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Under the summer sky - music, midsummer and magic

by Christine Anderson Gallant, May, 2010

It is almost 7:30 on a perfect summer evening in rural Prince Edward Island and the sun is languidly beginning its journey into the western horizon. A lone bagpiper calls the audience into St. Mary’s Church and they find their seats in the sanctuary that has been virtually untouched by a renovator’s hand since it was built in 1902. The setting sun casts its rays through stained glass windows creating a resplendent aura throughout this stunning space. This is the beginning of a night at the Indian River Festival.

Each year artistic Director Robert Kortgaard assembles a stellar cast of musicians in performances that resonate exquisitely under the summer sky. Mr. Kortgaard never has trouble gathering his musical cohorts together each year, in fact, he often has more difficulty deciding which artists to choose from the long list of those who beg to return to this beautiful place on Prince Edward Island’s North Shore. The combination of fine music making, warm hospitality, world famous Malpeque oysters and lobster is irresistible and it is hard to say who goes home happier, the audience member or the musician.

Robert Kortgaard is passionate about building on the success the Festival has seen in the years since he joined the organization and is equally thrilled with the caliber of artist he draws to PEI. They come from many different genres, including classical, jazz, Maritime, choral, folk and more. “Many of these wonderful musicians have been with us before,” he explains, “we can’t resist having them back, and it’s something they are thrilled to do because they know the beauty of the countryside, the warmth of the Indian River Festival audiences, and the welcome they feel in the community. Most of the musicians have busy international careers, so they welcome the opportunity to present the very best repertoire from their respective musical genres in a setting as visually and acoustically stunning as St. Mary’s Church. Being able to meet the people and melt into the landscape of one of the most beautiful areas in all of Canada well, let’s just say they feel they are receiving as much as they are giving while they are part of the musical family that is created each season.”

Soprano Sally Dibblee who enjoys a career on opera stages around the world is effusive in her description of her Indian River experiences and treasures the time she has spent at St. Mary’s: “I remember a rehearsal of Schubert’s Shepherd on the Rock - I was yodeling as the shepherd does musically in the piece and I could see out the open front doors of the church. I watched the cows across the road come ambling closer to the fence seemingly enjoying the serenade. Couple that with slurping oysters on the lawn at intermission in my concert gown and I think you get a pretty good picture why we just can’t get enough of Indian River.”

Undoubtedly at the end of a magical season on a gentle island in Eastern Canada, artist and audience alike will make their way home with their musical souls sated and happy, but with a bittersweet longing for the return of summer on Prince Edward Island.