Barry Shiffman, Director of Banff International String Quartet Festival, on Programming a Festival

The Violin Channel will be streaming multiple recitals this fall from the upcoming festival

Canada’s Banff International String Quartet Festival (BISQFest) was founded in 2017, following the success of the triennial Banff International String Quartet Competition (BISQC).

Led by its director Barry Shiffman, BISQC 2024 will be held across three days from August 30 to September 1, 2024, at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity in the Rocky Mountains of Banff, Alberta.

Ahead of multiple concerts streamed here on The Violin Channel in September and October, we sat down with Barry Shiffman to get an inside look at the upcoming festival!

Tell us about the BANFF Centre International String Quartet Festival? What are the main characteristics of the festival?

The festivals main characteristic is one of community. The week is filled with an amazing spirit of sharing and celebrating the music, friendships, and beauty of place. With a cast that is really an abundance of brilliant artists with quartets like the Viano and Isidore, brilliant soloists including James Ehnes and others, celebrated author Jeremy Eichler, jazz composer/ pianist Andy Milne and many, many, more, the festival is a glorious, indulgent feast for the soul. The close connection to the hundreds of audience members that are staying with us on the beautiful Banff Centre campus, sharing meals and conversation is unlike any other festival I know.

How has it evolved since its founding?

Banff has always had a wonderful history of support and interest in chamber music. The festival began in 2017 following the growing success of the Banff International String Quartet Competition. Today the festival sells out quickly, and includes a concert with the Banff Festival Orchestra, a larger cast of musicians and more special guests. It has become a sought after destination for music lovers - both listeners and performers.

What is the most challenging part of directing a festival such as this one?

I know this will sound funny, but the challenge for this festival, which happens in Banff Centre's well known utopian environment of support, is about deciding what we cannot do. It is easy to do be tempted to do too much, and it is finding the balance between full immersion and being smothered in content. I feel we have found a wonderful balance.

How did you pick the quartets who are going to perform this year? Are they all affiliated with the competition?

Many of the artists, both quartets and others, have a connection to Banff. As you know, the Viano and Isidore Quartets who are both winners of the competition are with us, but other artists such as the Israeli Chamber Project have not been to Banff. I seek out artists that I feel have something that is compelling to share and will embrace the special community feel of what we are creating at the festival.

Do they choose their own programming?

Programming is something that involves both ideas from the invited artists and requests from me. Some concerts such as the collection of music from the Kronos Quartet Fifty for the Future project is new to the musicians. I love to think that everyone will leave Banff having shared music they have lived with for a long time and music they discover because of the curating of the festival. Again, it is about finding balance.

What drew you to Jeremy Eichler? Can you tell us about the pairing with Strauss that will take place on September 1st?

I sat down with Jeremy Eichler a year ago when he invited me to read a proof of his stunning book Time's Echo. Upon reading this masterpiece, which explores the power of music in cultural memory, it was obvious that the content of the book could be successfully produced in ways that combine the scholarship of the book with performances of some of the music that is being explored in the text.

I have worked closely with Jeremy this past year via his work as Humanist in Residence at The Royal Conservatory. I have seen the world embrace his book (now published in a half dozen languages) with unusual passion and excitement for a book that explores 20th century history. I am so excited to welcome him to Banff and to have him inspire the musicians and audience.

What are you most looking forward to at this year’s festival?

Oh that is tough! Personally, I am excited to play the Mozart Sinfonia Concertante with longtime friend, the great violinist James Ehnes. I am looking forward to hiking the beautiful Sleeping Buffalo Mountain behind the campus, and to being back in the most beautiful place in the world surrounded by a community of passionate music lovers. I am literally counting down the days.

From your time with the St. Lawrence String Quartet, what advice would you give to the younger chamber musicians trying to launch a career in today’s industry?

Focus on the music and on the generous act of connection . All the rest flows from that.