Centretown will welcome the sound of chamber music throughout this month, as city hall hosts a series of free spring concerts as a warm-up for the Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival this summer.
The noon-hour concerts will feature local performers performing chamber music, music composed for small groups of instruments or vocals. Because of the music’s intimate nature it has been given the nickname “the music of friends.” The concerts will be held every Wednesday from 12:15 to 1 p.m. until May 6.
“It’s not only to celebrate chamber music but also its future,” says James Whittall spokesperson at Ottawa Chamber Music Society, who sees the concerts as a potential eye opener for the audience prior to the summer festival.
“It’s to broaden its appeal, show people that it’s not their grandmothers art form, it’s a living art not a museum art.
He adds: “It’s a type of music that ventures into all sorts of unexpected areas. We contemplate different genres like jazz for instance.”
The series is billed as a preview of The Ottawa International Chamber Festival, also known as Chamberfest, which is by far the largest festival in the world celebrating chamber music. About 450 different artists spread across 100 concerts makes the 15-day festival globally unique.
“Ottawa is very lucky in that sense,” says Whittall. “There are many, many large cities around the world – not all of them have chamber music festivals, not all of them have concert halls where chamber music can be played.”
Among the artists for the series of concerts are Carissa Klopoushak, a charismatic and creative violinist, and Julia MacLaine, cellist who has performed at many of New York City’s most prestigious venues.
”These are artist from our community performing for our community,” says Whittall. ”The music is for everyone.”
The idea of the chamber music festival came to life in 1994 – when the 22 concerts were held in the city’s churches – and it has been growing ever since. The festival now attracts some of the worlds most acclaimed chamber music artists and hosts free children’s shows, lectures, meet-and-greets with artists and much more.
With the series of Wednesday concerts at city hall, Chamberfest organizers hope to attract more people to the summer festival. The festival concerts and activities are scheduled from July 23 to Aug. 6 in venues all over Ottawa and in Centretown venues like Ottawa City Hall on Laurier Ave W, Dominion-Chalmers United Church on Cooper Street and National Arts Centre on Elgin Street.
This summer’s festival audience will be able to enjoy everything from classical award winning Trio Céleste with Iryna Krechkovsky (violin), Ross Gasworth, (cello) Kevin Kwan Loucks (piano) to the instrumental and vocal Latin American inspired folk music ensemble from Chile, Inti-Illimani.
”Anybody who has an interest in this art form” is the target audience, says Whittall – “anybody who has an interest in this kind of music, that really wants to get this festival experience.”
The city hall preview “is a good opportunity to get to know what this festival is about,” he adds, “and decide whether buying tickets for the summer festival is a good idea.”
But for the Ottawa Chamber Music Society, it is also about giving the public a good experience. Perhaps people will have an opportunity to briefly enjoy the chamber music, while running errands in city hall, says Whittall.
“If you’re standing in line waiting to renew your license, why not go and listen to something gorgeous instead of being frustrated waiting in line,” Whittall says. “And if you happen to be getting married that day, hey, bonus: free wedding music.”
The line up for the concert series:
Wednesday April 1
Carissa Klopoushak (violin) and Julia MacLaine (cello)
Wednesday April 8
Jesse Stewart: DOME (Dynamics of Musical Exploration)
Ottawa City Hall, Jean Pigott Place
Wednesday April 15
Le Quatuor Despax: Cendrine Despax (violin), Jean Despax (violin), Maxime Despax (viola), Valérie Despax (cello)
Wednesday April 22
uOttawa School of Music String Quintet
Joel Quarrington (supervisor), Kathryn Koch (violin), Jessica Ramsay (violin), David Endemann (viola)
Wednesday April 29
Ottawa Children’s Choir, Conductor: Jackie Hawley
Wednesday May 6
Chorale De La Salle, Conductor: Robert Filion