The SweetWater Music Festival kicks off its 19th year with a free, online music event, Up Close & Personal with Edwin Huizinga and Philip Chiu: The Sequel. This digital concert premieres on Friday, April 22 at 7:30 p.m. The violinist and pianist follow-up on their successful 2021 digital concert from last May. This time it offers a few new twists including some fun, personal moments captured during the musical performance. 

This upcoming digital concert will feature violist Huizinga and pianist Chiu performing works by Gabriel Fauré, Maurice Ravel, Samuel Barber, Béla Bartók, and Edvard Grieg. You can watch a short preview to get the feel of their whimsical performance!

The two of have been long-time friends and musical colleagues dating back to their early days as music students. Chiu was also a featured performer during SweetWater 2021. That connection is on full display throughout the concert as both will introduce each work as they walk around a picturesque, “winterscape” (the digital concert was recorded in Eastern Ontario in early March). The concert lives up to its title – up close and personal. These heartfelt moments make this quite unlike any other video or digital presentation ever offered by SweetWater.

This year SweetWater was able to offer this kick-off concert free to all thanks to support from Canadian Heritage and Concert Partner, Susan Fenton Gibson.

“It has been a tough time for all over the past two years,” notes General Manager Paul Eichhorn. “This is a great way to forget the pandemic for a bit and enjoy some music and two great musicians.”

To find out more and to find the digital concert link to view the concert, go to sweetwatermusicfestival.ca.

Image Sources: SweetWater Music Festival Website