The Idea
When Concert Halls Fell Silent
The moment the Prime Minister uttered the fateful words “Now is the time for everyone to stop non-essential contact with others […] you should avoid pubs, clubs, theatres and other such social venues” on the evening of 16 March 2020, the lives of performing artists changed in an instant. Within minutes of the broadcast, performances scheduled for that evening were called off, musicians already in their dressing rooms sent home into uncertainty. How long would this last? How were they going to cope financially, especially as the vast majority of performers are freelancers? Most were simply left numb. As weeks turned to months, with little hope on the horizon, many musicians could hardly bear to touch their instruments. It was a painful reminder of their sudden and unexpected loss of identity.
A New Artistic Outlet
Whilst many took on other jobs, from delivery driving to brick-laying, to make ends meet, a sizeable number of classical musicians searched for a new outlet for their artistic talents and irrepressible need to create. They started to draw, sketch and paint. Whilst some had previously produced the odd work as a way of winding down in between concerts, many had not held a paint brush since childhood. Visual art became their refuge and, in many cases, an unexpected new career path.
How the Fermata Festival Idea Was Born
As the dark winter days of Lockdown 3 dragged on, more and more artworks made their way onto social media and more precisely onto the news feeds of ChamberMusicBox Artistic Directors Julia Morneweg and Yuri Kalnits. Hugely impressed by the incredible talent and resourcefulness of their colleagues, they felt that these works deserved more than ‘likes’ on Facebook and Instagram – they deserved their own dedicated exhibition, set alongside the artists’ most powerful inspiration: music. From the very start they were determined to create this project with the best possible expertise in the field of visual art at hand and reached out to renowned gallery owner, curator and arts consultant Alan Kluckow, who, from their very first conversation, shared Julia’s and Yuri’s enthusiasm for the idea. Together they are delighted to present this festival as a celebration of the remarkable talent and resilience within the classical music community.
The Artworks
The Concerts
ChamberMusicBox
Friday, 25 June 2021 | 7.45pm
Six of London’s finest musicians, led by prize-winning CMB Artistic Director Yuri Kalnits will be performing Richard Strauss‘ String Sextet from Capriccio and Tchaikovsky‘s much-loved Souvenir de Florence.
The concert will be preceded by a panel discussion and Q&A with exhibition artists and curator Alan Kluckow, chaired by distinguished pianist and Fermata Festival Artist Roger Vignoles, at 7pm.
Community Concert
Saturday, 26 June 2021 | 3pm
This free afternoon concert is open to anyone in the community who enjoys music and art. Not only do we invite you to come and exceptional music-making, but we also invite you to come and paint or draw if you wish! This concert will be performed by musicians whose art is featured in the exhibition.
Come and be inspired!
Misha Mullov-Abbado Group
Saturday, 26 June 2021 | 8pm
Celebrated as one of the most exciting young talents on the UK jazz scene, former BBC New Generation Artist, Misha Mullov-Abbado, brings his award-winning band for an evening of original compositions written by him, inspired by a whole variety of jazz and classical music.
“Soul-enhancing jazz” The Telegraph
Raphael Wallfisch
Sunday, 27 June 2021 | 7.45pm
One of the most sought-after cellists performing on the international stage today, Rapahel Wallfisch will close the Festival with a solo recital of 3 Cello Suites by Johann Sebastian Bach.
The concert will be preceded by a panel discussion and Q&A with exhibition artists and festival curator Julia Morneweg, chaired by Limelight Magazine Editor at Large, Clive Paget, at 7pm.
The Curators
Julia Morneweg | Festival Curator
British-German cellist, Julia Morneweg, enjoys a remarkably versatile career as a soloist, chamber music and artistic curator.
Her solo and chamber music performances have taken her to some of the most prestigious venues in the UK and abroad, including the Southbank Centre’s Purcell Room, St John’s Smith Square, St David’s Hall Cardiff, Zurich Tonhalle, Martinu Hall Prague and Shanghai’s Daning Theatre. She was a member of the Erato Piano Trio for 11 years and is a regular guest with some of the UK’s finest orchestras. She has also recorded for Toccata Classics.
Having founded ChamberMusicBox in 2016 together with violinist, Yuri Kalnits, she is now in charge of programming and the day-to-day running of the organisation as one of its Artistic Directors. Under her leadership CMB won plaudits for its series of socially-distanced pop-up concerts during the summer and autumn of 2020.
Alan Kluckow | Exhibition Curator
Alan began his career as an artist in South Africa before moving to the United States in 1980. While working as an artist he began acting as a consultant to a number of corporate and private clients and was involved in curating exhibitions for commercial galleries and museums in Connecticut and New York. While still living in the USA he also began providing portfolio analysis and career advice to emerging artists which he continued after relocating to the UK in 1993. Alan moved to England to start Bonham-Kluckow Art Consultancy in London, advising on commissioning and collecting art.
He subsequently opened Alan Kluckow Fine Art gallery promoting contemporary British and international artists. He continues to consult for corporations and private collectors, building, maintaining and enhancing their collections, in addition to curating exhibitions for corporate clients and charitable organisations.
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