If you aren’t sure if you like classical music, but want to give it a try, check out the Fort Macleod International Festival, taking place May 25-30 at seven different southern Alberta venues, because it features some of the best musicians in the world.

“People think you have to know a lot to listen to classical music, but you don’t,” said Brent Hutchinson, the new executive director of the Empress Theatre. He is looking forward to the festival opening May 25, 2011 at the Galt Museum and Archives at 7:30 p.m.

The International Festival features some of the best chamber musicians in the world. Chamber music is classical music, but played on a much smaller scale than an orchestra would play it.

The second show is May 26 at the Empress Theatre (7:30 p.m) , followed by the Grand Theatre in Calgary, May 27 (8 p.m.) ; a family concert back at the Empress Theatre, May 28 at 1 p.m.; another concert at the Grand Theatre In Calgary, that night at 8 p.m..

 They return to the Empress Theatre for an afternoon concert at 3 p.m., May 29 and finish this year’s festival at 7:30 p.m. at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump.

“We hope we can hold it outside,” Hutchinson enthused.

 The International Festival, now in its sixth year, attracts 25 of the most talented classical chamber musicians from all over the world.

“I’m very enthusiastic about this. These are people you’d have to go to New York, London or Paris to see. These are world class performers,” Hutchinson said.

 Some of the highlights include artistic director and viola player Rivka Golani who is a professor of music at Trinity College of Music in Greenwich, England who will be playing several times throughout the week, as well as pianist Anton Kuerti, who is an Officer of the Order of Canada. Another highlight will be Hungarian percussion group Amadinda
The musicians play in assortment of different combinations throughout the week’s concerts.

 Hutchinson observed Fort Macleod has a colourful history, which means several musicians and composers are so inspired by Southern Alberta history and landscape that they compose music based on it, which is often premiered at this festival.
The Fort Macleod International Festival commissioned composer Benjamin Ellin to write ‘Nahdoosi’, for this year’s festival, which will be debuted in Calgary, May 27 and again at the Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump, May 30. It is one of several works commissioned by the festival this year.

The British composer was commissioned to write “Siksika,’ last year. There is also a Lethbridge connection as well as viola player Brooke Day will be part of the festival this year. He competed in the Kiwanis Music Festival and went to study at the University of British Columbia, where he discovered the viola. He then spent a couple years playing on cruise ships before meeting Rivka Golani at her first concert at the Empress, then went to England to study with her.

To coincide with the Galt Museum and Archives’ most recent exhibit, “The Greatest Years You Never Knew,” the program is designed around the type of music  people would have heard 100 years ago, so there are several selections from Gilbert and Sullivan — “Alone and Yet Alive,” “There Grew a Little Flower” and “When Frederic.” along with Mozart’s Piano Quintet K 452 and much more. The Galt concert begins at 7:30 p.m., May 25.

The musicians will also be collaborating with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra during the Calgary shows.
“If you’ve never heard classical music, this is the time to go, after that you will be able to say you either liked it or didn’t like it because these are the best,” Hutchinson said.

“There is something about watching people like this who have dedicated their whole lives to their instruments,” he continued.

“The classical music world is very competitive and high pressure. They usually play in front of a very critical audience so the musicians enjoy coming here to play in a less pressured situation. Here, they collaborate and just play music for music’s sake,” he said.

Admission is very reasonable as well with a variety of packages which keep the festival affordable. Single tickets are $30 regular, or $12 for students. Or you can choose three of your favourite shows to attend for  $80 regular and  $30 for students.
More information is available at www.empresstheatre.ab.ca