A wintery family musical
Steven Mazey, Ottawa Citizen
It takes a beloved Hans Christian Andersen tale and adds music, a narrator and elaborate video projections, and its snow and ice-filled story is ideally suited to Winterlude.
On Friday and Saturday at the Canadian Museum of Civilization, the Ottawa Chamber Music Society will present The Snow Queen, a multi-media piece that includes music by the late Ottawa composer Patrick Cardy, narration by actor Alon Nashman, music performed by the Cecilia String Quartet and video projections by lighting designer Andrea Lundy.
Presented as part of Winterlude celebrations and recommended for children aged five and older, the production by Nashman’s Theaturtle company was praised by a critic for Toronto’s Eyeweekly as “multimedia storytelling at its most sensitive and thoughtful … it held the audience of adults and children rapt in Andersen’s magical world, where hope and love can dispel icy darkness.”
Full story available on the Ottawa Citizen website: A wintery family musical
Janina Fialkowska Mozart Piano Concertos with Janina Fialkowska
Tuesday, February 22, 2011 at 8:00 p.m.
Dominion-Chalmers United Church
355 Cooper Street
Janina Fialkowska – piano / piano
Jonathan Crow – violin / violon
Manuela Milani – violin / violon
Guylaine Lemaire – viola / alto
Julian Armour – cello / violoncelle
Murielle Bruneau – double bass / contrebasse
Works of Mozart: Concerto in C major, K. 415; Concerto in E-flat major, K. 449; and Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
Adult: $20 | Student: $10 | Reserved Section: $40 |
Special Fundraising Tickets: $200
The Snow Queen: A multimedia fairy tale for the whole family
Friday, February 18 & Saturday, February 19, 2011 at the Canadian Museum of Civilization 4 performances only! A sold-out hit in Banff, Calgary and Toronto! “Ideal family entertainment. A beautiful story, compellingly told.” – Lynn Slotkin, CBC
“Held the audience of adults and children rapt in Andersen’s magical world where hope and love can dispel the icy darkness.” – Christopher Hoile, EyeWeekly (Toronto)
The Ottawa Chamber Music Society (OCMS) is pleased to present The Snow Queen, a dazzling multimedia adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s beloved fairy tale. Performances are February 18 at 7 p.m. and February 19 at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. in the Theatre of the Canadian Museum of Civilization.
Director/performer Alon Nashman appears live on stage with the Cecilia String Quartet (winners of the 2010 Banff International String Quartet Competition) in a beautiful blend of concert, storytelling, and movement that will cast a spell on adults and children alike.
Set in an imagined world of swirling shards of ice, The Snow Queen tells the story of two children, Kay and Gerda, who are separated when Kay is spirited away by the mythical Snow Queen to live in frozen isolation. The story follows Gerda’s many adventures in her quest to rescue her friend. The Snow Queen is an essential tale for young people in which love, hope and innocence magically melt cold-heartedness.
Produced by Theaturtle (Toronto), The Snow Queen features original music by the late Ottawa composer Patrick Cardy (1953–2005) and stunning projections by award-winning designer Andrea Lundy. Developed at The Banff Centre, the show was a sold-out hit in Banff, Calgary and Toronto, and will transfer to Vancouver after its Ottawa-Gatineau dates.
The Snow Queen is recommended for ages 5 and older. Running time is 55 minutes.
The Snow Queen
Friday, February 18, 2011 at 7 p.m. Saturday, February 19, 2011 at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. & 4 p.m.
Canadian Museum of Civilization (Theatre) 100 Laurier Street, Gatineau
Photo: Cylla von Tiedemann
Alon Nashman, Kate Alton and the Tokai String Quartet in the 2007 production of The Snow Queen
Photo: Melissa Sung
The Cecilia String Quartet
Tickets: $20 adults, $10 children and students
Available at the OCMS 4 Florence Street, Suite 201 (corner of Bank) Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. 613-234-6306 www.chamberfest.com
and at the Canadian Museum of Civilization 100 Laurier Street, Gatineau 819-776-7000 www.civilization.ca
A Theaturtle (Toronto) production Directed and narrated by Alon Nashman Featuring the Cecilia String Quartet Music composed and text adapted by Patrick Cardy Choreography by Claudia Moore Lighting by Andrea Lundy Presented in partnership with The Ottawa Chamber Music Society gratefully acknowledges the support of the Ontario Arts Council, the Department of Canadian Heritage, and the City of Ottawa.
Coming next in the 2010–11 Concert Series
Tafelmusik – Sunday, February 20 at 7:30 p.m. Dominion-Chalmers United Church
OCMS presents: Borodin String Quartet and Julie Nesrallah
Borodin String Quartet with Julie Nesrallah Tuesday, February 8 at 7:30 p.m.
