Arts This Week: The Cville Chamber Music Festival
By Ben Larsen
Ben Larsen:
The Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival is happening from September 7 to the 20th. For Arts This Week, we spoke with Nathalie Hokanson.
Natalie Hokanson:
My name is Nathalie Hokanson. I am the executive director of The Virginia Chamber Music Foundation, which is the proud presenter of the annual Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival, as well as some occasional events during the year. So we have 10 concerts in about 14 days in September. The festival runs September 7 through the 20th, and we’ve got about 24 musicians coming in from all over the world to perform right here in Charlottesville. There are eight ticketed events, five full length concerts, where we also offer student pricing and a free student rush at old Cabell Hall and the Paramount Theater, as well as three one hour concerts at Vault Virginia, Eastwood Farm and Winery and King family vineyards, as well as two free concerts this year. September 7, featured Dvorak’s string sextet in a major which was saturated with elements of Czech and Slavonic folklore, including a dunka folk ballad and a bohemian dance. September 11 includes Brahms infectious and quite virtuosic piano quartet in G minor that concludes with a fiery Hungarian folk dance. On September 14, our musicians will perform Brahms rich string quintet, number two in G major, that also has Hungarian folk influences in the finale. September 16 features Dvorak’s dumke Piano Trio, number four in E minor. September 19 is a bit different, with its themes of travel, exile and a famous deal with the devil portrayed in Stravinsky’s epic lestoir de soldat, but still includes dances and marches and a very familiar tune. We will also feature two free concerts this year our annual one hour lunchtime community concert at 12:30 on Friday, September 12 at the Paramount is a sampler performance for all audiences, and will give a taste of the festival and this year’s musicians to classical music fans as well as curious newcomers. The family friendly concert at 2pm on Saturday, September 20, at the Dickinson Fine and Performing Arts Center at PVCC, will feature the classic story Ferdinand by Munro Leaf with music by Alan Ridout; and Camille Saint-Saëns’ Carnival of the Animals. This one-hour theatrical concert will also include local artist Chicho Lorenzo, so it’s perfect for kids and music lovers of all ages. This year’s festival, musicians come from North America and abroad. All the artists have performed with major orchestras and ensembles around the world. They bring fresh interpretations and a deep appreciation of the entire spectrum of classical music to the Charlottesville community. Coming from abroad this year are Brazilian pianist Cristian Budu, Russian violinist Aylen Pritchen, British clarinetist Matthew Hunt, Iranian American violist, Muriel Razavi and Finnish, clarinetist and some may know him more as a conductor, Osmo Vanska, we also have many beloved musicians returning to our local stages this year. The Brooklyn Rider quartet performed here on September 7. Pianists Andrew Armstrong and Mimi Solomon will be back. Violinist Jennifer Frautschi and Simone Porter are here, and we will be featuring several local artists this year as well, percussionist I-Jen Fang, violist Ayn Balija, flutist Kelly Sulick and visual artist Chicho Lorenzo.
Ben Larsen:
So how long has this festival been going on for?
Natalie Hokanson:
This is our 26th season. So it was founded in 2000 by Charlottesville natives, Timothy Summers and Raphael Bell. They grew up around here, and then went on to Juilliard. And after that, they thought we should bring some of our really talented friends to play here in Charlottesville in September for a festival. And they’ve been doing it ever since. We’ve been doing it ever since, and as they continue to deepen their musical roots, because they’re both professional musicians in Europe right now, they continue to bring incredibly virtuosic musicians here every September.
Ben Larsen:
For those who are interested, how can they get involved there?
Natalie Hokanson:
We always have volunteer opportunities in and around the concerts. They can contact us at info@cvillechambermusic.org and tickets can be purchased through our festival box office, which is online at www.cvillechambermusic.org, or they can call our box office Monday through Friday, 12:30 to 4:30. That number is 434-295-5395, and there are tickets available through the Paramount Theater as well for our concerts there so the concerts on September 11 and the 19th, there are tickets available through the Paramount’s box office as well, and if students are interested in attending, which I really hope that they are, if they want to buy tickets in advance, they’re $6 or we have a free student rush at the door at old Cabell. And paramount, they just need to come with a valid student ID.
Ben Larsen:
More information about the festival can be found on cvillechambermusic.org Arts This Week is supported by the UVA Arts Council and Piedmont Virginia Community College. PVCC Arts presents a rich array of dance music, theater and visual arts programming. Learn more@pvcc.edu
