September 12, 2005 -

Ottawa, Canada -- The National Arts Centre Orchestra will open its 2005-2006 season with an all-Beethoven extravaganza on Wednesday, September 21 and Thursday, September 22 at 20:00 in Southam Hall, featuring Music Director Pinchas Zukerman as conductor and violin soloist together with principal cello Amanda Forsyth and pianist Janina Fialkowska (pronounced Ya-NEE-na Feel-KOFF-ska) in her first Ottawa appearance since her remarkable comeback from a career-threatening battle with cancer. Beethoven’s charming and elegant Triple Concerto in C major will feature the three soloists and the NAC Orchestra conducted by Rolf Bertsch. Pinchas Zukerman will conduct Beethoven’s Symphony No. 2 in D major which he recorded with the NAC Orchestra in 1999, marking his first-ever recording of a Beethoven Symphony. These Ovation Series concerts begin with the three soloists in a chamber music gem – the Trio No. 8 for Violin, Cello and Piano.

These season-opening concerts are dedicated to Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, in honour of her enormous contribution to arts and culture in Canada throughout her tenure as Governor General of Canada.

Pinchas Zukerman returns to the National Arts Centre Orchestra after a whirlwind summer of international touring that included concerts with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Symphony, the North Carolina Symphony (in a Gala performance with Itzhak Perlman) the Indianapolis Symphony (with NACO Principal Pops conductor Jack Everly), and the New West Symphony (with NACO Principal Youth and Family Conductor Boris Brott), as well as performances with the Zukerman ChamberPlayers at the festivals of Ravinia, Aspen, Tanglewood, Harrogate, Schleswig Holstein, Reims, Pablo Casals (Barcelona), Istanbul and Santa Fe.

Amanda Forsyth, a member of the Zukerman ChamberPlayers, participated in that ensemble’s international chamber music tour and also performed the Brahms Double with Zukerman and the New West Symphony in California. Upcoming engagements away from the NAC this season include performances with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Highland Park Strings in Chicago, San Antonio Symphony Orchestra, “Art of Time” in Toronto, Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra and performances in Wichita Falls, Texas and in Shanghai in early 2006. She recently collaborated with Wynton Marsalis recording the sound track for Ken Burns’ 7-part television film about World War II to be produced for SBS.

Montreal-born Janina Fialkowska is a regular guest soloist with all the major North American orchestras and has appeared with such prestigious orchestras as the Royal Concertgebouw, the London Philharmonic, the Warsaw Philharmonic as well as the Hong Kong and Israel Philharmonic Orchestras. In January 2002, at the outset of a major European tour, her career was brought to a dramatic halt by the discovery of a tumour in her left arm. After successful surgery to remove the cancer, Fialkowska underwent a rare muscle-transfer procedure in January 2003. After 18 months of performing the Ravel and Prokofiev “concertos for the left hand” which she transcribed for her right hand, she resumed her two-handed career beginning with a tremendously successful and highly emotional recital held in Germany in January 2004

Tickets for these Ovation Series concerts on September 21 and 22 are on sale now at $27.00, $47.50, $58.00 and $60.00, with box seats at $79.00 (GST and Facility Fee included) 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 web-site at www.nac-cna.ca. 

New for 05-06: Groups of 10 and more save 15% to 20% off the regular price of tickets to NAC Music, Theatre and Dance performances.  To reserve your seats call 947-7000 ext. 384 or email grp@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. Subscriptions for the season are also still available by calling the Subscription Office at 613-947-7000, ext. 620.

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