
Sun Jul 26 16:00
NMN III: The Happenstancers
Toronto-based trailblazing ensemble The Happenstancers, under the direction of clarinetist Brad Cherwin, make their Chamberfest debut with a fascinating programme that brings early music into dialogue with the brand-new. Centred on Judith Weir’s 10-minute opera for solo soprano, King Harald’s Saga, the ensemble weaves together complementary and contrasting perspectives from composers including Thomas Adès, Mary Dering, Oliver Knussen, and John Dowland.
Exploring themes that have long captivated composers, from courtly love and nobility to diplomacy and fate, this thoughtfully curated programme is both tightly focused and richly reflective. The King’s Grief offers an inventive meditation on kings and their kingdoms, seen through both historical and contemporary lenses.
Artists:
- The Happenstancersensemble
Programme:
Prologue:
Oliver Knussen (1952-2018)
Elegiac Arabesques
Act I:
Judith Weir (b. 1954)
King Harald’s Saga
Act I
Mary Dering (1629-1704)
(arr. T. Tidrow)
When First I Saw…
O. Knussen
Upon One Note
Colin Matthews (b. 1946)
Fantasia VII
George Benjamin (b. 1960)
Fantasia XII
John Dowland (1563-1626)
Seaven Teares
Act II:
Thomas Adès (b. 1971)
Darknesse Visible
J. Weir
King Harald’s Saga
Act II
M. Dering
(arr. T. Tidrow)
And is This All?
T. Adès
Court Studies, from The Tempest
The False Duke
The Prince
The False Duke’s Defeat
The Counsellor
M. Dering
(arr. T. Tidrow)
A False Designe to be Cruel
J. Weir
King Harald’s Saga
Act III
Epilogue:
T. Adès
Court Studies, from The Tempest
The King’s Grief
This performance runs approximately 75 minutes and is presented without intermission.
Download ProgrammeThe 2026 New Music Now Series is presented with the generous support of Ralph and Eileen Overend.
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Set against a backdrop of vinyl, vintage speakers, and reel-to-reel charm, this beloved Wellington St. staple is the perfect setting for eclectic musical discoveries. Join us at The Record Centre on certain weekdays during the summer festival for FREE laid-back musical happy hours as Chamberfest artists share music close to their hearts in the cozy, intimate space.
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More Concerts
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Experience four spectacular programs on our Signature Series, featuring large-scale collaborations between world-renowned musicians at Ottawa’s Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre. The 2026 Signature Series is generously sponsored by Bytek Volkswagen & Carling Volvo. Included in Pass Prime. Tickets sold separately for all other pass holders and single ticket buyers.
Our late-night Chamberfringe concerts cross styles and art forms, pushing the boundaries of chamber music with eclectic and daring performances. Offering everything from cutting edge new music for string ensemble with percussion to Iranian folk music to groovy blues – with many stops in between – there’s always something fresh to check out. Our Chamberfringe shows take place at the Great Canadian Theatre Company, providing a casual setting where audiences can enjoy beverages and immerse themselves in the buzzing late-night atmosphere.
Set against a backdrop of vinyl, vintage speakers, and reel-to-reel charm, this beloved Wellington St. staple is the perfect setting for eclectic musical discoveries. Join us at The Record Centre on certain weekdays during the summer festival for FREE laid-back musical happy hours as Chamberfest artists share music close to their hearts in the cozy, intimate space.
Chamberfest presents free afternoon outdoor performances on the beautiful and majestic grounds of Rideau Hall, the residence of the Governor General of Canada.