First of three outstanding OCMS musical offerings during Winterlude 2011!
The Ottawa Chamber Music Society (OCMS) is delighted to present the world-renowned Borodin String Quartet in recital with Ottawa’s own mezzo-soprano Julie Nesrallah, effervescent host of CBC Radio Two’s Tempo. Musical sparks are sure to fly when these remarkable performers take to the stage together!
Borodin String Quartet with Julie Nesrallah
Tuesday, February 8, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.
St. Andrew’s Church, Ottawa (82 Kent Street, corner Wellington)
Photo: Thomas Mueller
Photo: Robert Etcheverry
Tickets: $29, $36, $47 Students half price
Available in person at the OCMS box office 4 Florence Street, Suite 201 (corner of Bank) Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Telephone reservations: 613-234-6306
Online: www.chamberfest.com
At the door on the night of the concert (from 6:30 p.m.)
Concert program
Tchaikovsky, String Quartet No. 1 in D, Op. 11 (1871)
Respighi, Il Tramonto (The Sunset) (1914), with Julie Nesrallah
Borodin, Quartet No. 2 in D major (1881)
This is the first of three OCMS concerts presented in partnership with the National Capital Commission (NCC) during Winterlude, Canada’s winter celebration. “This is our first collaboration with the NCC, and we are thrilled to have their support of our 2010–11 Concert Series,” said OCMS Executive Director Glenn Hodgins.
“There is something special in the Borodin Quartet’s sound which would persuade even an innocent listener. It’s the refusal to exaggerate, and a pearly, immaculate quality in the balance of the four parts.” – The Telegraph, London, UK
Formed in 1945 in Moscow, the Borodin String Quartet is the longest-standing chamber music ensemble in performance today, and one of the finest in the world. Over the years the ensemble has preserved a unique performance tradition, focusing on the masterpieces at the very heart of the quartet repertoire with a special affinity for works by Russian composers. www.borodinquartet.com
“Amazing is the only word to describe Nesrallah’s performance. In fact, if she were the only person to appear on stage, it would still be worth the price of admission just to hear her phenomenal, soul-stirring voice.” – The Star Phoenix, Saskatoon, SK
Dazzling mezzo-soprano Julie Nesrallah is universally praised for her exceptional stage presence and her arresting, luscious voice. In a wide-ranging and acclaimed career, she has bewitched audiences with her rare gift for communicating the emotional essence of a role. www.julienesrallah.com
Presented in partnership with
Coming next in the 2010–11 Concert Series
The Snow Queen – Friday, February 18 & Saturday, February 19 Canadian Museum of Civilization A multimedia fairy tale for the whole family!
Tafelmusik – Sunday, February 20 Dominion-Chalmers United Church
Chamber Music Society ‘bowled over’ by music critic’s generosity: Former Citizen writer left bulk of his estate to organization
Steve Mazey, The Ottawa Citizen
Photograph by: Chris Mikula, The Ottawa Citizen
Delighted Ottawa Chamber Music Society officials say they are “absolutely bowled over by the generosity of spirit and vision” of the late Citizen music critic Jacob Siskind, who left the bulk of his estate to the organization.
“Mr. Siskind’s bequest will make it possible for the Ottawa Chamber Music Society not only to continue bringing the world’s finest chamber musicians to perform for audiences in Ottawa, but will also allow the organization to move forward on a stable financial footing so critically important to excellence and growth,” executive director Glenn Hodgins said in a statement.
“Jacob was a passionate music lover, and with this gift he has made certain that Ottawans will be the beneficiaries of that passion,” artistic director Roman Borys said in a statement.
“It is truly a staggering endorsement and one we acknowledge with gratitude and humility.”
Full story: Chamber Music Society ‘bowled over’ by music critic’s generosity
Music will fill the chambers
Violinist Isabelle Faust is making her Chamberfest debut with pianist Alexander Melnikov Aug. 4 at 7 p.m. at the Dominion-Chalmers United Church.
TRACEY TONG, METRO OTTAWA
Ottawa’s classical music festival has just wrapped up, but the executive director of the Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival isn’t worried about what that will mean for his festival.
“People are saying to me that you can never have too much good music,” said Glenn Hodgins.
“I think people have an appetite for great artists and the great masters of our time.”
In its 17th year, Chamberfest, which begins Saturday and runs through Aug. 7, is the biggest festival of its kind in the world, said Hodgins.
