International Chamber Music Festival Stavanger

219. August - 224. August 2018

The Norwegian cellist Truls M�rk, who created ICMF, raised the festival to international level and was its Artistic Director for 13 years. In 2004, the festival came under the leadership of the Grieg Trio ? S�lve Sigerland, violin, Ellen Margrethe Flesj�, cello, and Vebj�rn Anvik, piano. And from 2010 the Swedish clarinettist Martin Fr�st and Stavanger born pianist Christian Ihle Hadland were appointed Artistic Managers.

Truls M�rk wanted to make his festival an oasis for busy musicians. They live together here a whole week in August and form an extended family where they work, eat ? and have fun ? together. Their joy over this inspiring fellowship is palpable and reaches out to the concert-goers.

The participants soon declared ICMF to be one of the world?s finest festivals for chamber music. Another kind of recognition came in 1996, when the festival officially joined the ranks of Europe?s foremost festivals through becoming a member of the European Festivals Association.

Discerning audiences
Many of the great composers have written some of their best works in chamber music format. Over the years, Stavanger concert-goers have learned to appreciate this rich repertoire and the way it can grip listeners when performed by such talented musicians. The festival has deepened our awareness of well-known works, opened our ears to less familiar pieces and promoted a cultural environment in which contemporary music takes its natural place. The result is an audience able and eager to savour moments of greatness. This works both ways, the artists responding to the enthusiasm emanating from the auditorium.

Every year, at least 20-30 musicians take part. Truls M�rk brought in soloists for the most part and created constantly shifting constellations. The Grieg Trio invites more established ensembles but continues the tradition of putting together new groups. We therefore get the best of both worlds: finely-tuned ensemble interpretations and the spirit of spontaneity, the unique here-and-now.

"A brilliant future" predicted Lutoslawski
Witold Lutoslawski, who participated in the very first festival, immediately predicted a great future for the event. Among his successors have been Edison Denisov, George Crumb, Henry Dutilleux, Krzysztof Penderecki and Magnus Lindberg. Having a festival composer in residence allows the public to experience leading composers at close quarters.

Many of the world's elite musicians have performed at the festival, quite a few of them more than once, including pianists Martha Argerich, Jean-Jacques Thibaudet, Boris Berezovsky, Lars Vogt, Stephen Kovacevich, Kathryn Stott, Yefim Bronfman; violinists Sergei Stadler, Leila Josefowicz, Leonidas Kavakos, Renaud Capu�on; singers Stephan Genz and Dietrich Henschel; flautist Patrick Gallois and clarinettist Michael Collins. Added to these are the world?s elite viola players, in order of appearance: Yuri Bashmet, Tabea Zimmermann, Nabuko Imai, Kim Kashkashian. Renowned musicians perform together with artists ranging from the young and promising to the truly great, of the calibre of violinist Priya Mitchell and pianists Alexander Melnikov and Mihaela Ursuleasa.

Every year, at least one string quartet takes part in the festival. Again, the list spans from young and emerging quartets to veterans such as the Borodin Quartet. "Of all the beautiful places we have been, this is one of the most enchanting" declared the Borodin Quartet. "The scenery, the atmosphere, the closeness to the water, the boat trip, everything is a great experience."

Launch pad for young talent
The ICMF welcomes returning artists but also makes a point of inviting new names to Norway and presenting fresh Norwegian talent. For many of these young artists, the festival has opened the way to new contacts and opportunities abroad.

Since 1996, the festival has also contributed to the growth of new talent in other ways through the International Summer Academy (ISA) master classes. ISA participants come from all corners of the world, and in addition to attending master classes they have the opportunity to experience their role models at first hand by attending all Festival concerts free of charge.

Unique setting
When Truls M�rk chose Stavanger as the venue for the festival, a key factor was the setting. The Romano-Gothic cathedral seats 700 people but still manages to give an impression of intimacy. In particular, the late-evening concerts in the cathedral have come to mean something special to both artists and audiences. The equally venerable Monastery Church at Utstein, with its acoustics designed for the chanting of mediaeval monks, delights modern musicians. The Conservatorium at Bjergsted provides both rehearsal rooms and halls and Stavanger Concert Hall forms a spacious venue for the closing Gala Concert. For that event, the artists themselves decide what works they want to perform, inspired by a week of musical fellowship, and the only problem is usually how to limit the programme to four hours.

A large and by now seasoned team of volunteers keeps all the wheels well oiled and responds promptly and efficiently to all wishes and requirements. With one aim in mind: to give the musicians a chance to fully explore and convey the potential of the music.

(Selbstdarstellung International Chamber Music Festival Stavanger)