Mimir Chamber Music Festival takes the spotlight in July

Now in its 10th year, the Mimir Chamber Music Festival consists of a series of performances during the first two weeks of July.

Fort Worth, TX

6/26/2007

The Mimir Chamber Music Festival, recognized as one of the top classical music events in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and celebrating its 10th anniversary, opens its 2007 concert series Thursday, July 5 at TCU's PepsiCo Recital Hall.

Drawing top performing artists and young musicians from around the world, the two-week festival (July 2-13) will offer five distinctly different and exceptional chamber music performances for the public – and a rare opportunity for talented aspiring musicians to learn from prominent guest artists. The annual Mimir Festival is hosted by the TCU School of Music.

The stellar line-up of artists for the 2007 season includes members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, TCU School of Music faculty and internationally acclaimed concert artists including Van Cliburn International Competition Gold Medalist José Feghali and Leeds Piano Competition winner Alessio Bax.

Mimir Festival public performances are July 5, 7, 8, 10 and 13 in PepsiCo Recital Hall. All concerts are at 7:30 p.m. except Sunday, July 10, at 3 p.m. Performances will include works by Beethoven, Schubert, Stravinsky, Prokofiev, Brahms, Bartok and Barber, to name a few.

The July 10 concert will include a rarely-heard piece by composer Felix Mendelssohn, Octet in  E-flat Major, featuring violinists Stephen Rose and Isabel Trautwein (Cleveland Orchestra), Akiko Tarumoto (Chicago Symphony), Curt Thompson (TCU); violists Che-Yen Chen (San Diego Symphony) and Kirsten Docter (member of the Cavani String Quartet); and cellists Brant Taylor (Chicago Symphony) and Jesús Castro-Balbi (TCU).

The Mimir Festival also provides a training ground for artists of tomorrow, and a unique glimpse at the behind-the-scenes work that goes into producing world-class chamber music. This year, 20 Young Artists have been accepted to participate in the 2007 Mimir Festival, selected through live auditions held through the United States and in Israel.

During the two-week festival, the young artist-musicians will participate in daily coaching sessions and master classes with professional guest artists and faculty members. The public is invited to attend the master classes, as well as a special concert on Thursday, July 12 when Young Artists will perform. Admission is free to both.

The annual Mimir Festival, charming audiences year after year, is considered a highlight of the Texas summer music scene and has received impressive recognition in the regional and national press. Scott Cantrell, classical music critic for the Dallas Morning News, named the Mimir Chamber Music Festival as “one of the top-10 classical performances of 2006.” The Mimir Festival was also included in The New York Times’ prestigious 2007 “Summer Stage” listing of important classical music venues around the country.

The Mimir Chamber Music Festival was founded in 1997 by executive director Curt Thompson, associate professor of violin at TCU. Festival associate director is José Feghali, artist in residence at TCU and winner of the 7th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.

Tickets for Mimir Festival concerts are $20 for general admission and $15 for seniors, students, TCU faculty/staff and Star-Telegram PressPass holders. Tickets are available by calling 817-257-5443 or through the festival Web site at www.MimirFestival.org .