George Benjamin visited Ojai for the first time in January. In two events – one in Ojai on January 18 at the Wachtells and another in Los Angeles on January 19 at the Rosens – George confessed to having had a personal spy over the years who kept him up to date on everything about Ojai. Her name was Betty Freeman, one of George’s closest and dearest friends. Betty was aware of George’s coming to Ojai this June as music director, and promised she would be there looking after him in some way. We kept George busy with these two events, several press interviews in Ojai and LA, and planning meetings. His infectious enthusiasm and energy proved contagious to everyone. The visit was marred by only one thing – incessant rain. It poured so hard while in Ojai, the only time he actually saw Libbey Bowl was 9pm one evening when there was a slight break in the deluge. I have promised him, and in fact offered to put it in his contract, that when he returns in June, the weather will be “better”! He laughed and admitted he found even a drenched Ojai alluring.
Click here to watch video highlights from the two events with George. In the first two, we talk about his compelling chamber opera, Into the Little Hill, which by the way was recently hailed "opera of the decade" by the London Telegraph.
-- Tom Morris
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( 2.8 / 697 )Trimpin's Sound Arch is selected as public art installation for the re-opening of the new Libbey Bowl
In mid-December, the Festival office had a nice surprise visit from Trimpin. He shared with us that he was in Ojai to present his proposal to Ojai's Art Commission for the public art installation which will coincide with the opening of the new Libbey Bowl in 2011...and now, I am happy to report that the good news is out! Trimpin's amazing interactive "Sound Arch" was selected out of 30 applications.We'll have some pictures of the model to share soon,but right now, read the Ojai Valley News blog for the full story!
-- Posted by Gina Gutierrez
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( 2.9 / 744 )So every summer, the staff at the Festival goes from 6 to hundreds. A big chunk of that expansion is the many wonderful interns who devote the first few weeks of their summer to making the Festival happen. Last year, we were lucky to snag Margaret Crites, a budding composer, former Ojai resident, and all-around lovely person. I asked her to write a few paragraphs on what the Festival meant to her, and here is her response.
"Being a composer and new music enthusiast is a rare and lonely thing in Waco, Texas, where gospel hymns and country music reign as music's main cultural expression. But there is a small collective of us avant-garde-concert-music-loving-folks out in west Texas, and we constantly exchange about what pieces we're hearing, what we're writing, what is happening in the "new music" world. I feel especially privileged with my experience as an intern at the Ojai Music Festival this past summer, because I've got a unique outside experience to share. The OMF 2009 was a front row seat to watching how this world of contemporary musicians, contemporary composers and contemporary loving audiences come together to experience fantastic art, the kind future "history of twenty-first-century music" textbooks will be talking about.
In our efforts to begin a new music ensemble at Baylor University, my percussionist friend and I have looked towards OMF's guests eighth blackbird as a model. What's more, having worked with them this summer I have even been in contact with them a few times to ask about arrangements of Bresnick pieces, etc. They are so kind to respond quickly, despite their crazy schedules, and I'm grateful that I met them and that they value giving a few words to a young musician now and then.
My own performing and composing these past 7 months has also been encouraged towards a new professionalism since I experienced that of the musicians in the festival. The collaborative mindset, the musicality and preparedness with which they approached the works, the time and dedication offered: these things continue to inspire me now. I remember David Gordon's "Quasi Sinfonia" or Steven Mackey's guitar playing in "Slide", eighth blackbird's consistently fresh expression of contemporary (and not so contemporary, i.e. Pierrot Lunaire) literature, and I am inspired daily to continue pursuing today's world of aural art.
Though I may be the minority in Waco, Texas, the OMF gave me a place to be among people that love contemporary music as much if not more than I did. What's more, I was around those who have been at the craft a lot longer than I have! That I saw and even partnered with today's contemporary musicians and those who appreciate them; this experience continues to encourage me today along my own musical path and I won't forget the music I experienced at the OMF! I certainly will be back."
Margaret? We're totally saving you a place here!
- Christiana Thomas
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After a long journey from SF (after his two week residency with the SF Symphony) to LAX instead of Santa Barbara (due to multiple canceled flights from the storms!), George Benjamin arrived in Ojai late Monday afternoon. George has heard all about Ojai from many of his friends (Pierre Boulez, Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Messiaen, and Betty Freeman), however this was his first trip to Shangri-La. Unfortunately, he never saw our trademark sunshine. Nevertheless, we had a very productive 30 hours together. Tom Morris also was in town and the three of us spent time together refining the rehearsal schedule (see a picture of us working at the Ojai Valley Inn--thanks for hosting George!), talking about how he wants his opera Into The Little Hill produced ("scary" was one of the words he used to describe his vision at the end!), picking a silent film that he will improvise to following the Friday night concert (a benefit for donors $250+...you can make your gift now if you haven't already: link), and what fantazias he wanted performed on the Sunday morning concert (his favorite is #7). We had a great dinner at Ojai's newest restaurants, Osteria Monte Grappa, which is on Signal St, just a two blocks north of Libbey Bowl. We met the owner and he said he will stay open late for our patrons during the Festival (don't miss this delicious food!). I enjoyed seeing many of you at our home events in Ojai and Encino. Special thanks to Esther and Tom Wachtell, as well as Judith and Ron Rosen for hosting these gatherings. All of us came away loving George's wit, intellect, and sensitivity, as well as interested in learning more about his music. A number of friends of long time supporters came to these events and it looks like our ticket sales will continue to surpass the previous several years.....I hope you have your tickets already (if not, here is your chance)!
- Jeff Haydon
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( 2.9 / 592 )The Symphony Magazine's Jan/Feb issue includes a feature article on how the classical music world has been taking on the blogosphere. Naturally, it mentions Festival alumni, pianist Jeremy Denk who has a fabulous blog, and eighth blackbird's Tim Munro, who was blogging before, during, and after this past year's Festival.
- Gina Gutierrez
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