DAMARISCOTTA — The 22nd annual Salt Bay Chamberfest will take place Aug. 9 through 20 at Damariscotta River Association’s Round Top Farm with the sounds of chamber music ranging from Saariaho to Shostakovich.

The musicians hail not only from the U.S., but also from Korea, China, Lithuania, Sweden, Canada and Britain. Among the virtuosi taking the stage in 7:30 p.m. concerts on Aug. 9, 12, 16 and 19 are violinist Jennifer Koh, named 2016 Instrumentalist of the Year by Musical America; violist and conductor Alan Gilbert, music director of the New York Philharmonic; cellist Peter Wiley, formerly of the Guarneri String Quartet and the Beaux Arts Trio; pianist Ignat Solzhenitsyn, music director of the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia and son of Nobel-prize-winning author Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn; and the Brentano String Quartet, recipient of multiple prestigious awards.

This year’s theme, Looking forward, Looking back, is a contemplation of youth and age as seen through music, juxtaposing pieces written in the early years of the composers’ lives with those created near the end of their careers that reflect on youth.

This year the Chamberfest will present the world premiere of a Marc Neikrug composition that was commissioned for the festival. Also included in the four concerts will be a retrospective of the music of Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho as well as works by Shulamit Ran, Julia Wolfe, Zosha Di Castri, and Philip Glass. Pieces by Janacek, Shostakovich, Schoenberg, and Haydn will also be performed.

In addition to the evening concerts, the Chamberfest Will feature a pair of free, informal Off Topic! chats on music and literature by the festival’s musicians.

Mark Mandarano, conductor, professor of instrumental music, and Chamberfest program annotator, will speak about Richard Wagner and The Ring of the Nibelung on Aug. 7 at St. Andrews Village, Boothbay Harbor.

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Pianist Ignat Solzhenitsyn will turn from his classical music career to provide personal insight into prose poems written by his father, Nobel-prize-winning author and activist Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. His talk takes place on Aug. 14 at Sherman’s Maine Coast Book Shop Café in Damariscotta.

The Chamberfest’s annual Musical Lobster Bake will be held Aug. 18 on the grounds of Round Top Farm in Damariscotta. Following a traditional bake, guests can enjoy the music of the Brentano String Quartet.

A masterclass for three promising string players from middle and high schools in Maine is set for Aug. 19 at Schooner Cove Retirement Community in Newcastle.

The festival will present its annual Family Concert on Aug. 20 at Skidompha Library, Damariscotta. The interactive program will introduce children and adults to chamber music in entertaining ways. The concert will cost $5 (or a donation of a canned good item) for adults and is free for children.

For more information, visit www.saltbaychamberfest.org.


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