Welcome to their chambers

One of the most acclaimed musicians in the world, Elena Bashkirova has turned the Jerusalem International Chamber Music Festival into a cheerful, almost familial gathering.

By PEGGY CIDOR
Chamber music 521 (photo credit: Dan Porges)
Chamber music 521
(photo credit: Dan Porges)
As of Saturday evening, chamber music lovers from across the country and abroad, will, for the 14th year, fill the streets near the YMCA and its beautiful concert hall. It is time once again for the annual Jerusalem International Chamber Music Festival, established and directed by talented pianist Elena Bashkirova, the wife of celebrated maestro and pianist Daniel Barenboim. The festival is a highly praised event that hosts some of the finest musicians in the world.
“The public that attends this festival is the best festival public in the world,” Bashkirova told In Jerusalem via e-mail from Europe. “They are curious, interested, sophisticated, they are not afraid to hear new things, and they are very open. I can say they trust us.”
Bashkirova’s festival has some obvious and great advantages. Being one of the finest and most acclaimed musicians in the world, she has easy access to potential participants, which has turned the festival into a very cheerful, almost familial musical gathering, featuring some of the hottest names in the world of chamber music.
While it is a very high-quality gathering, the atmosphere is very open and friendly. As she points out, there is a large audience that attends every year, in addition to a large number of newcomers.
The artists are not paid for their performances – the festival covers airfare and accommodation (mostly at Mishkenot Sha’ananim). On top of this, the festival is probably the only event that does not suffer from cancellations due to political, security or other reasons.
Musicians invited to perform feel committed and come even during trying times.
“2002 [the height of the intifada] was a difficult year,” recalls Bashkirova, who explains that if there were any cancellations, it was for understandable security reasons but never for political ones. She concludes, “Other than that, we have had no cancellations in recent years.”
So what is so special about this festival besides the generous participation of some of the best musicians in the world? Quite a few things, it seems.
Hana Manch, the production director of the festival, says that the rich variety of the different ensembles immediately gives the festival a special touch.
“Only at this festival can one hear up to four or five different chamber music ensembles in one evening.
Otherwise, you have quartets or quintets that perform a full program in one in one evening. We offer an outstanding variety, which enriches not only the listeners but also the musicians themselves. It adds a special character to the festival.”
Manch adds that though the framework is strictly chamber music, the limits have been pushed to the maximum, sometimes including chamber music orchestras (up to 20-25 performers), which is also one of this festival’s specials.
This form requires intense efforts from the musicians compared to existing ensembles, where the musicians are used to playing together, sometimes for decades. Here, the performers have to learn to play one or two works together in a short time, and very often each one is a well-known soloist. In most of the evenings, various ad-hoc ensembles play different works, so that in one evening the public has the opportunity to hear up to four of some of the best soloists in the world performing together as a onetime quartet or quintet or a large ensemble.
Another point is the mixing of foreign artists with locals.
“This is very unusual, and it has become our kind of trademark,” explains Manch. “There is no other venue, at least in Israel, where you can find that sort of program. It is exciting for all sides – performers and audience. It’s a unique occasion,” she says.
“When we started this festival,” recalls Manch, “we used the Khan Theater hall, but for the last few years we needed more space for the performers on stage and the ever-growing audience, so we moved to the YMCA auditorium, where we offer about two weeks of the best music and performers available here. We attract audiences from Jerusalem, across the country and even faithful audiences from abroad who come back every year.”
The festival offers a particular blend of classical favorites and lesser-known works, including contemporary music and unique pieces.
This year, a cabaret concert is included in the program on September 9 at 9 p.m. “An Evening with Steve Ross” is an eclectic program of songs by George and Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and Noel Coward.
The Jerusalem International Chamber Music Festival also commissions a work every year, usually from an Israeli composer, whether living in the country or abroad, adding to the development of local music.
The commissioned work is played during the festival, recorded and broadcast live. In addition, each day’s festival program is aired on the Voice of Music.
This year the festival offers works by Mahler, Beethoven, Liszt, Schubert, Bach and Schoenberg, in addition to the works of contemporary and lesserknown composers, which will be played by some 80 of the finest musicians, including Bashkirova herself and her son, Michael Barenboim. •
The Jerusalem International Chamber Music Festival will run from September 3 to 16. For more details: www.jcmf.org.il