Camerata Pacifica Showcases Diverse and Deeply Creative Works for Oboe and Viola
In a world that often drowns us in noise, there’s an exquisite stillness to be found in the whisper of an oboe, the resonance of a viola, and the soft command of a piano. On a moody November evening, as the sun sank gently over Thousand Oaks, the Janet and Ray Scherr Forum transformed into a sanctuary. Camerata Pacifica, celebrated for its bold artistry and emotional gravitas, delivered a performance that was less a concert and more a warm embrace for the soul. This is chamber music as it was meant to be: intimate, unguarded, and profoundly human.
The November series features a trio of masterful artists—Nicholas Daniel on oboe, Timothy Ridout on viola, and Irina Zahharenkova at the piano—woven together to create a rich, emotional tapestry. With performances spanning November 10–15, 2024, across Southern California’s most cherished venues, Camerata Pacifica offers a program of five visionary works that linger long after the last note fades. From intricate solos to dynamic ensemble moments, the spotlight on the oboe and viola feels like a revelation, each piece a testament to the boundless possibilities of music.
Performance Schedule
- Sunday, November 10, 3:00 PM: Janet and Ray Scherr Forum, Thousand Oaks
- Tuesday, November 12, 7:30 PM: The Huntington, San Marino
- Thursday, November 14, 8:00 PM: Zipper Hall, Downtown Los Angeles
- Friday, November 15, 7:00 PM: Music Academy of the West, Santa Barbara
The program opens with Camille Saint-Saëns’ Sonata for Oboe and Piano in D Major, Op. 166, a radiant three-movement piece performed by Nicholas Daniel, celebrated as one of the greatest living oboists, and Irina Zahharenkova, whose technical brilliance and expressive artistry have left Camerata audiences spellbound. The sonata, composed in 1921 near the end of Saint-Saëns’ life, is a tour de force that juxtaposes pastoral beauty with virtuosic fireworks, setting the tone for the evening.
Daniel also revisits Helen Grime’s Two Birthday Fragments, a rhapsodic piece that brims with lyricism and complexity. Written in 2022 as a celebration of Daniel’s 60th birthday, the work explores themes of reflection and renewal, and Daniel’s performance brings the music’s nuanced emotionality to life.
The spotlight then shifts to Timothy Ridout, an artist hailed for his transformative ability to elevate the viola’s voice. Ridout performs York Bowen’s Viola Sonata No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 18, a work rooted in late Romanticism, featuring lush harmonies and moments of fiery intensity. He follows with Niloufar Nourbakhsh’s Veiled for Solo Viola and Live Electronics with Fixed Media, a piece unlike any other on the program. Nourbakhsh blends traditional viola techniques with electronic textures, creating an evocative soundscape that speaks to themes of identity, resilience, and defiance.
“For me, Veiled transforms anger into a collective force that is both beautiful and resilient, honoring Iranian women who have inspired change,” Nourbakhsh says of the work, which incorporates layered, pre-recorded audio to expand the viola’s expressive range.
The evening concludes with a chamber work that epitomizes collaboration: Thomas Oboe Lee’s Parodia Schumanniana. This lyrical trio, performed by Daniel, Ridout, and Zahharenkova, takes inspiration from the resilience and beauty of desert cacti. With its lush interplay of oboe, viola, and piano, the piece is both a celebration of Schumann’s Romantic spirit and a testament to the enduring creativity of modern chamber music.
Adrian Spence on the Performers and Program
Artistic Director Adrian Spence describes the program as a tribute to the remarkable talents of its performers:
“Nicholas Daniel has redefined the oboe with a tone that is unrivaled. He approaches each piece with both precision and passion, transforming the oboe into an instrument of limitless possibility. Timothy Ridout’s artistry has garnered acclaim worldwide; his tone and technique allow the viola to truly sing. And Irina Zahharenkova’s performances are consistently breathtaking. Whether playing a Romantic sonata or supporting other musicians, her presence is magnetic.”
Spence also highlights the forward-thinking nature of the program, particularly with Veiled:
“Nourbakhsh’s work resonates with a truth that is impossible to ignore. It’s powerful, brave, and deeply personal. That’s why we’ve commissioned a major new work from her, set to premiere in 2026, generously supported by Gretl Stephens in memory of her husband, George. We’re invested in supporting voices like hers.”
Every piece in this program unfolds like a story—one of quiet reflection, fierce defiance, undeniable beauty, and unwavering hope. Camerata Pacifica’s November series is more than a performance; it’s an open invitation to stop, truly listen, and rediscover the art of connection. Let the music guide you, carrying you to a place where every note feels like a whisper intended just for you.
A huge thank you to Camerata Pacifica for inviting us to see this lovely performance. To learn more about the 2025 programming, visit www.CamerataPacifica.org
