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OTTAWA — Ottawa’s internationally-acclaimed chamber music festival returns this summer with highly-anticipated live performances from cherished locals, living legends, and up-and-coming Canadian and international stars alike.
From July 20 – August 3, 2023, ChamberfestTM will bring 2022 Banff International String Quartet Competition (BISQC) laureates, the Isidore String Quartet; Ottawa’s darling piano virtuoso, Angela Hewitt; and longtime festival friends and collaborators, the Gryphon Trio—among many others—to Ottawa’s best venues. Early bird tickets are on sale May 1, 2023 at chamberfest.com
“Following an unprecedented few years, Chamberfest is back in a big way. We’re moving ahead in full force with a lineup of promising young performers who are new to Ottawa, and fan favourites—all brought to you live and in person at our city’s best spots,” says Carissa Klopoushak, Artistic Director of Ottawa Chamberfest. “Chamber music lovers have been waiting for the life-changing performances and programs that only Chamberfest can provide, and we’re ready to give them what they want. It’s a reunion years in the making!”
Signature Series
James Ehnes & NACO: Bach Concerti – Thursday, July 20 at 7 p.m.
Grammy Award-winning violinist James Ehnes opens Chamberfest with a blockbuster, leading the NAC Orchestra in a program of Bach’s solo, double, and triple concerti. In this special collaboration, Ehnes will be joined by some of Canada’s favourite musicians including Chip Hamann (oboe), Joanna G’Froerer (flute), and Luc Beausejour (harpsichord), for an evening of stunning virtuosity and danceable charm.
Sarah Slean & Ironwood Quartet – Sunday, July 23 at 7 p.m.
Canadian bright light Sarah Slean is an award-winning performer and composer with 25 years of wide-ranging musical experience. Joined by Ottawa’s Ironwood Quartet, this special collaboration will feature Sarah’s original chamber compositions, vintage Sarah Slean songs from the vault, and the world premiere of three new works for voice, piano, and string quartet. Slean and Ironwood will take us from original pop poetry to chamber music and back again. Don’t miss the magic as this performance is one-night-only!
Gryphon Trio @30 – Thursday, July 27 at 7 p.m.
The Gryphon Trio celebrates 30 years together with a pearl of a programme, including Schubert’s treasured Piano Trio No. 1, the Ottawa premiere of Robert Rival’s “Nature Rhythms”, and much more! These Chamberfest friends and fan favourites capture audiences around the world with their highly refined, dynamic performances as they add to the chamber repertoire by commissioning new work, “redefin[ing]chamber music for the 21st century.”
Wallis Giunta & Friends – Friday, July 28 at 7 p.m.
Back from Vienna, Chamberfest is delighted to welcome home internationally acclaimed superstar Wallis Giunta. Accompanied by a chamber ensemble brought together specially for this performance, Giunta will electrify with a program she calls Live Wire, moving from art song to Berio’s folksong arrangements and more while her delectably rich, silver-toned mezzo-soprano sparkles with vitality.
Angela Hewitt: Bach & Mozart Extravaganza! – Monday, July 31 at 7 p.m.
Together for one night only, Ottawa’s darling piano virtuoso Angela Hewitt returns to Chamberfest ready to wow. Truly an extravaganza, Hewitt shares the stage with Chamberfest Artists-in-Residence and the Festival Orchestra to present Mozart’s Woodwind Quintet and Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 5. The evening culminates in Mozart’s epic Concerto for Three Pianos, interpreted by Hewitt, Sylvie Cheng, and Chamberfest newcomer Katherine Dowling. Don’t miss this performance of seldom-seen works with a stellar cast of performers; it’s a combination that will never be seen again!
Marina Kun Series
Introducing Isidore String Quartet – Friday, July 21 at 7 p.m.
Winners of the 2022 BISQC, the young ensemble will perform quartets by Beethoven, Bach, Aida Shirazi, and “The Disappearance of Lisa Gherardini”, a work about the theft of the Mona Lisa, written by by Ottawa’s Dinuk Wijeratne. Don’t miss their Ottawa debut where the Isidores plan to inspire through “collaboration and play,” using the “tradition of the string quartet [as their]playground”.
Hinrich Alpers: The Late Beethoven Piano Sonatas I and II – Saturday, July 22 and Wednesday, July 26 at 7 p.m.
Superstar pianist Hinrich Alpers returns to Chamberfest twice for the thrilling culmination of his Beethoven solo piano sonata cycle. A fan favourite, this Honens Prize Laureate packed the concert hall in 2022 so be sure to buy your tickets early for both performances. Celebrate the end of this journey with us as Alpers fills the Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Center with joyous Steinway sound and be amazed!
