June 01, 2005 -

Ottawa, Canada -- The National Arts Centre Orchestra today announced the programming for the four concerts of the Great Composers Series taking place this July, three of which are led by Music Director Pinchas Zukerman, and the fourth featuring opera superstars Deborah Voigt and Ben Heppner. Additional concerts include Canada Day celebrations and return visits by L’Orchestre de la Francophonie canadienne and the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. The concerts are all part of Summer at the National Arts Centre presented in association with the Ottawa Citizen.

The NAC Orchestra’s organist Thomas Annand will present Encounters with Bach prior to the four NAC Orchestra Great Composers concerts on July 5, 7, 12 and 20. For these half-hour Evening Overtures of organ music and chat, Annand will discuss and perform music by Bach as well by composers who influenced or were influenced by him. The Encounters with Bach begin at 18:30, last approximately 30 minutes, and are included in the ticket price of the orchestral concerts which begin at 19:30. Ticket-holders have the option of arriving early for the 18:30 Encounters with Bach, or coming at 19:30 if they wish to attend only the orchestral concert.

Peter Serkin is the guest pianist for the opening Great Composers concert on Tuesday, July 5 led by Pinchas Zukerman. He will perform the Canadian premiere of Alexander Goehr’s (pronounced GAIR) Marching to Carcassone in the world premiere of a new orchestration by the composer. The concert also includes Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 in G minor.

Yuja Wang, the young Chinese pianist who wowed audiences earlier this season when she took over for ailing superstar Radu Lupu, will return on Thursday, July 7 to perform Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in a concert led by Pinchas Zukerman. Zukerman also leads the Orchestra in Brahms’ Serenade No. 2 in D major.

Always a favourite with Ottawa audiences, Canadian pianist Anton Kuerti – especially celebrated for his interpretations of Beethoven – will perform the composer’s  “Emperor” Piano Concerto No. 5 with Pinchas Zukerman on the podium on Tuesday, July 12. Zukerman will open this concert with Mendelssohn’s “Italian” Symphony No. 4.

The final of the four Great Composers concerts is an operatic spectacular on Wednesday, July 20 featuring Wagner and Beethoven performed by two of the world’s most illustrious interpreters of this music: Canadian heldentenor Ben Heppner and dramatic soprano Deborah Voigt. This programme is conducted by Asher Fisch, the Music Director of the Israeli Opera and a regular guest at the Vienna Staatsoper.

The National Arts Centre Orchestra will also be featured with superstar Harry Connick, Jr. in the opening concert of the 25th anniversary TD Canada Trust Ottawa International Jazz Festival outdoors in Confederation Park on Thursday, June 23 at 20:00.

On Canada Day, Friday, July 1, a full day of festivities at the NAC will include two National Arts Centre Orchestra concerts led by Principal Youth and Family Conductor Boris Brott at 14:30 and 19:30 (see separate Canada Day release for details). Canada Day is presented by Rogers Wireless.

Friday, July 22 will see the return of L’Orchestre de la Francophonie canadienne in its fourth annual visit under the baton of founding Music Director Jean-Philippe Tremblay, a graduate of the NAC Conductors Programme, and former Apprentice Conductor of the NAC Orchestra. This free concert features the world premiere of Concerto for Orchestra by another graduate of the NAC Summer Music Institute – composer Andrew Staniland, who participated in the Young Composers Programme in 2003. Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor will be performed by the young Canadian violinist Alexandre Da Costa on this programme which also includes Berlioz’s Overture to Le Corsaire and Prokofiev’s Suite from Romeo and Juliet.

On Monday, August 15, the National Youth Orchestra of Canada gives a free concert under the baton of this summer’s leader Jacques Lacombe in a programme of Schubert’s Overture to Rosamunde, Bartók’s Suite from The Miraculous Mandarin and Mahler’s mighty Symphony No. 5.

The Great Composers Series is priced affordably for summer audiences with tickets for the National Arts Centre Orchestra concerts on July 5, 7 and 12 selling for $22 with box seats at $28, and on July 20 for $22, $32, $42, $62. Free tickets for L’Orchestre de la Francophonie canadienne and the National Youth Orchestra can be picked up in person at the Box Office. No tickets are required for Canada Day. Harry Connick Jr. tickets are available through the Ottawa International Jazz Festival at www.ottawajazzfestival.com.

Tickets go on sale on June 1 at the NAC Box Office (Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 21:00) and through Ticketmaster (with surcharges) at 613-755-1111. Ticketmaster may also be accessed through the NAC’s website at www.nac-cna.ca. Half-price tickets for students in all sections of the hall are on sale in person at the NAC Box Office upon presentation of a valid student ID card. Groups of 20 or more save up to 20% off of regular priced tickets to NAC Music, Theatre and Dance performances. For information and reservations call 613-947-7000 ext: 384 or e-mail grp@nac-cna.ca.

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For more information:
Jane Morris, Marketing and Communications Officer,
National Arts Centre Orchestra
(613) 947-7000, 335
jmorris@nac-cna.ca