The Michigan City Chamber Music Festival (MCCMF), is set to present its 16th season of free summer concerts. This year’s theme is “The Natural World,” and will feature five mind expanding programs of music that represent the natural forces and elements that rule creation and our daily lives. There are also three “Concerts for Children” which include performances by the festival musicians, snacks, and art projects that the children can take home. The festival runs August 5-13, with all of the events held at 1st Presbyterian Church, 121 W. 9th Street, Michigan City, IN. Only Saturday’s noon event for children, will be held at the Michigan City Public Library. All events are FREE and open to the public. For a complete schedule of events or more information, see the MCCMF’s website, www.mccmf.org, or call (219) 561-1939.
The programs feature a wide variety of musical eras from the high Baroque to late 20th Century repertoire. Some highlights include Antonio Vivaldi’s beloved “Summer” from “The Seasons,” Robert Schumann’s hyper-romantic and exciting “Quintet for piano & strings,” Maurice Ravel’s sensual “Trio for piano & strings,” and Franz Schubert’s melodic “Quintet for strings.”
“I have pondered and planned this year’s theme for many years, now. Musical selections that have been inspired by nature are hardly a rarity, says MCCMF Artistic Director, Nic Orbovich, who has enjoyed a 30- year career, co-founded and has led the festival for its 16 years. “WHY did the composers, whose work we highlight this season, take such strong inspiration from the natural world? HOW did they incorporate what they felt from this inspiration into the musical language? I started to contemplate such thoughts on a more cerebral plane, perhaps, than I had before. In studying the musical offerings of these great masters, I started to realize that there was far more at play here than our common interpretation of artistic inspiration.”
“Music occurs, of course, from sound vibration. When I really thought about these vibrations of physical phenomena, I felt a very direct connection between music and nature. Composers weren't ‘inspired’ by nature, they were actual conduits of the natural world, creating great musical works of art THROUGH nature.”
A special offering this year is the original 13 instrument version of Aaron Copland’s “Appalachian Spring, Ballet for Martha,” one of the most cherished pieces in the entire classical repertoire. The Pulitzer Prize -winning work is famous for its evocations of outdoor landscape, and its use of the Shaker melody, “Simple Gifts,” as a grand fanfare finale to the ballet. As is the MCCMF’s way, the piece will be presented in its authentic form of 13 players, and will be performed without a conductor.
Another musical highlight is the presentation of George Crumb’s “Vox Balaenae” (Voice of the Whale) prepared for piano, flute, and cello. It is a spectacular and moving theatre- inspired piece that includes special preparation of the piano, unique flute and cello techniques to imitate sounds of nature (including whale song!), and special lighting to create an evocative mood. Due to its highly technical and virtuosic aspects, performances are rare. This will be the Michigan City premiere of the piece.
The MCCMF’s roster of musicians is a most impressive array of world renowned talent. The players have been nominated for Grammy awards, Emmy awards, and have won Gramophone Magazine’s “Record of the Year” awards. Performing this year are Grammy nominated Artistic Director and violinist, Nic Orbovich; Professor of Piano, State University of New York, Robert Auler; Professor of Viola, University of Illinois, Rudolf Haken; Professor of Oboe, University of Michigan, Nancy Ambrose King; Professor of Piano, University of Florida, Jasmin Arakawa; Professor of flute, Western Michigan University, Martha Councell Vargas; Lyric Opera of Chicago soprano, Kimberly Jones; Professor of piano, Indiana University, Jennifer Muniz; South Bend Symphony principal violist, Gabriel Schlaffer; Kalamazoo Symphony principal cellist, David Peshlakai; cellist Igor Cetkovic; Knoxville Symphony violinist, Zofia Glashauser, and more!
Sunny Gardner Orbovich is Education Director of the MCCMF. For biographies and photographs of all the MCCMF musicians, see www.mccmf.org.
