Schubert And Strudel At Westben

by Paul Dalby, The Independent
Eat, Drink and Merry might as well be the unofficial motto of this year’s summer season at the Westben Arts festival near Campbellford.
A star feature of the 2008 program at Northumberland County’s premier music festival is called “Schubertiad” (July 12). which gives new meaning to the idea of dine and dash.
It offers the audience a chance to hear the music of Franz Schubert just the way he played it back in Vienna in the early 1800s – large helpings of the young master’s great music served up with side orders of authentic Austrian food and washed down with a glass of wine.
“Schubert used to have friends over to play, sing, and eat good food and that’s what we were looking for,” Donna Bennett, co-founder of Westben “Chef Marcus at The Poppy Market in Campbellford is Swiss and he knows all about Austrian dishes.”
Ms. Bennett said that to keep the local emphasis, wine for the Schubertiad will be provided by the county’s newest winery, Oak Heights near Warkworth.
The Schubertiad will run for a total of five hours from 5 until 10 p.m. The first intermission will bring forth Abendrot, an Austrian specialty of traditional fruit and nut bread, two cheeses, cold cuts and grapes ($7 per person).
The second intermission serves up Nachspeise (dessert), which in this case is bite-sized pieces of Sacher torte, Linzer cookies and Apfel Strudel with coffee and Schlagsahne (cream) ($5 per person).
Faced with these tasty platters, it’s worth remembering that Schubert’s nickname was the Little Mushroom, referring not only to his height (a mere 5 feet) but also his rotund shape from overindulging Vienna’s rich foods.
Taking the audience’s collective minds off the food table will be three recitals – The Chamber Music featuring Johannes Jansonius (violin), Kent Teeple (viola), Brian Manker (cello), Ed Tait (double bass), Angela Park (piano) and Westben artistic director Brian Finley (piano).
The second segment on The Songs teams Donna Bennett with tenor Mark DuBois, Brian Finley (piano), John Burge and members of the Dubois Vocal Master Class.
The third recital, Music for Solo Piano, belongs to the incomparable Andre Laplante.
According to Ms. Bennett, the Schubertiad is just one way that Westben will try to involve the audiences in its summer concerts. Another new strategy is the introduction of pre-concert chats with artists and musical experts.
The concept had been tried before as an extra ticket attraction to the main concert but had only limited success. This year the pre-concert chats are included in the price of a regular ticket.
“We really want people to know what’s going on,” said Ms. Bennett. “The chats are not just for first timers, I think everybody will take away something from them.”
The 40-minute pre-concert chats all take place on Sundays, immediately before the regular 2 p.m. matinee concert.
First of the free chats on July 6 is given by Nancy Hermiston unraveling the fanciful intrigue of Die Fledermaus, this year’s offering by the young talent of the University of British Columbia’s Opera School.
The second talk will be given on July 13 by Brian Manker principal cellist from the Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal, who gives the performer’s take on Schubert’s Arpeggione Sonata. Manker is in concert with Donna Bennett and Andre Laplante (piano) in a chamber music matinee.
Third of the pre-concert chats on July 20 comes from Tim McGee, U. of T. past director of historical performance ensembles now living in Norwood, who brings to life the Mendelssohn’s lifelong love affair with the help of the New Zealand String Quartet

Your Guide To Regional Art Shows and Sales

COBOURG LIONS’ ART SHOW & SALE

JUNE 28, 29, 30 : 10 am – 6 pm, & JULY 1: 10 am – 5 pm.

There will be 100 artists exhibiting their work at the Victoria Waterfront Park, Cobourg, Ontario. As well there will be entertainment and the Rotary Club Craft Festival. Admission Free.

CLOYNE STUDIO TOUR and SALE

JULY 11, 12, 13, from 10 am.- 5 pm.

The STUDIO TOUR will take place on Little Pond Road off Highway 41 at 1074 & 1049 Little Pond Road, Cloyne, ON.

You are invited to visit the studio/galleries of Carla Miedema and Ursula Ossenberg , and see their impressive new paintings, pen & ink drawings, and other art works. This is a great opportunity for visitors to see the artists’ studios and artists at work. Enjoy the beautiful countryside on your drive to their studios.

Ursula Ossenberg does original oil paintings of the beautiful area around Cloyne. Her favourite subjects are wild flowers, rocky shores, and forest trails.

Nature artist, Carla Miedema, enjoys painting, in acrylic & mixed media on canvas, the rugged landscape and wild flowers around her home in Cloyne. Her intricate drawings of children, homes, and wildflowers are depicted on handmade papers and various other papers.
Admission is FREE.
INFORMATION: Carla (613)336-8860, Ursula (613)336-0063.

BON ECHO ART EXHIBITION & SALE

JULY 25 : 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
JULY 26: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.,
JULY 27: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Exhibition Theme: Original Art of“Canadian Nature, Wildlife or Countryside”

The Friends of Bon Echo Provincial Park invite you to the annual Bon Echo Art Exhibition and Sale taking place at Bon Echo Provincial Park, Hwy. # 41, Cloyne, ON. This is a juried art exhibition and sale, which takes place in a central location in beautiful Bon Echo Provincial Park. About 50 artists will have their work on display and for sale. Make a day of it and enjoy art & demonstrations, BBQ, snake show, and music.
All profits made by the Friends of Bon Echo Park go back into preserving the natural and cultural heritage of the Park. Included, with admission to the Park, is admission to the Bon Echo Art Exhibition &Sale. INFORMATION: (613)0830, (613)333-2329

CLOYNE SHOWCASE 2008 , ART & CRAFT SALE
Friday, AUG. 8: 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.,
Saturday, AUG. 9: 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.,
Sunday, AUG. 10: 10 am.- 4 pm.

You are invited to the annual Showcase of arts and crafts, sponsored by the North Addington Guild, held at the North Addington Education Centre, Cloyne, ON, Highway # 41. Over 75 exhibitors will be displaying and selling a huge variety of Arts and Crafts, such as wood working, sewing, jewellery, paintings, soaps, quilting, just to name a few.
Food and refreshments, provided by the Mazinaw Lake Swim Committee, is also available. All profits from this venture go directly back to the swim program.
All profits made by the Guild are donated to enrich the arts programs at North Addington Education Centre, Cloyne, ON. Admission is FREE. INFORMATION: (613)336-0063

KAWARTHA FINE ART FESTIVAL
Saturday, AUG. 30 : 10am – 6 pm. Sunday, AUG. 31: 10 am – 5 pm. In the Agricultural Building, Fenelon Falls.
Exhibition & sale of fine art. Admission is free and there are door prizes.

BRIGHTON LIONS ART SHOW & SALE
Friday OPENING, Sept. 26: 7 -9 pm,
Sat., Sept 27: 10am-5:30pm, Sun., Sept. 28: 10am-4:30pm.

As part of the Brighton APPLEFEST festivities the Brighton Lions are having a fabulous art exhibition with artists coming from around Ontario to exhibit and sell their art work. This worthwhile event will take place at the East Northumberland Secondary School, Dundas St., Brighton, ON. Admission is FREE.