Canadian National Brass Project – Monday, July 24 at 7 p.m.
The Canadian National Brass Project is true Canadiana: drawing from the title chairs of 15 North American orchestras and under the artistic leadership of Canada’s premiere horn soloist James Sommerville, this special collaboration features Canada’s foremost players and composers. This all-star brass ensemble promises to deliver a lively and refreshing blast of a concert!
Mark Fewer, Jeanie Chung, and Thalea String Quartet – Tuesday, July 25 at 7 p.m.
Chamberfest favourite Mark Fewer returns with a lush and passionate program! Joined by celebrated Canadian pianist Jeanie Chung and the Thalea String Quartet, together they present Chausson’s Concerto for Violin, Piano, and String Quartet and the Ottawa premiere of Carmen Braden’s work inspired by Chausson. Entitled You Know What’s Coming, You Just Don’t Know When, this work is sure to transport both performers and listeners to an ancient and essential northern soundscape.
Soirée Baroque with Chloe Kim, Mélisande McNabney, Cameron Crozman, and Michel Angers – Saturday, July 29 at 7 p.m.
Join Canada’s next generation of Baroque all-stars for an evening of old favourites and lesser-known treasures of the Baroque. Canadians Chloe Kim (violin), Mélisande McNabney (harpsichord), Cameron Crozman (cello) and Michel Angers (lute) are all internationally celebrated artists of the highest calibre, brought together by Chamberfest for this special performance. With a program spanning Stradella, Gabrieli, Matteis, Vivaldi, Schmelzer, Corelli, Biber, and Pachelbel, this unique concert may be the start of something exceptional — we invite you to be a part of it!
Lafayette Quartet’s Final Bow, featuring James Campbell – Sunday, July 30 at 7 p.m.
With more than a dozen albums and a thousand appearances behind them, this milestone concert marks the final touring season for this ground-breaking foursome of accomplished women. The Lafayettes will present Haydn’s delightful Op. 20 No. 2 and Kelly Marie Murphy’s work “For Fragile Personalities in Anxious Times.” For this
landmark concert, they will be joined by long-time friend and collaborator James Campbell for Brahms’ beloved Clarinet Quintet.
CANTUS: My Journey Yours – Tuesday, August 1 at 7 p.m.
Now in its 27th season, America’s premier low-voice ensemble Cantus performs My Journey Yours, a program exploring emigration anchored by Elise Witt’s piece of the same name. Cantus is known for its warmth and blend, expressive power, innovative programming, new music commissions, and conductorless riveting performances of repertoire ranging from the Renaissance to the 21st century. Hailed as having both “exalting finesse” and “expressive power,” the spontaneous grace of Cantus’ music making is nothing short of “exquisite.” (New Yorker, The Philadelphia Inquirer)
Introducing Viano String Quartet – Wednesday, August 2 at 7 p.m.
Praised for their “huge range of dynamics, massive sound and spontaneity” (American Record Guide), the young Vianos won First Prize at BISQC 2019 and are the current Quartet-in-Residence at the Curtis Institute of Music. For their Chamberfest debut, they bring a carefully crafted program of Piazzolla, Pulitzer Prize-winner Caroline Shaw, Kevin Lau, and Smetana’s folk-inspired quartet “From My Life.”
Chamberfest 2023 Closing Night Mashup Thursday, August 3 at 7 p.m.
Chamberfest 2023–closing with a bang! We bring some of the world’s finest chamber musicians together in a mashup concert in our inimitable Chamberfest style. Featuring performances by surprise special guests and Chamberfest Artists-in-Residence, including celebrated violist Nadia Sirota, this collaborative event brings together chamber music favourites, new music, and music from around the world in celebration of that spirit of fresh observation. This night will certainly never be repeated – don’t miss out!
All concerts in the Signature Series and Marina Kun series take place at Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre (CDCC) at 7 p.m. and become public May 1. Our late-night series Chamberfringe will be announced May 16. The remaining lineup of events, including noon-hour concerts at CDCC, our Beechwood and Record Centre Series, Chamber Chats, Bring the Kids! programming, and other special events will be revealed early June.
Visit chamberfest.com to find out more about our summer festival programs, performing artists, and ticket package options.
About Ottawa Chamberfest
Ottawa Chamberfest’s vision is to change lives through music. It brings together the boldest names in ensemble and solo performance for musical celebration in the nation’s capital, drawing approximately 100,000 visits per year through its concert series, community engagement and education (CEE) program, and renowned summer festival. Ottawa Chamberfest is a 2020 Festival & Events Ontario (FEO) “Top 100” event and was named Ottawa Tourism’s “Event of the Year” in 2019.
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