Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre, Ottawa
https://www.chamberfest.com/event/2026/chamberfest-camerata/
Chamberfest 2026 marks the inaugural appearance of the Chamberfest Camerata, a new, conductorless ensemble founded by the festival and made up of leading Canadian chamber musicians and invited friends from abroad, including the Ironwood and Poiesis Quartets. Free in spirit and ambitious in scope, the Camerata brings together like-minded artists to explore chamber music with freshness, intensity, and a strong collective voice.
Tonight’s concert centres on string music of power and precision, pairing kinetically charged works by Bartók, Olli Mustonen, and Wojciech Kilar with Beethoven’s String Quartet in F minor, Op. 95, heard in a compelling arrangement for chamber orchestra. Across the programme, rhythmic vitality, shared instinct, and the freedom of artist-led performance shape an evening rooted in collaboration and the joyful collective energy of chamber music.
Programme:
Cris Derksen (1981–2026)
White Man’s Cattle
Carissa Klopoushak, Emily Kruspe, David Marks, Rachel Mercer
Einojuhani Rautavaara (1928-2016)
“Närböläisten braa speli” from The Fiddlers
Katya Poplyansky, Jessica Linnebach, Yolanda Bruno, Sarah Ying Ma, Emily Kruspe, Erika Raum, Coco Mi, Carissa Klopoushak, Isaac Chalk, David Marks, Jasper de Boor, Rachel Mercer, Drew Dansby, Sam Loeck
Béla Bartók (1881–1945)
(arr. Arthur Willner)
Romanian Folk Dances
Joc cu bâtǎ. Allegro moderato
Brâul. Allegro
Pê-loc. Andante
Buciumeana. Moderato
Poargǎ româneascǎ. Allegro
Mǎrunţel. L’istesso
Mǎrunţel. Allegro vivace
Erika Raum, Emily Kruspe, Carissa Klopoushak, Coco Mi, Yolanda Bruno, Katya Poplyansky, Jessica Linnebach, Sarah Ying Ma, David Marks, Isaac Chalk, Jasper de Boor, Drew Dansby, Rachel Mercer, Sam Loeck
Olli Mustonen (b. 1967)
Nonet No. 2
Inquieto
Allegro impetuoso
Adagio
Vivacissimo
Carissa Klopoushak, Emily Kruspe, Erika Raum, Katya Poplyansky, Isaac Chalk, David Marks, Drew Dansby, Rachel Mercer, Sam Loeck
Intermission
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)
String Quartet no. 11 in F minor, Op. 95 arr. for string orchestra
Allegro con brio
Allegretto ma non troppo
Allegro assai vivace ma serioso – Trio
Larghetto espressivo – Allegretto agitato
Jessica Linnebach, Katya Poplyansky, Yolanda Bruno, Emily Kruspe, Erika Raum, Carissa Klopoushak, Isaac Chalk, David Marks, Jasper de Boor, Rachel Mercer, Drew Dansby, Sam Loeck
Wojciech Kilar (1932–2013)
Orawa
Emily Kruspe, Erika Raum, Coco Mi, Carissa Klopoushak, Katya Poplyansky, Jessica Linnebach, Sarah Ying Ma, Yolanda Bruno, David Marks, Jasper de Boor, Isaac Chalk, Rachel Mercer, Drew Dansby, Sam Loeck