Intonations
Jerusalem International Chamber Music Festival in Berlin
Intonations
Jerusalem Chamber Music Festival in Berlin
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Intonations - the only annual chamber music festival of its kind in Berlin - was founded in 2012 by pianist and artistic director Elena Bashkirova. The festival is affectionately referred to as the sibling of the Jerusalem International Chamber Music Festival (est. 1998), which it represents in Europe.
Intonations gives chamber music lovers a place to gather and share their passion for chamber music. Each year, the festival explores the repertoire through diverse programming, seeking to situate music within social and historical contexts that tell stories about the times and people that lead to its creation.
The format of the festival is unique: its ensembles are specially created by Bashkirova for each programmed piece. The musicians, established leaders of the classical world and rising stars, bring an unmatched dynamism and vivacity to their performances, lending Intonations its special character.
Upcoming Events
Intonations 2024 will happen on the first weekend of June, from the 7th to the 9th. There will be five concerts over the three day festival with musicians such as Michael Barenboim, Pablo Barragán, Stefan Dohr, Clara-Jumi Kang, Daishin Kashimoto, Sunwook Kim, Denis Kozhukhin, Elisabeth Leonskaja, Igor Levit, Emmanuel Pahud, Dorothea Röschmann and more joining Elena Bashkirova at the KühlhausBerlin for a weekend of chamber music on the theme "Emigrant Composers."
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Homecomings and New Beginnings
Teaser Concert 2023
After 10 years at the Jewish Museum Berlin, Intonations launched a new chapter in 2023. On the 10th of June it hosted a one day teaser event to announce that it found a new venue: the Kühlhaus Berlin. Faces familiar to the festival such as Gidon Kremer, Dorothea Röschmann, Emmanuel Pahud, Madeleine Carruzzo, Pablo Barragán and more joined Bashkirova to celebrate the new beginning.
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Festival Venue
KühlhausBerlin
The KühlhausBerlin was built in 1901 by Hamburg based Society for Market Halls and Cold Storage. When it was constructed, it was part of what was then the world's largest cold storage compound: there was an administration building, Kühlhaus I, Kühlhaus II, and Kühlhaus III along with an ice factory, all operating to meet the increasing demands for ice and space to store and cool perishable goods and products.
After escaping a planned demolition in the early 1990s, the building was saved by architect Dr. Helmut Meier and a group of individuals. It underwent the extensive repairs and internal renovations, and now operates as a vibrant center for cultural events.
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The concert hall at the Kühlhaus is called the cube. A three story open space, it consists of a stage and audience seating level, which is overlooked by two open galleries on the second and third floors. The steel and concrete of the building's endoskeleton capture the tough, industrial history of Berlin and lend a charming contrast and character to its artistic events.