Ojai Music Festival

Joining Mr. Andsnes and also making the Ojai debuts are the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, pianist Marc-André Hamelin, clarinetist Martin Fröst, mezzo-soprano Christianne Stotijn, violist Antoine Tamestit, conductor/composer Reinbert de Leeuw, and composer John Luther Adams. Returning to Ojai for the first time since 2008 will be actress Barbara Sukowa.

Featured works include the U.S. premiere of Piano Concerto No. 2 “La Mattina” by Bent Sørensen; Reinbert de Leeuw’s cycle of 21 Schubert and Schumann songs ingeniously reworked for singing actress and ensemble, Im wunderschönen Monat Mai (“In the Merry Month of May”) with Barbara Sukowa; and the West Coast premiere of John Luther Adams’ Inuksuit for 48 percussionists to be performed throughout Libbey Park.

“The Ojai Music Festival places music of our time at the center of what it does, but unlike a contemporary music festival that concentrates on just what’s new, Ojai builds a case for how the music of today fits into the context of the longer, historical conversation – it explores why music matters today. Four years ago, I invited the pianist Leif Ove Andsnes to serve as Ojai’s 2012 Music Director. One of the great musicians of our day, Leif Ove’s inquisitive commitment to creative programming and to building a community of artists, audience and place makes him an ideal artistic partner for Ojai.” Artistic Director Thomas W. Morris

Read more about the festival on the Festival homepage : Ojai Music Festival