This year, a music historian will join the featured musicians for what's become an annual summer tradition: a weeklong series of concerts, open rehearsals, children's programs and more.
Festival artistic director David Yang is once again pairing older and newer music for four concerts built around different themes.
The performances begin tonight with a fundraising concert featuring the award-winning Trio Cavatina, joined by Yang in the Farwell Clay Carriage House at 203 High St.
The program highlight will be a piece by composer Richard Danielpour written especially for the trio after the ensemble captured the prestigious Naumberg Chamber Competition award in New York last year. Trio Cavatina debuted "The Faces of Guernica" in October at Carnegie Hall.
Over the next eight days, Yang and festival executive director Jane Niebling have lined up a series of events aimed at cultivating an appreciation for chamber music, both contemporary and more classical.
The festival's quartet-in-residence features returning musicians Yang on viola, violinist David Ehrlich and cellist Caroline Stinson, who will be joined by newcomer violinist Adela Pena, a two-time Grammy Award nominee.
New this year will be appearances by music historian Charles Speicher, who will lead free panel discussions and lectures highlighting the week's concerts.
Speicher's programs begin Sunday with an introduction to the artists-in-residence and overview of the 2010 festival at the Custom House Maritime Museum. On Monday, Speicher will lead children on a musical history tour at Newburyport Public Library.
Other free events include a children's concert with its own world premiere by Yang on Tuesday at the library, an outdoor concert featuring the festival's resident string quartet Tuesday night (weather permitting) at the Inn Street pedestrian mall and three open rehearsals during the week.
The string quartet will return to the stage for the festival's third concert Thursday, Aug. 12, at St. Paul's Church in Newburyport.
The festival culminates Saturday, Aug. 14, with a performance at St. Paul's that will showcase a world premiere by composer-in-residence Dmitri Tymoczko, an associate professor of music at Princeton University in New Jersey.
IF YOU GO
What: Ninth annual Newburyport Chamber Music Festival
When: Today through Aug. 14
Where: Around Newburyport
How: Concerts $25 to $45; festival pass $80. Call 978-463-9776 or visit www.newburyport chambermusic.org for more.
LISTEN IN
Five performances, four open rehearsals and three lectures/demonstrations highlight this year's Chamber Music Festival. The events are primarily centered around downtown Newburyport. Here's the schedule:
Today
Concert 1 with Trio Cavatin Featuring pre-concert wine reception 6:30 p.m. Farwell Clay Carriage House, 203 High St. Tickets $45
Sunday, Aug. 8
Panel discussion with music
2 to 3:30 p.m.
Custom House Maritime Museum, 25 Water St.
Free
Monday, Aug. 9
Musical history tour
10 to 11 a.m.
Newburyport Public Library, 94 State St.
Free
Concert program lecture
1 to 2:30 p.m.
Newburyport Public Library
Free
Open rehearsal
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m.
Newburyport Public Library
Free
Tuesday, Aug. 10
Open rehearsal
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Newburyport Public Library
Free
Children's Concert
4 p.m.
Newburyport Public Library
Free (reservations requested by calling 978-465-4428)
Outdoor Concert II, with festival string quartet
7 p.m.
Inn Street, downtown Newburyport
Free
Wednesday, Aug. 11
Open rehearsal
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Newburyport Public Library
Free
Thursday, Aug. 12
Concert III with festival string quartet
7:30 p.m.
St. Paul's Church, 166 High St.
Tickets $25, students free
Friday, Aug. 13
Open rehearsal
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
St. Paul's Church
Free
Saturday, Aug. 14
Concert IV with festival string quartet plus bassist
7:30 p.m.
St. Paul's Church
Tickets $25, students free
