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Diverse repertoire and brilliant performances are the hallmarks of Chamber Music Northwest.
Some of the world's finest musicians come together again this summer in Portland to collaborate in a vibrant festival of chamber music, performing favorite masterworks alongside less familiar gems.
Enjoy timeless classics from Schumann's E-Flat Piano Quintet and Schubert's "Trout" Quintet to Villa-Lobos' haunting Bachiana Brasileira No. 5 for Soprano and 8 Cellos.
Revel in the artistry of soloists and ensembles in the spotlight, from Elmar Oliveira and André Watts to Peter Schickele, Mark O'Connor, and the Miami and Orion String Quartets as they both celebrate their 20th anniversary seasons.
Explore intriguing new works by living composers from Roberto Sierra and Joan Tower to Charles Wuorinen and Osvaldo Golijov.
Complete concert information is listed below. For additional festival events like outreach concerts and festival lectures, be sure to check out the items in the education menu.
Monday, Thursday & Saturday at Reed College
Tuesday & Friday at Catlin Gabel School Concerts at 8pm.
The summer's festival kicks off with wonderful classic favorites from the golden age of chamber music. Then we welcome the irrepressible Peter Schickele to bring us some of his unique music and charm, sure to tickle your musical funny-bone. An all-star line-up of festival artists joins him to perform the ever-popular Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saëns.
Also this week is our festival lecture, "What's So Funny About Music?" with Peter Schickele, and CMNW's Children's Concert—fun for the whole family! Meet the musicians after the concert for lemonade and cookies outside on the campus lawn.
T. Arm, I. Kavafian, E. Oliveira, P. Neubauer, R. Thomas, P. Wiley, B. Lieberman, A. McDermott, P. Wang, D. Shifrin, T. Helen O'Connor, J. Feves, N. DePonte, P. Schickele, M. Eaton
Monday, Thursday, Friday* & Saturday at Reed College
Tuesday at Catlin Gabel School Concerts at 8pm.
*The concert on Friday July 4 will run 7:30-8:45 pm without intermission.
From Schubert to bluegrass—this week we spotlight the sublime melodic genius of Schubert, then go all-out to celebrate the 4th of July weekend in high style! A terrific cast of virtuosos will perform musical gems of Americana, and the Mark O'Connor String Quartet rounds out the holiday festivities.
Ani Kavafian, Ida Kavafian, Theodore Arm, Paul Neubauer, Ronald Thomas, Peter Wiley, Barry Lieberman, Tara Helen O'Connor, David Shifrin, Anne-Marie McDermott, Pei-Yao Wang, Hyunah Yu
A. Kavafian, I. Kavafian, P. Neubauer, S. Tenenbom, H. Cheifetz, M. Haimovitz, N. Ives, D. Lewis, M. Nicolas, R. Thomas, F. Sherry, P. Wiley, T. O'Connor, A. McDermott, P. Wang, H. Yu
Mark O'Connor, Ida Kavafian, Paul Neubauer and Matt Haimowitz
Monday, Thursday & Saturday at Reed College
Tuesday & Friday at Catlin Gabel School Concerts at 8pm.
Our musical journey this week spans over four centuries from 1600 with Orlando Gibbons to 2007, in the newest works by Grammy and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Joan Tower. In between, enjoy a veritable feast of Baroque delights, and then join cellist Fred Sherry for an evening of compelling music for string quartet and sextet.
Ani Kavafian, Jesse Mills, Paul Neubauer, Fred Sherry, Barry Lieberman, Tara Helen O'Connor, David Shifrin, Julie Feves, William Purvis, John Cox, Anne-Marie McDermott
Fred Sherry Quartet (Jennifer Frautschi, Jesse Mills, Richard O'Neill, Fred Sherry), Paul Neubauer, Michael Nicolas
Monday, Thursday & Saturday at Reed College
Tuesday & Friday at Catlin Gabel School Concerts at 8pm.
This week we proudly salute two of America's finest string quartets—the Orion and the Miami—as they mark their 20th anniversaries in 2008. They celebrate with us over several days, offering masterful performances of timeless classics, with some rare treasures added. The gorgeous and passionate Octet for Strings by the Romanian romantic Georges Enescu caps the festive week.
Monday, Thursday, Saturday & Sunday at Reed College
Tuesday & Friday at Catlin Gabel School Concerts at 8pm, except Sunday at 4pm.
Our journey ends with CMNW's trademark rich diversity of music for winds, strings and piano—featuring a fascinating and colorful new nonet by award-winning composer Roberto Sierra in its world première. Beloved pianist André Watts joins in to wrap up this summer's festival in a four-day mini-festival of glorious French chamber music.
Important note: We are very sorry to announce that André Watts will be unable to perform at CMNW this week due to a serious wrist injury. We wish him a fast and full recovery. We are pleased that pianist Shai Wosner will take his place at all four concerts.
