INNERchamber expands offerings with matinees, acclaimed guest artists for 17th season

Stratford’s INNERchamber as announced its 17th season lineup, which begins at the end of September.

By: Galen Simmons

INNERchamber is expanding both its artistic reach and audience accessibility as the Stratford chamber-music series prepares to launch its 17th season this fall with six concerts featuring internationally acclaimed guest artists, new daytime performances and a collaboration with a local visual artist.

Artistic director and violinist Andrew Chung said the upcoming season builds on the organization's longstanding formula of pairing intimate chamber performances with a shared dining experience while continuing to surprise audiences with thoughtfully curated programs.

"I think it builds largely on the tradition that we've built up," Chung said. "All of our concerts up to this point have had a food element and then always … inviting people to come and be surprised with the music that we choose, with how we present it, all in the spirit of fun and community. I think this season builds on that largely, but there are some terrific highlights within this season that we're particularly proud of."

Among the biggest additions this year are afternoon matinee performances for two concerts – Gravity with Sarah Slean and Roy Lewis, and The Music of Talk with Tom Allen – a response to audience demand for daytime options.

"A number of our patrons, some of whom are older, have requested some daytime options," Chung said. "So, we're like, 'Okay, let's try it and see how it goes.' Already from subscription and single-ticket sales, we can see there is definitely interest for these afternoon shows."

The new performances also help accommodate growing demand. Chung said many concerts last season sold out between two and four weeks in advance.

Season 17 opens Sept. 27 with Where I Keep My Heart, a program centred on works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Hungarian composer Miklós Rózsa, both of whom, Chung said, poured their greatest passion into music that wasn't always their most commercially successful.

Rózsa, best known for his Academy Award-winning film scores, negotiated three months off each year from MGM Studios so he could compose concert music, Chung said.

"That's what he wanted to do," Chung continued. "We're performing his String Quartet No. 1. It showcases his Hungarian roots. He uses Hungarian folk music as the basis for this composition, and I think it's just a really exciting and satisfying string quartet."

The concert also features Mozart's String Quintet No. 4 in G minor with guest violist Kelvin Enns.

"Nowadays, we recognize these pieces as absolute masterpieces, but again, this is where his heart was," Chung said of Mozart's string quintets. "You can certainly hear the depth of emotion within this particular quintet."

In addition to the performance at Factory163, the season opener will also be performed at the Local Community Food Centre.

Another highlight comes Nov. 15 with Spiritillo Mediterraneo, featuring acclaimed Spanish baroque violinist Cristina Prats Costa performing music from across the 17th-century Mediterranean on period instruments.

Chung said the program is filled with rhythmic energy and virtuosic playing inspired by Spanish, Italian and Austrian musical traditions.

"When I heard some of the tracks from the album, I was like, 'Wow, this is really incredible playing and such a great idea,'" he said.

The February concert, Gravity, pairs music with original poetry by actor and poet Roy Lewis and performances by acclaimed Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah Slean.

Rather than focusing solely on the physical force of gravity, Chung said the concert also explores the "gravitas" of people – individuals whose presence draws communities together.

"There are certain people … who just draw people towards them and have an incredible internal gravity just by being who they are," Chung said. "In its best form, these people bind the community together in the most wonderful way."

The season concludes May 16 with Summer Nights, featuring Stratford mezzo-soprano Maria Soulis performing Hector Berlioz's Les Nuits d'été alongside chamber arrangements of works by Claude Debussy and Gabriel Fauré.

Beyond the music, Season 17 also introduces artwork by Stratford artist Anna Yuschuk to visually represent each concert.

"I've always admired her artwork," Chung said. "We worked together to choose images from her catalogue that would match the concert titles and themes. I think it's a really strong addition to visually represent our season."

All six concerts will be held at Factory163 in Stratford. Evening performances include a light dinner, while the two new matinees will not. Two concerts – In An Alternate Universe and The Music of Talk with Tom Allen – will also be available through video-on-demand. Season subscriptions and single tickets are now on sale.

For all the details and to purchase tickets, visit www.innerchamber.ca.