Submitted by Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival

Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival Artistic Director Aloysia Friedmann, in consultation with Executive Director Anita Orne and Board President Sam Coleman, is thrilled to announce a major online initiative to feature the Miró Quartet performing the complete cycle of Beethoven string quartets, produced by the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival.

“It became clear that it is not possible to present an in-person festival in August,” said Friedmann, “and only musicians who are quarantined together can perform live chamber music online. I am incredibly grateful to the members of the Miró Quartet for being so accommodating with their personal schedules to make these online concerts possible.”

This subscription-based online concert series will occur in July and August and will take the place of both the originally planned in-person Miró Quartet performances, and the planned annual August Festival. The Miró Quartet will perform live from their hometown of Austin, Texas. These online concerts will be shorter in length, and feature opportunities for members of the Miró Quartet to answer viewer questions.

Friedmann commented, “I am not aware of another organization or string quartet of this caliber planning on presenting the complete Beethoven Cycle online. Given the special relationship between OICMF and the Miró Quartet, and this special Beethoven 250th Anniversary year, I am especially happy that we are able to present these concerts.” Following this concert series, Aloysia is planning an ‘encore weekend’ of online events: “I’ve been speaking to our guest artists about creative ways they can perform from their homes to yours.”

After speaking with Friedmann about the online performances, OICMF Board President Sam Coleman commented, “It’s exciting that there’s this wonderful opportunity in this new world we’re now living in, to still bring live music to all of you, and to an even broader audience.”

More details about this summer’s online offerings will be forthcoming, and Orne will be in touch soon with options for those who purchased tickets to the June Beethoven concerts. Updates will be posted at www.oicmf.org