Kai Gleusteen and his group, the Kaimerata will be spoiling Denman Islanders with a Chamber Music Concert Series on August 8, 9 and 10, this year based on the life and music of Richard Strauss. For those of you who don’t know who Kai is, Kai is an international award winning violinist as well as the concertmaster of the Orchestra de Gran Teatre del Liceu Symphony Orchestra in Barcelona, Spain. Kai will be joined by his wife internationally renowned pianist Catherine Ordronneau, Beth Root Sandvoss on cello, Dan Scholz on viola, Philip Manning on violin and Tori Lindsay on violin. In addition to Strauss there will be works by Erno von Dohnanyi, Ernest Chausson, Edvard Grieg and Gustav Mahler, all compositions written at the end of the 19th century, all brilliant and super expressive works. Kai does have a trigger warning for those thinking of going to the concerts: beware; there may not be a dry eye in the hall after the concert.
Margaret and I always look forward to the return of Kaimerata in the same way kids look forward to Christmas. We are so spoiled by the opportunity to hear these live performances of classical music by internationally renowned musicians, right here at home on our little island! At each concert, the pieces to be performed are preceded by a few introductory words from Kai, to provide background and context for the musical selections-This helps a Neil Young fan like myself to come away better appreciating the wonderful musical gift that Kaimerata is. Even for a seasoned classical musical concert goer like Margaret, there is always sublime music to be heard, and something new to be learned. In the past, Margaret has been known to skip out of her medical practice in Northern Alberta and travel 3000 kilometres round trip to attend the Kaimerata concert series.
We also love how friendly and approachable the musicians are; where else can one sit in on rehearsals and enjoy engaging conversations with such accomplished musicians after each concert? We heartily encourage others to take advantage of this fabulous concert series and to be delighted by this annual musical gift to Denman Island.
All concerts are in the Denman Community Hall.
Thursday, August 8th concert: “Turn of the 20th Century” at 7 pm
Friday, August 9th concert: “Hyper Romanticism” at 7 pm
Saturday, August 10th concert: “Exalted Expressionism!” is at 4 pm.
Tickets can be purchased individually for $25 per concert. A series pass for all three concerts is $70. Student tickets are $10 per concert.
For music aficionados there is a supporters pass available for $110. The pass comes with reserved seating and allows supporters access to all the rehearsals.
For more information on the concert series and to purchase tickets online please go to:
www.kaimerata.com
Tickets will also be for sale at Abraxas Books and Café, the General Store and at the door. No one will be turned away for a lack of funds.
