In this year's edition of the Kaimerata Festival, Canadian violinist Kai Gleusteen and French pianist Catherine Ordronneau are back with a selection of masterpieces from the arguably the most glorious era of classical music in France.
The program spans between 1875 and the Second World War. Gleusteen and Ordronneau will be joined by American/Canadian cellist Beth Root Sandvoss, Canadian violist Reg Quiring and American clarinettist, Sean Osborn. They will perform three different programs, first on Denman Island (Aug. 6 to 8) and then in Comox United Church (Aug. 10 to 12).
Gleusteen and Ordronneau have been performing together worldwide for the last 25 years. They are based in Barcelona, where they put on the same series of concerts during the winter months. They are joined by top notch musicians from the West Coast for this series. The festival is in its 14th season, but it is only the second time that they bring the complete version to Comox Valley. Local audience members describe it as one of the "highlights of the year!"
The programs are magnificent. Gleusteen, the creator of the festival, takes pride and joy in explaining the works beforehand to heighten the understanding and appreciation of the compositions. Comox United Church has an excellent acoustic making the concerts a pure delight.
Among this year's selection of compositions, the musicians will perform the magnificent Piano Trio by Maurice Ravel, the ultra-Romantic Piano Quartet by Gabriel Faur茅, and the profound and striking Quartet for the End of Time by Olivier Messiaen.
They will also include many French "bonbons," including the Swan from Saint-Sa毛ns' Carnaval of the Animals, the Meditation from the Opera Tha茂s by Massenet and the ever-so-beautiful Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy. Attending all three concerts will give one a wonderful overview of the pre-impressionist, impressionist, and post-impressionist music of France.
Tickets for individual concerts are $30 (students $15). A pass for all three concerts is $80 and a Supporters Pass which includes reserved seating and access to rehearsals is $120. Tickets and more information at . Tickets are also available at the door (cash only).
