Ojai Talk

1 pm - 4:30 pm

Music and Place - Norwegian Mood

Ara Guzelimian led the discussion with Leif Ove Andsnes, Ojai 2012 Music Director, about how a sense of place is important in creating community and then from 3-4:30 Dutch composer Reinbert de Leeuw talked about the process of re-imaging the works of Schumann and Schubert which we will hear later in the Festival.  These talks bring the musicians, composers and conductors together with the audience who is eager to learn more.  Very special.

Pre-concert talk on Tennis Court

7 pm Christopher Hailey with Marc-Andre Hamelin, pianist. Another opportunity to feel like a smarter participant  with talks by the musician and a chance for Q&A.

Concerts

8 pm

Libby Bowl concert.  The Norwegian Chamber Orchestra performed Janacek’s “String Quartet No. 2, “Intimate Letters” (1928). Next up Reinbert DeLeeuw’s “Im wunderschonen Moant Mai” (2003). These were the various takes, 21 of them, on Schumann and Schubert that he discussed earlier which I found fascinating as I knew not-much about either of those composers. Lucy Shelton, soprano, spoke rather than sang the writings of Goethe and Heine.  The very very comprehensive program contained the texts in German and English.  Thank you Christopher Hailey.

10:30 pm

The late night concert consisted of “Lullabies” (2000), “Sigrid’s Lullaby” and “Sigrid’s Cantata” (This one based on Bach’s Cantata and composed for his then 2 year old daughter) by Bent Sorensen performed by Andsnes, solo piano. These were played between Busoni’s “Berceuse eleglaque” (1909) arranged by Schoenberg and played by Andsnes, piano, and Marc-Andres Hamelin, harmonium, and members of the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra; Gustav Mahler’s “Ruckert Lieder” (1901-02) by Andsnes on piano and mezzo-soprano Christianne Stotijn; ending the night with Alfred Schnittke’s Piano Quintet” (1972-76).  All in all a gorgeous and very different night of music.  Go Ojai.

NYTimes review: http://nyti.ms/MzuIYd