,” the New York Post wrote last year of THE 5 BROWNS. A youthful quintet of brothers and sisters, each a virtuoso concert pianist, they swept the classical world in 2005 with the release of their self-titled first recording for RCA Red Seal, which landed them at the top of the weekly Billboard charts and, at the end of the year, as one of the Top Classical Artists of 2005. This summer will mark their 1^st Festival appearance and in a Pass-Plus concert.

 

The GRAMMY award winning Turtle Island Quartet endeavours to strike a balance between jazz and classical music. The Shanghai Quartet has amassed a long list of performance collaborators and has earned the reputation as one of the world's most outstanding string quartets. Founded in 1988, the Leipzig String Quartet is now widely acclaimed as one of the most exciting string quartets on the international scene and has become very popular with festival-goers. All three will perform in Pass-Plus concerts.

 

The Leipzig String Quartet will also perform in a Pass-Plus concert with double bassist Joel Quarrington. One of the world’s most renowned early music sopranos Emma Kirkby and Canada’s great countertenor and international star Daniel Taylor will each appear in Pass-plus concerts as well as together along with the Theatre of Early Music. Emma Kirkby’s last appearance in 2003 was considered by many as one of the highlights of the Festival’s 13-year history. Canadian superstars pianists Louis Lortie and Anton Kuerti will each perform in Pass-plus concerts.

 

Other great artists performing in concerts fully accessible with a Festival pass this summer include the Moscow, Zapp, Mandelring and Penderecki String Quartets, the Gryphon and Hochelaga Trios.

 

Festival passes are now available at outlets. Adult Festival passes are $80 each and student passes $40. Early Bird specials of $70 for adults and $30 for students will be available until Thursday, June 15. Pass-Plus tickets will be available at outlets by early May and are an additional $20 per person. The Festival brochure and online schedule will also be available shortly.

 

 

 

For more information please contact:

Suzan Zilahi, Communications Director

613-234-8008 ext. 241or media@chamberfest.com