NEWBURYPORT — The Newburyport Chamber Music Festival returns from Aug. 4 to Aug. 17. The festival, Summer 2025: An American Century, features three major concerts.
The first is Aug. 9 for clarinet and piano with internationally known and three-time Grammy nominee clarinetist Todd Palmer and New York City based pianist Margaret Kampmeier.
On Aug. 14, Osvaldo Golijov’s wild klezmer, “The Dreams and Prayers of Isaac the Blind”, is paired with Mozart’s autumnal clarinet quintet and Connesson’s disco toccata, all with clarinet, two violins, cello and viola.
The final concert, Opus 127 on Aug. 16, features the world premiere of an original composition by composer in residence, jazz pianist, and music historian extraordinaire Guthrie Ramsey, performing a composition for string quartet and jazz vocalist, with his daughter jazz singer Bridget Ramsey, in a tribute to legendary beat poet Hattie Jones. Beethoven’s Opus 127, one of the master’s late, great pieces that reshaped the direction of classical music, joins the string quartet program.
Don’t forget the NCMF Nachtmusik concert held in the historic space of 1862 St. Anna’s Chapel at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. The concert is held in a dark, intimate, in-the-round setting.
The festival brings all this music as well as storytelling, free lectures, open rehearsals, and a panel discussion with the artists. Purchase tickets now at newburyportchambermusic.org. Pay-as-you-can tickets for all major concerts to include all community members. For more information or questions, call 978-701-4914. Tickets are selling fast. Some events are sold out.
Visit the website to view upcoming free events, including lectures, open rehearsals, panel discussions and available tickets.