WEDNESDAY, July 30, 2014
The Islands’ Sounder • www.islandssounder.com
Island Living
PG. 9
Tango meets chamber music
Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival now in its 17th year by COLLEEN SMITH ARMSTRONG
T
Editor/Publisher
hose passionate about the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival say it just gets better and better. And this summer marks its 17th year. “It truly defines the festival as part of the history of the island – and we’ve made a mark nationally too,” said Artistic Director (and viola and violin player) Aloysia Friedmann. “It is something that will move forever forward.” Friedmann and her husband Jon (Jackie) Kimura Parker, a pianist who is also artistic advisor of the festival, play at concerts throughout the country, where it’s a common occurrence for audience members to ask about the Orcas event. This year’s festival is from Aug. 8 through 23 and is comprised of 10 evening concerts at Orcas Center, hamlet performances in Olga, West Sound and Deer Harbor, a program for seniors, a Children’s Concert and a performance on Lopez Island. It also features Music Lovers Seminars, in-depth lectures with highly regarded speakers from the Northwest and guest artists as well as pre-concert talks preceding the 7:30 p.m. events. Following the concerts, patrons are invited to attend receptions with cocktail cuisine and the opportunity to mingle with the musicians. The festival is known for attracting world famous musicians and bringing together a dedicated group of volunteers, donors and audience members all in the name of music. “You are not just attending a concert.
You become part of the entire family,” Parker said. “There are so many friendships.” On opening weekend audiences will enjoy a little taste of Buenos Aires with a tango adventure. Pianist extraordinaire Pablo Ziegler and his Classical Tango Quartet will perform “Nuevo Tango” on Aug. 8 at 7:30 p.m. and Aug. 9 at 5:30 p.m. Ziegler played with the late bandoneon player Astor Piazolla who revolutionized the tango into a new style using elements of jazz and classical music. “Ziegler is the world’s leading superstar tango pianist,” Parker said. The “Welcome Back!” concerts Aug. 12 and 13 feature artists back by popular demand, including violinists Andrés Cárdenes and Monique Mead, baritone Philip Cutlip, violist Yizhak Schotten and cellist Anne Martindale Williams. Audiences will hear arias from Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro” and “The Magic Flute,” enjoy pianist Ian Parker’s Orcas Island debut in Beethoven’s joyous Trio for Clarinet, Cello and Piano, taste a dash of Hungarian spice with the “Kodály Sérénade” and marvel at the monumental Brahms F major Cello Sonata played by Bion Tsang and Jackie. Friedmann and Jackie begin a “European Interlude” Aug. 15 and 16 in Spain in Turina’s rarely heard “Scène Andalouse,” and then join violinist Chee-Yun and Ian in France for SaintSaëns’ “Violin Sonata.” Cutlip will bring you into Schubert’s home in Vienna for a set of Lieder, and the European evening concludes in Germany for
Contributed photos
Top: Jackie Kimura Parker and Aloysia Friedmann. Left: Chee-Yun. Right. Philip Cutlip. Schumann’s rousing “Piano Quintet.” It will be a musical family celebration Aug. 19 and 20 when three famous pianists – brothers Jackie and Jamie Parker and cousin Ian – perform for “Orcas~trations.” Ian’s father taught both Jackie and Jamie to play the piano as young boys. The three will take turns in every possible musical combination on the
piano. Strings, clarinet and voice mix and match with one Parker at a time. This star-studded concert also welcomes the return of the Gryphon Trio with Annalee Patipatanakoon, Roman Borys and Jamie Parker. The program concludes with mayhem as the Steinway handles multiple Parkers at once. For tickets and a complete schedule, visit www.oicmf.org or call 376-6636.
Friday, July 25 7:30 pm
$25, $19 Orcas Center members, $11 students OrcasCenter.org | 360.376.2281 Burgers & Brew before the show at 5:30 pm! This ad generously sponsored by Orcas Center’s Premier Media Sponsor: