Two venues, two stunning performances
Afiara Sting Quartet’s intonation beyond reproach
By Richard Todd, The Ottawa Citizen
Afiara String quartet
Photograph by: Handout photo
OTTAWA — As everyone must know by now, 2010 marks the bicentenary of the births of Schumann and Chopin. If you don’t care for the music of these composers, you might want to consider moving to Antarctica for the remainder of the year, or at least a cabin in the woods.
It would be a special ordeal for you at the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival, as there is a considerable amount of music by these composers to be heard. The 7 p.m. concert at Dominion-Chalmers was entitled Schumann, Poet of the Night. Pianist Hinrich Alpers played the Nachtstücke, op. 23 and the Humoresque, op. 20. Even Schumann-haters must have been taken aback by the beauty and elegance of the playing, but also by its power. Of course, it’s unlikely that any Schumann-haters would come to a concert of this description, but if any did they probably left with a revised opinion.
Read more: Two venues, two stunning performances
As beautiful as ever
Frederica von Stade delights as always
By Richard Todd, The Ottawa Citizen
Frederica von Stade, shown here at an event for the 75th annual Metropolitan Opera Guild in April, 2010 in New York City, performed Saturday night at the Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival.
Photograph by: Astrid Stawiarz, Getty Images
Although the name Frederica von Stade sounds as German as German can be, the famous mezzo-soprano was born in New Jersey, and that all by itself makes her as American as American can be.
Along with her accompanist, pianist Jake Heggie, she gave the opening night concert of the 17th Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival. It was part of her Farewell Tour; she is 65 and knows when to quit.
The audience at Dominion-Chalmers was large, though short of capacity
Read more: As beautiful as ever
