Canadian concert pianist Janina Fialkowska was supposed to make her debut at the Tuckamore Festival in 2020, during the festival’s special 20th season celebration as the headline performer. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit however, everything halted and the festival was put on hold.
“It was really disappointing,” said Ms. Krista Vincent, executive director of the Tuckamore Festival. “We deferred Janina until 2021 when we thought the pandemic would be ‘over’, but that was postponed as well, because it was clear there were still too many risks involved in bringing in international artists, so we waited again until this year.”
It was worth the wait, however. Ms. Fialkowska takes to the stage on the official opening night of the 2022 Tuckamore Festival, a celebration of chamber music running from August 8-21.
“This season, we are back in person, just in time for Come Home Year,” said Ms. Vincent. “The line up of performers for this season is wonderful, with some of the world’s leading chamber music artists joining us and sharing their talent.”
While Ms. Fialkowska opens Week One of the festival, Week Two opens with another belated welcome: that of the spectacular Verona Quartet from the USA.
“Verona Quartet were slated as Tuckamore quartet-in-residence for 2020, but of course, we had to delay because of COVID,” said Ms. Vincent. “St. John’s audiences will finally get to hear this extraordinary quartet that has been dazzling audiences around the globe, so we’re thrilled about that.”
Also new to the festival roster in 2022 is the sultry voice of CBC’s Tempo, mezzo-soprano Julie Nesrallah, accompanied by pianist Robert Kortgaard.
“We wanted to come back stronger than ever after our in person hiatus, and our season this year does just that. We can’t wait to share this beautiful music with Newfoundlanders and Labradorians again.”
For more information about the Tuckamore Festival, a full festival program, and to purchase tickets, visit https://tuckamorefestival.ca/.