Read more: Music will fill the chambers
A musical farewell: Acclaimed mezzo-soprano opens Chamberfest with one of her last concerts
By Steven Mazey, The Ottawa Citizen
Frederica von Stade, 64, in the midst of a goodbye tour across North America, will perform at Dominion-Chalmers Church on the first evening concert of this year’s festival.
Photograph by: Astrid Stawiarz, Getty Images, The Ottawa Citizen
Opera lovers, get out your handkerchiefs. This year’s Ottawa Chamber Music Festival will open Saturday with a musical goodbye from one of the most acclaimed singers of her generation.
American mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade, who is winding down her career after more than 40 years on stage, has been presenting a series of farewell concerts across North America.
Read more: A musical farewell
Leong Brothers Tread a Musical Path
By Pam McLennan, Epoch Times Staff
Stanley and Kerson Leong at their home (Pam McLennan/The Epoch Times)
OTTAWA—If it’s young people who will shape the world of the future, we are in good hands with Stanley and Kerson Leong. The brothers, 15 and 13 respectively, are classical musicians attending Ashbury College in Ottawa.
Theirs is a close family that supports each other, and the brothers frequently credit their parents with introducing them to classical music and encouraging them to learn to play musical instruments. From their father, Kin-Wai, an MIT alumnus and physicist, Stanley says he learned about the qualities of acoustic resonance and other scientific principles that he can apply to music, sports, and his studies.
Read more: Leong Brothers Tread a Musical Path
Let The Music Begin!
The Ottawa Chamber Music Society presents the 17th annual Ottawa International
Chamber Music Festival – Chamberfest 2010. From July 24 to August 7, you can
experience world-class chamber music, performed by over 250
internationally renowned artists, in some of the city’s most beautiful churches
and heritage sites. Headliners include Frederica von Stade, the Tokyo String
Quartet, Angèle Dubeau & La Pièta, George Gao, the Pacifica Quartet, Isabelle
Faust, Gene DiNovi, Stewart Goodyear and the Gryphon Trio.
For more information, call 613-234-6306 or visit: www.chamberfest.com.
Tallis Scholars make Ottawa debut March 28
Ottawa (March 22, 2010)
The Tallis Scholars, with Peter Phillips, conductor, make their much-anticipated Ottawa debut with a concert of Renaissance choral works at Dominion-Chalmers United Church in Ottawa on Sunday, March 28 at 7:30 pm.
Hailed by The New York Times as “The rock stars of Renaissance vocal music,” the Tallis Scholars were founded in 1973 by their director, Peter Phillips. Through their award-winning recordings and over 1,600 concerts, Phillips and the Tallis Scholars have done more than any other group to establish the sacred vocal music of the Renaissance as one of the great repertoires of Western classical music.
The concert at Dominion-Chalmers will include works by Jean Mouton, Nicolas Gombert, Loyset Compère and Josquin des Prés. Conductor Peter Phillips describes the program: “The Tallis Scholars are about to embark on a minor crusade to promote the music of Jean Mouton. We have chosen here a mass based on an amorous chanson by Loyset Compère, like Mouton a Franco-Flemish composer, which makes special use of some very low bass notes. The three Agnus Deis in particular are quite breathtaking in their dark sonorities. The second half of the programme complements the first: all Franco-Flemish, the two Ave Marias are particularly lovely; the Gombert Magnificat is a work we championed years ago in concert and on disc; and Josquin’s motet Praeter rerum seriem is one of the masterpieces of the period, again scored with dark bass resonances.”
Recordings by the Tallis Scholars have attracted many awards throughout the world. In 1987 their recording of works by Josquin des Prés received GRAMOPHONE magazine’s Record of the Year award-still the only recording of early music ever to win this coveted award. In 2005 their disc of music by John Browne was nominated for a Grammy. Much of the Tallis Scholars’ reputation has come from their association with Gimell Records, established by Peter Phillips and Steve Smith in 1981 solely to record the Scholars.
Ticket Information
Tickets range from $30-47. Student pricing is also available. For more information, please contact the OCMS office at 613-234-6306 or www.chamberfest.com.
Mark your calendars! Chamberfest 2010 will take place from July 24 to August 7.
Karen St. Aubin
Communications, Marketing & Events Coordinator
Ottawa Chamber Music Society
201-4 Florence Street
Ottawa, ON K2P 0W7
613-234-8008 x 244
613-299-0929 (cell)
kstaubin@chamberfest.com
Join us for the Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival, the best chamber music experience in North America!
Chamberfest 2010 July 24 – August 7.
Rendez-vous au Festival international de musique de chambre d’Ottawa. En musique de chambre, c’est ce qu’il y a de mieux en Amérique du Nord !
Chamberfest 2010 du 24 juillet au 7 août.
