The third annual Beethoven Festival presented by the Chicago-based nonprofit International Beethoven Project is set to take place from September 7 to 15, featuring more than 100 classical-music, visual-art, fashion, literature and educational events throughout Chicago’s West Loop, promoting “revolutionary culture inspired by the music and life of Ludwig van Beethoven.” Subtitled “LOVE 2013,” the festival will feature musicians including composer-conductor Matthias Pintscher; Wilco drummer Glenn Kotche, who is curating the festival’s new-music series; cellist Matt Haimovitz; pianist Christopher O’Riley; violinist Rachel Kolly d’Alba; lutenist Hopkinson Smith; teenaged cellist Gabriel Cabezas; and the contemporary-music ensemble Prometheus Modern. As in previous years, the festival will wrap in the Late Night Bach Project featuring evening performances of Bach works for keyboard and small ensemble. This year, emerging Chicago fashion designers will be highlighted in collaboration with music presentations, and the festival has commissioned short prose works and poetry around the concept of the “Immortal Beloved” and the meaning of love. The festival, headquartered at the Merit School of Music’s Joy Faith Knapp Music Center, is produced by pianist George Lepauw, who serves as artistic director. More information is available at www.internationalbeethovenproject.com.
Posted September 5, 2013
