Friends of Chamber Music is a wholly volunteer-run non-profit society dedicated to presenting exceptional chamber music performances in Vancouver, and a chamber music competition for young musicians.
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The most perceptive comment about chamber music we have found was made by educator and musicologist Sir Henry Hadow in his introduction to Cobbett’s Survey of Chamber Music:
“There is no kind of music in which it is more difficult to write a masterpiece, for there is none where the composer retires so intimately to the very centre and fastness of his art: it is an art as pure as sculpture and as enduring. No other form of music has such powers to engage our attention and keep it unflagging to the end.”
We search for ensembles whose consummate skill and dedication bring us to the core of Sir Henry’s observation. For the 2011-2012 season, our 64th annual series, we have concentrated on the string quartet literature, bringing you quartets that present a wide range of the repertoire, with music by:
Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Debussy, Ravel, Szymanowski, Janacek, Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Britten, and a string quartet with a marimba virtuoso guest artist playing music by Sejourne and Rosauro. The season is rounded off with two piano trios (playing music by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Smetana and Shostakovich), a string octet (playing music by Mendelssohn and Shostakovich as well as a sextet by Brahms) and a woodwind and piano ensemble from The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center presenting a program of French music featuring Poulenc's playful Sextet for piano and woodwinds. Each programme is balanced to satisfy our concert devotees and also to be enjoyed by recent converts to this consummate music. Please take a look at the "concerts" pages to see the program for each concert. All ten of our 2011-2012 concerts take place at the Vancouver Playhouse. The Vancouver Playhouse is centrally located at Hamilton and Dunsmuir, in the heart of Vancouver's entertainment district, and has ample underground parking. Their website, maintained by the City of Vancouver, has maps, and parking information. Note: Please call 665-3050 in advance to make a reservation for handicapped parking at the Vancouver Playhouse, if you need it.
If you don't feel like driving, the Playhouse is just a short walk from Stadium Sky Train Station. And if you prefer to ride the bus, the #15 CAMBIE stops right by our door. The location is so easy to get to, and of such a high quality that we guarantee you'll appreciate this venue. All of our concerts have general admission festival seating rather than reserved seating... Why not dine close by, and walk to the concert from any of the many near-by restraurants? Seven of the concerts happen at 8:00 pm on Tuesday evenings. Three concerts in 2012 vary from the pattern, being Sunday matinees. Please check your tickets and our schedule to ensure that you know when to join us for live chamber music. Sustaining Donations Ticket income covers only 70 % of our costs. The difference is made up by contributions from generous subscribers. This is the only time we ask for support and we welcome all contributions, as they enable us to maintain the high standards of performance we enjoy at the lowest prices of any comparable series in Vancouver. Planned Giving For many years we have been the fortunate beneficiary of bequests from our members and we hope this generosity will continue. There are other ways you can make a gift to us and your financial adviser or lawyer will assist you. Some of these are: We would be pleased to help you with information – telephone Eric Wilson at 604-437-5747, or print this subscription/donation form and send it in.
PO Box 38046 RPO King Edward Mall Vancouver, BC Canada V5Z 4L9
Telephone: 604-437-5747
Email: FCMtickets@yahoo.com