{"id":104434,"date":"2024-05-23T16:36:14","date_gmt":"2024-05-23T20:36:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=104434"},"modified":"2024-05-28T12:59:28","modified_gmt":"2024-05-28T16:59:28","slug":"interview-co-founders-co-artistic-directors-johannes-debus-elissa-lee-talk-biglake-festival-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2024\/05\/23\/interview-co-founders-co-artistic-directors-johannes-debus-elissa-lee-talk-biglake-festival-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"INTERVIEW | Co-Founders\/Co-Artistic Directors Johannes Debus & Elissa Lee Talk About BIGLAKE Festival 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"
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L-R: Festival co-founders & co-artistic directors Johannes Debus & Elissa Lee; Pianist Louis Lortie (Photo: Elias Photography); Sarah Slean performs alongside Johannes Debus and the BIGLAKE Orchestra (Photo courtesy of BIGLAKES)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The 2024 BIGLAKE Festival explores the theme of evolution in various ways, and takes place from August 23 to 31 in Prince Edward County, Ontario. The scenic environment of lakeside farmland, vineyards, unique locations and venues is the backdrop for a varied menu of concerts and events.<\/p>\n

The Festival is the brainchild of co-founders and co-directors Johannes Debus<\/strong>\u00a0and Elissa Lee<\/strong> \u2014 the former is the Music Director for the Canadian Opera Company, and the latter a JUNO Award-winning violinist. Together, they formed BIGLAKE Arts, and created a festival for unique and intimate experiences in and around Wellington, in Prince Edward County.<\/p>\n

The Evolution festival takes place August 23 to 31<\/strong>, but kicks off weeks earlier, on July 14<\/strong>, with a Concert in the Barn fundraiser and the New Zealand String Quartet. They\u2019ll be performing a program of Gareth Farr: Te K\u00f5anga, Leo\u0161 Jan\u00e1\u010dek: String Quartet No. 1\u00a0\u201cKreutzer\u201d, and Joseph Haydn\u2019s String Quartet Op. 71 No 3. Edwin County Farms in Picton plays host to the catered event.<\/p>\n

Creating A Festival<\/h3>\n

\u201cI had some dear friends that lived in Wellington County,\u201d recalls Elissa. The connection led to more visits, and they both fell in love with the region. \u201cIt was a lot quieter then,\u201d she recalls. \u201cThe county has grown immensely.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Johannes relates, it was the circumstances of the pandemic that led to some of the more creative programming that the festival is known for. The festival as it exists now grew out of Wellington Water Week, which was held for two years from 2018 to 2019. The town\u2019s picturesque frontage on Lake Ontario led to its current name. In 2021, they were looking to move forward despite ongoing restrictions. \u201cWe needed venues to perform outdoors at the time.\u201d<\/p>\n

They approached local businesses and property owners. \u201cThey\u2019d open their barns and other venues for us,\u201d he says. The supportive environment helped cement the idea of situating a festival in the region on an annual basis. \u201cWe both felt that every place had something unique to offer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Attending the concerts in various venues makes audience members into explorers. \u201cIn Wellington where we feel at home, there\u2019s a wonderful old music hall,\u201d Johannes says. The Hall is an area building with what Johannes calls a \u201ccheckered history\u201d, and was revived as a concert hall by BIGLAKE in 2022.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s still a little mysterious,\u201d Elissa says. More work will be done in its ongoing revitalization, with acoustics good enough to warrant the trouble. It\u2019s something of an area secret, known to the locals. \u201cPeople are super happy that we\u2019re reactivating it,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

At the moment, the raw edges of the space add to its ambience. \u201cIt speaks to that idea of popping up in space.\u201d And, also to the concept of Evolution. The music hall was built during the late 1800s at a time when Wellington County was flourishing, and the hall was a centre for the area\u2019s entertainment.<\/p>\n

After the first season\u2019s success, once the restrictions were lifted, they reflected on the idea of keeping the spread out over a range of different types of venues.<\/p>\n

BIGLAKE 2024: Evolution<\/h3>\n

The festival\u2019s offerings are eclectic and curated to be performed in a variety of settings.<\/p>\n

Programming the festival each year typically begins with the works that they want to present. A Beethoven Marathon<\/strong>, consisting of all the composer\u2019s sonatas for violin and piano spread over three concerts, takes over the Wellington Music Hall on August 2<\/strong>5. That\u2019s where Evolutions began.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf there is one constant in life, it\u2019s that there is evolution,\u201d Johannes says, adding that it\u2019s meant as an inspiration rather than a box to confine curation. \u201cThe Beethoven marathon \u2014 you see how a composer has evolved through his life,\u201d he adds. \u201cWe can personally relate to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Opening Night\u2019s theme is Evolution Of The Piano<\/strong> with Ilya Poletaev<\/strong>, who\u2019ll be performing on the spinnet, the harpsichord, and the grand piano<\/p>\n

\u201cIlya is a performer who can play all those instruments,\u201d Elissa says. \u201cI met Ilya at a house concert in Toronto.\u201d That was years ago, and the festival invited Ilya to perform Bach\u2019s Goldberg Variations in 2021. Through conversations, they learned that he was also a prolific harpsichordist, and was adept at most historical keyboard instruments. \u201cIlya is, I think quite unique in that in the world of keyboard players,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

It led to a return invitation to delve into the instrument\u2019s history. \u201cSome of the older stuff is much harder to play on modern instruments,\u201d Elissa notes.<\/p>\n

Canadian piano legend Louis Lortie<\/strong> performs a program of Fr\u00e9d\u00e9ric Chopin on August 30<\/strong>. \u201cWe\u2019re absolutely thrilled that he\u2019s coming,\u201d Elise says. \u201cHe is also such a versatile artist and musician. It\u2019s a blessing to have him come.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lortie has visited the festival before, and performed at one of their fundraisers. Elissa says he too was charmed by the area\u2019s bucolic ambience.<\/p>\n

\u201cFestivals do lean much on their environment,\u201d she notes. She says Lortie also appreciated the opportunity to perform in Canada. \u201cI think it\u2019s nice when you\u2019re artistic director and you can decide who you like.\u201d<\/p>\n

The venues and music have been matched to create just the right atmosphere. At times, potential venues have approached the festival first, leading to creative thinking on what to present and when. \u201cTo bring [audiences] something that makes sense,\u201d Elissa explains.<\/p>\n

The not surprisingly popular Musical and Edible Promenade<\/strong> returns on August 24<\/strong>, along with as yet to be announced pop up events involving local chefs and restaurants. \u201cIt makes a lot of sense in a small community. We all know each other,\u201d Elissa notes. \u201cIt\u2019s about building community. Everyone\u2019s been massively supported.\u201d<\/p>\n

As she points out, it\u2019s a different business model than is typical for a music festival.<\/p>\n

The Musical and Edible Promenade, which is essentially a walking tour involving food tasting paired with music, takes participants through the town of Wellington. \u201cIt\u2019s become staple,\u201d Johannes says. The event involves four mini concerts in undisclosed locations \u2013 everything, including the menu, is a mystery until the day of. The festival works with a local chef to curate and coordinate.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s for the adventurous minded. \u201cFor those who don\u2019t want to sit for two hours,\u201d Elissa points out. \u201cIt\u2019s ended up being an elevated dining experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

Working each year with the same chef, he\u2019s sent the music first. He takes inspiration from it in creating the menus. \u201cIt\u2019s quite fun,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s an annual thing that people have asked for.\u201d<\/p>\n