Thu 6/15-Sat 7/1
As it moves into its sixth iteration, ChamberFest Cleveland also moves into a new phase of its existence. And fortuitously, its theme this year is Cycles: Phases, with 28 musicians playing at 11 concerts.
The two-week festival of chamber music concerts, founded by Cleveland Orchestra principal clarinetist emeritus Franklin Cohen, and his daughter Diana, concertmaster of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, kicks off Thu 6/15 with a concert at the Cleveland Institute of Music’s Mixon Hall featuring 11 musicians, including Diana Cohen, and music by J.S. Bach, John Adams and Edward Elgar. On Fri 6/16 the music moves to the Bop Stop where bassist/composer Xavier Foley will perform some of his own music; Jonathan Vinocour and Zhanbo Zheng will play George Benjamin’s Viola, Viola for two violas, and the nine-musician ensemble will perform works by Kurt Weill in a cabaret-style evening.
One of the highlights should be the Tue 6/20 event at the Transformer Station. Noted Cleveland-based filmmaker Kasumi will be providing visuals for the concert featuring “Kafka Fragments” by György Kurtág, a one-hour series of short pieces for violin and voice.
Other concerts take place at Case Western Reserve’s Harkness Chapel, the Dunham Tavern Museum, Severance Hall’s Reinberger Chamber Hall and finally, in Sat 7/1, coming “Full Circle” at the Maltz Performing Arts Center in University Circle with music by Mozart and Dvorak. Cake will be served at a reception after the concert to celebrate the upcoming wedding of Diana Cohen to pianist Ruben Rabinovich, both of whom will be performing.
Check out the festival’s website for a full concert listing and ticket information.