From Europe to the Black Sea

Discovery concert

To celebrate the 75th anniversary of Orford Music, collectif9 and the chamber music fellows of the Academy take the stage in a program that celebrates the traditional and the contemporary. The musicians of collectif9 bring elegance, brilliance, and spontaneity to works for trio and quartet by Bridgetower, Tabakova, and Azmeh; they are joined by the chamber music fellows to create a dazzling chamber orchestra performing passionate and dramatic works by Janáček, Say, and Beethoven. The stunning arrangement of Beethoven’s exuberant and virtuosic “Kreutzer” sonata, here for chamber orchestra, is not to be missed.

Following an invisible line from western Europe to the other side of the Black Sea, collectif9 explores a repertoire within which each piece of music tells a story that ties it to the next, travelling through time and across regions. This concert pays homage to the rich history at Orford Music by bringing together established artists and rising stars side by side, injecting fresh life into musical programs and setting up future generations in their creative endeavours. From Europe to the Black Sea is an imaginative journey through the known and the unknown.

Program

Artists

collectif9
Recipient of a 2025 JUNO award and ‘Performer of the Year’ at the 2025 Prix Opus, Montréal string ensemble collectif9 is known for their innovative programming and approach to chamber music. The group aims to promote classical music from a personal perspective, where new voices and interpretations are welcomed and encouraged, performing “with an infectious energy and vigour that grabs an audience’s attention” (The WholeNote). Since their 2011 debut, collectif9 has performed numerous concerts across North America, Europe, and Asia. As performers of classical and contemporary music, the ensemble combines the power of an orchestra with the agility of a chamber ensemble. collectif9 operates on the premise that a change of context can influence communication and experience.

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