Melbourne audiences will have the opportunity to experience some of the world’s finest chamber musicians at the annual Mimir Chamber Music Festival at its new Melbourne home, The Ian Potter Southbank Centre, from 24 August – 1 September 2019.
Building on Melbourne’s rich tradition of chamber music Mimir (named for the Norse God of wisdom) features musicians from North America’s most accomplished orchestras, Grammy Award-nominated recording artists and University faculty members from the best music conservatories in the United States and Australia.
The Festival is designed to completely immerse musicians in chamber music, with an intense period of performances, rehearsals and master classes that brings together professional musicians, students and audiences who all share a love of the form.
The Mimir Chamber Music Festival was founded in 1998 in Fort Worth, Texas by Dr Curt Thompson, Associate Professor of Music (Violin) and Head of Strings at the Melbourne Conservatorium. The festival has been held in Melbourne since 2013.
This year’s special guest artists include: Joan DerHovsepian, viola (USA), Jun Iwasaki, violin (USA), John Novacek, piano (USA), Stephen Rose, violin (USA), Brant Taylor, cello (USA) and Curt Thompson, violin (Aus).
Providing exceptional educational experiences for future generations of Australian musicians, Mimir guest artists will also mentor young musicians from the Melbourne Conservatorium and secondary schools from across Victoria in a range of master classes, coaching and demonstrations.
“A life in music is an incredibly enriching, challenging and endless pursuit,” says says Artistic Director Dr Curt Thompson. “One must have dedication, devotion, discipline, determination and, perhaps most of all, humility. This is something we would like to distil to the young musicians during the festival.”
The program for the concert series includes:
CONCERT 1: Wednesday, 28 August – 7:30pm
Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911)
Piano Quartet in A minor (Nicht zu schnell) – Featured performances by Stephen Rose, violin; Joan DerHovsepian, viola; Brant Taylor, cello; John Novacek, piano
Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953)
String Quartet in F Major, Op. 92 (Allegro sostenuto; Adagio; Allegro) – Featured performances by Curt Thompson and Stephen Rose, violins; Joan DerHovsepian, viola; Brant Taylor, cello
Edward ELGAR (1857-1934)
Piano Quintet in A minor, Op. 84 (Moderato-Allegro; Adagio; Andante-Allegro) – Featured performances by Jun Iwasaki and Stephen Rose, violins Joan DerHovsepian, viola; Brant Taylor, cello; John Novacek, piano
CONCERT 2: Friday, 30 August – 7:30pm
Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Sonata in F minor, Op. 120, No. 1 (Allegro appassionato; Andante un poco adagio; Allegretto grazioso; Vivace) – Featured performances by Joan DerHovsepian, viola; John Novacek, piano
Fritz KREISLER (1875-1962)
String Quartet in A minor (Fantasie; Scherzo: Allegro vivo, con spirito; Einleitung und romance; Finale: Allegro molto moderato) – Featured performances by Jun Iwasaki and Stephen Rose, violins; Joan DerHovsepian, viola; Brant Taylor, cello
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
String Quartet in C minor, Op. 18, No. 4 )Allegro ma non tanto; Scherzo: Andante scherzoso quasi allegretto; Minuet: Allegretto; Allegro ma non tanto-Prestissimo) – Featured performances by Stephen Rose and Curt Thompson, violins; Joan DerHovsepian, viola; Brant Taylor, cello
CONCERT 3: Sunday, 1 September – 3:00pm
Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937)
Sonata in G Major (Allegretto; Blues: Moderato; Perpetuum mobile: Allegro) – Featured performances by Jun Iwasaki, violin; John Novacek, piano
Gabriela FRANK (b. 1972)
Leyandas: An Andean Walkabout (Toyos; Tarqueada; Himno de Zamponas; Chasqui; Canto de Velorio; Coqueteos) – Featured performances by Curt Thompson and Stephen Rose, violins; Joan DerHovsepian, viola; Brant Taylor, cello
Antonín DVORÁK (1841-1904)
Piano Quintet in A Major, Op. 81 (Allegro, ma non tanto; Dumka: Andante con moto; Scherzo (Furiant): Molto vivace; Finale: Allegro) – Featured performances by Stephen Rose and Jun Iwasaki, violins; Joan DerHovsepian, viola; Brant Taylor, cello; John Novacek, piano
The 2019 Mimir Chamber Music Festival takes place at The Ian Potter Southbank Centre, Southbank. For More information and full program: www.unimelb.edu.au for details.
Image: Mimir Chamber Music Festival 2019 – courtesy of Melbourne Conservatorium of Music