Blueridge 2021 Season
A Celebration of Women Composers
The Blueridge Festival returns to live concerts with four centuries of chamber music masterworks—all composed by women!
All events this year are free of charge. A ticket needs to be booked in advance.
AUG 7
7pm - Orpheum Annex
Three Sisters
The Blueridge Mainstage series opens with a triad of the most outstanding yet underappreciated jewels of the piano trio repertoire. Clara Schumann’s lush Piano Trio in G Minor shares the stage with Germaine Tailleferre’s sprightly and imaginative Piano Trio and Cécile Chaminade’s passionate second trio.
AUG 8
7pm - The Polygon Gallery
Elinor Frey
Blueridge partners with the Polygon Gallery to present one of Canada’s most adventurous performers: the trailblazing Montreal-based Baroque cellist Elinor Frey. Known for the “honest, reflective beauty of her music making” and her “incredibly sweet” tone, Frey dazzles in virtuosic music ranging from the verve and tenderness of Baroque pathfinder Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre, to evocative contemporary works by Lisa Streich, Linda Catlin Smith, to an insouciant set of variations on the beloved tune “La Follia” by Frey herself. Inspiring music in an inspiring setting.
*Entrance to the Polygon Gallery is by donation*
AUG 12
7pm - Orpheum Annex
Warming by the Fire
Chamber music is the music of friends, so to celebrate our return to live performance we’re asking for a little help from our best friends—the audience! This concert combines new works by two of Canada’s most unique creative minds: Vancouver composer Jennifer Butler and Toronto-based Cree composer Cris Derksen. Each new piece invites attendees to participate in the performance with optional atmospheric sounds and gestures. Rounding out the program are works by the visionary American composer Pauline Oliveros, whose experiments with “sonic awareness” and “deep listening” led the way in breaking down hierarchical barriers between performers and audience. Presented in partnership with the Polygon Gallery.
**This program is also performed at the Polygon Gallery on Sunday, August 15 at 3pm**
AUG 14
7pm - Orpheum Annex
Music from the Edge
From the edge of night to the edge of madness, the Blueridge Festival strikes a tempestuous note with three plush, rhapsodic works from the 20th century. Evocative music by Canadian doyenne of composition Alexina Louie sets the mood for Rebecca Clarke’s plaintive Dumka. The youthful yet towering Piano Quintet by the luminous Russian composer Sofia Gubaidulina wraps up the journey to the dark side.
AUG 15
3pm - The Polygon Gallery
Warming by the Fire
Chamber music is the music of friends, so to celebrate our return to live performance we’re asking for a little help from our best friends—the audience! This concert combines new works by two of Canada’s most unique creative minds: Vancouver composer Jennifer Butler and Toronto-based Cree composer Cris Derksen. Each new piece invites attendees to participate in the performance with optional atmospheric sounds and gestures. Rounding out the program are works by the visionary American composer Pauline Oliveros, whose experiments with “sonic awareness” and “deep listening” led the way in breaking down hierarchical barriers between performers and audience. Presented in partnership with the Polygon Gallery.
*Admission to the Polygon Gallery is by donation*
**This program is also performed at the Orpheum Annex on Sunday, August 12 at 7pm**