Ottawa Chamberfest concerts use churches

The 17th annual Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival began Saturday and will feature about 100 concerts over the next two weeks in some of the city's most beautiful churches and heritage sites.

On Thursday, Christos Hatzis's multimedia work, Constantinople, will fill the CanadianMuseum of Civilization with music and light.

Beginning Wednesday for five days, pianist Stewart Goodyear will tackle Beethoven's sonatas in a nine-concert series at the Church of St. John the Evangelist and Dominion-Chalmers United Church.

For some like Grete Hale, the highlight of Chamberfest 2010will be two Sunday morning concerts at Beechwood Cemetery, Canada's national cemetery, which opened in April 2008.

"I find it very moving to be here because it's so peaceful. It's so beautiful," said Hale, who heads Beechwood's foundation.

"I've had, and I think others have had this dream because it is so beautifully built and the acoustics are so great that we could have beautiful concerts here," she said.

Beechwood recentlyadded a$25,000 grand piano, purchased with a donation from a 98-year-old man shortly before he died.

On Sunday morning, pianist Adam Gyorgy will perform at the cemetery's Sacred Space, the first of what Hale hopes will be many concerts at Beechwood.

"I can hardly wait. I think it's just magic. And it's all come together," said Hale, who lovesthe space'sdomed ceiling, wooden arches and windows.

Chamberfest 2010 runs until Aug. 7.