Chicago's symphonic scene is ruled by its world-class orchestra. But when it comes to chamber music, the Chicago Chamber Musicians steal most of the spotlight.
April 10, 2007 (Press Release) --
Chicago's symphonic scene is ruled by its world-class orchestra. But when it comes to chamber music, the Chicago Chamber Musicians steal most of the spotlight.
From its nickel-and-dime beginnings 20 years ago licking postage stamps and practicing in living rooms, CCM has grown into a well-oiled, 15-member musical machine with a connected board of directors, droves of dedicated patrons, community outreach concerts and educational programs for children -- and an operating budget of nearly $1 million.
The group is still gathering steam. As its 20th anniversary season unfolds (the next concerts are April 22-23), the ensemble's local renown has been taking on a national and international scope. Recent touring venues have included New York's 92nd Street Y and Wolf Trap, along with performances and residencies across the United States and in Tokyo; Berlin; Salzburg, Austria, and Giverny, France.
The ensemble scored its first Grammy nomination last year for best chamber music performance for "Chamber Works for Winds and Strings by Mozart" (Summit Records).
It also collaborates with top guest artists and composers -- such as Pulitzer Prize winner John Harbison, whose CCM-commissioned "North and South" is featured on a new recording. Says Harbison, "There's a sense, when they play one of these pieces that they've played with each other over a long period, of really remarkable rapport and empathy and almost telepathy going on."
That telepathy is now going out over the airwaves in the form of a new nationally syndicated radio series. Airing in Chicago on WFMT-FM (98.7), it features select CCM performances accompanied by artist commentaries. The first episode, featuring a program of Gounod, Schubert and Wagner with commentary by violinist Joseph Genualdi, airs at 8 p.m. Wednesday.
The idea is to convey the intimacy of chamber music, so different from that of a symphony.
"I love being part of a large orchestra, and it's very exhilarating to be in the middle of all that sound," Playing chamber music is "a different experience," says CCM co-founder and veteran Chicago Symphony Orchestra principal clarinet Larry Combs. "But as far as personal expression, there's far more opportunity for that in chamber music."
Another CCM co-founder and Combs' wife, Gail Williams (formerly an associate principal horn of the CSO), says she gets more joy out of playing conductorless chamber music as opposed to more expansive symphonic fare. "It's like having a small conversation instead of yelling across a football field."
Source: http://www.msn.com
Posted by Mike Thomas
From its nickel-and-dime beginnings 20 years ago licking postage stamps and practicing in living rooms, CCM has grown into a well-oiled, 15-member musical machine with a connected board of directors, droves of dedicated patrons, community outreach concerts and educational programs for children -- and an operating budget of nearly $1 million.
The group is still gathering steam. As its 20th anniversary season unfolds (the next concerts are April 22-23), the ensemble's local renown has been taking on a national and international scope. Recent touring venues have included New York's 92nd Street Y and Wolf Trap, along with performances and residencies across the United States and in Tokyo; Berlin; Salzburg, Austria, and Giverny, France.
The ensemble scored its first Grammy nomination last year for best chamber music performance for "Chamber Works for Winds and Strings by Mozart" (Summit Records).
It also collaborates with top guest artists and composers -- such as Pulitzer Prize winner John Harbison, whose CCM-commissioned "North and South" is featured on a new recording. Says Harbison, "There's a sense, when they play one of these pieces that they've played with each other over a long period, of really remarkable rapport and empathy and almost telepathy going on."
That telepathy is now going out over the airwaves in the form of a new nationally syndicated radio series. Airing in Chicago on WFMT-FM (98.7), it features select CCM performances accompanied by artist commentaries. The first episode, featuring a program of Gounod, Schubert and Wagner with commentary by violinist Joseph Genualdi, airs at 8 p.m. Wednesday.
The idea is to convey the intimacy of chamber music, so different from that of a symphony.
"I love being part of a large orchestra, and it's very exhilarating to be in the middle of all that sound," Playing chamber music is "a different experience," says CCM co-founder and veteran Chicago Symphony Orchestra principal clarinet Larry Combs. "But as far as personal expression, there's far more opportunity for that in chamber music."
Another CCM co-founder and Combs' wife, Gail Williams (formerly an associate principal horn of the CSO), says she gets more joy out of playing conductorless chamber music as opposed to more expansive symphonic fare. "It's like having a small conversation instead of yelling across a football field."
Source: http://www.msn.com
Posted by Mike Thomas
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