THE EDMONTON CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY PRESENTS - 2008 SUMMER SOLSTICE FESTIVAL

THE EDMONTON CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY

 2008 SUMMER SOLSTICE FESTIVAL

 WITH GUEST ARTISTS

                SHAUNA ROLSTON, cello                                      JACQUES DESPRÉS, piano

                MARINA HOOVER, cello                                        JASMINE LIN, violin

                MARTIN RISELEY, violin                                      LIVIA SOHN, violin

                PATRICIA TAO, piano                                           MARCUS THOMPSON, viola

                JAN URKE, double bass                                            SHARON WEI, viola

The Edmonton Chamber Music Society is adding a new note to Edmonton’s cultural scene with the launch of a three-day chamber music festival June 20 - 22.   Ten outstanding musicians from across North America, including acclaimed Canadian cellist Shauna Rolston, will present an eclectic and exciting range of works for piano and strings.  

Programs for the evening performances explore three broad themes.   From Other Lands, on Friday, June 20, highlights folk influences in such works as Manuel de Falla’s Suite populaire espagnole, the moving Desde mi ventana, arranged for piano and violins, from Osvaldo Golijov’s opera Ainadamar, and Tchaikovsky’s captivating and lively string sextet, Souvenir de Florence.

Saturday’s program, Summer Passion, offers the grand emotional sweep of music in the Romantic tradition with Brahms’ Piano Trio in C major, Dvořák’s Piano Quintet in A major, Op. 81, and Johan Halvorsen’s much praised arrangement for violin and viola of Handel’s Passacaglia in g minor.   

Inspired by Nature is the theme of Sunday’s concert, which includes Igor Stravinsky’s Pastorale for violin and piano, Eugène Ysaÿe’s challenging Sonata no. 5 in G major, “L’Aurore”, for solo violin, and the enduringly popular “Trout” Piano Quintet by Franz Schubert.     

Friday’s concert takes place at McDougall United Church, 10025 – 101 Street.   On Saturday and Sunday, the Festival moves to Convocation Hall on the University of Alberta campus.  All concerts begin at 8:00 pm.  A free pre-concert lecture will be presented each evening at 7:15 pm.