The 11th annual Pender Harbour Chamber Music Festival opened on Aug. 13 with a gentle Beethoven piece, Violin Romance No.2 in F major, Op.50, that included a piano performance from artistic director Alexander Tselyakov and the exquisite violin of Terence Tam. As concertmaster with the Victoria Symphony Orchestra, Tam is a multi-contest winner noted for his playing and recording. For the next piece, a Brahms horn trio, he and Tselyakov were joined on stage by Allene Hackleman who is principal horn of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.
The Gryphon Trio, an innovative, Juno award-winning group, gave a masterful rendition of Franz Schubert’s Piano Trio No. 1 in B-flat major on opening night.
It’s notable that all three composers, Beethoven, Brahms and Schubert, started their musical studies early in life and presumably received support from their families. In a break with tradition, the Chamber Music Festival decided to give the same kind of support by changing their former free concert, Chamber Music Doesn’t Bite, into a free showcase for younger or newer performers. At the age of 16, Halfmoon Bay’s Simon Gidora was invited to open Friday’s Rising Tide concert with a violin sonata by Bach. The patio was packed with audience and chairs were set up in the parking lot for this popular event. Pianist Jenny Dou also performed, and Pender Harbour’s Rose-Ellen Nichols, mezzo-soprano, returned from a critically acclaimed lead role in the opera Pauline, to sing varied selections. Tselyakov programmed the performers into Saturday’s concert as well so they could gain experience playing with professionals.
“It was a wonderful integration of young people,” said festival co-chair Margaret Skelley. She added that even the comprehensive programme notes were drawn up by an emerging musician, Evan Hesketh.
Once again the selection and combination of fine artists gave the festival its special cachet – classical compositions heard in an intimate venue above the harbour in Madeira Park. And once again, all concerts were sold out.
“The musicians tell us that this is the finest chamber music festival that they go to,” said Skelley. “Our audience doesn’t want us to change a thing.”
Friends of the Festival provide generous support, and Skelley has praise for the many volunteers who work so hard to facilitate the music. Information about the 2016 Festival will be available at www.penderharbourmusic.ca next spring. Also the Music Society will be presenting a Chamber weekend in January of two recitals of music from Brahms and Schumann.
