by Mike Telin
There are times when we all — even composers — need a little fun in our lives.
On February 9, 1886 Camille Saint-Saëns wrote to his publisher, saying that although he should be working on his Third Symphony, he was writing a piece for Shrove Tuesday that was “… mais c’est si amusant!” (such fun). That “fun” piece, which premiered on March 3, 1886, was none other than Le Carnaval des animaux (“The Carnival of the Animals”).
While Saint-Saëns forbade the 14-movement comical piece to be performed in public, feeling it would damage his reputation as a serious composer, lucky for us, the piece was published after the composer’s death and has since become one of his most popular works.
On Saturday, June 24 at 7:30 pm, ChamberFest Cleveland will present a staged production of the zoological fantasy at CIM’s Kulas Hall. The program also features György Ligeti’s Six Bagatelles, Salina Fisher’s Kintsugi for Piano Trio, and Lukas Foss’s Capriccio for Cello and Piano. Tickets are available online.
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Music and poetry 
The presentation of young and emerging artists has always been a priority for the Cleveland International Classical Guitar Festival. And for Festival followers it’s an opportunity to be made aware of young guitarists, and then watch them mature as musicians. 
The best chamber music performances are the ones where the synergy of the players is so captivating that you simply sit back, relax, and let yourself get lost in the music. Such was the case when the Patterson-Sutton Duo — Kimberly Patterson (cello) and Patrick Sutton (guitar) — made a return visit to the Cleveland International Classical Guitar Festival on Sunday afternoon, June 4.
IN THIS EDITION:
IN THIS EDITION: