Allegra Foundation: The Power of Chamber Music

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“The power of chamber music really lies in its ability to connect with everyone in an intimate, warm setting,” says Dorothy Fieldman-Fraiberg, founder of the Allegra Foundation, about the reach and power of the foundation’s two programs: Allegra Chamber Music and Bach Before Bedtime.

Allegra Chamber Music has planned another magnificent season of free concerts at various venues throughout Montreal. On Dec. 13 at Redpath Hall, for instance, renowned conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin will join the Allegra chamber musicians in performing works by Ravel, (specifically Ma mère l’Oye for four-hands piano), Mozart, and Elgar. In a message about Allegra, Nézet-Séguin says that it “represents the highest form of chamber music; discovering new repertoire and bringing back the cornerstones of chamber music.” Indeed, Allegra aims to combine traditional chamber repertoire with contemporary works, and highlight Montreal’s musicians as well as its diverse, intergenerational audiences. Fieldman-Fraiberg echoes Nézet-Séguin, adding that “sharing is what chamber music is all about.”

Bach Before Bedtime audience

Bach Before Bedtime will also return with a season of fun and educational chamber music programming geared toward children. The program began as an open dress rehearsal, and has since evolved into a multidisciplinary production that combines music, singing, dance, and storytelling into an interactive concert experience. Children are welcomed into the story and have an opportunity to meet the instrumentalists after the show, to learn more about the inner workings of music-making and connect with the performers. Children get to experience all aspects of a classical concert, and are encouraged to actively participate in what is happening onstage. This is Bach Before Bedtime’s mission: to introduce young listeners to the warmth and harmonious relationships cultivated from chamber music by allowing them to fully engage in their role as an audience. The program has performed more than 300 concerts for over 10,000 children since its inception. This year’s lineup features a Halloween concert, a Christmas event with emphasis on The Nutcracker, and three other concerts: Journey Through the Life of Musicians; Day at the Opera: Carmen; and Peter & the Wolf. Bach Before Bedtime aims to create a new generation of engaged listeners by breaking the barrier between classical music and its audiences. Children leave the concerts singing the tunes, with a newfound unbridled passion for music.

This year will mark the 43rd year of Allegra Chamber Music and the 15th anniversary of Bach Before Bedtime. Though the target audience and overall initiative of the programs differ slightly, they share a common goal: to make chamber music accessible, and connect musicians to audiences. This will be emphasized at the 43rd Anniversary Gala. The fundraiser is vital to Allegra’s mission, as it allows them to present concerts at no cost to audiences, and to keep the costs of Bach Before Bedtime as low as possible. This year’s gala will include chamber works by Hough, Schubert, and Strauss, and will also feature the “next generation of chamber musicians and concertgoers,” as children who have previously participated in the Bach Before Bedtime program take the stage. Tickets for the Oct. 19 event can be purchased on Allegra’s website. Those in attendance will surely experience the warmth, intimacy, and joy exuded by the Allegra Foundation, its musicians, and audiences.