January 26, 2006 -

Ottawa, Canada -- A true colossus in the world of music, the Romanian virtuoso Radu Lupu will perform solo piano works by Schubert and Schumann at the National Arts Centre on Wednesday, February 8 in Southam Hall at 20:00 for the second recital of the Bombardier Great Performers Series. Forced to cancel his 2005 appearance with the NAC Orchestra for medical reasons, this will mark Lupu’s first appearance at the NAC since 2002 and first recital since 1999.

Radu Lupu will perform two works by Schumann: Waldszenen (Forest Scenes), a collection of nine “character pieces” evoking different moods inspired by the dark, romantic German forest; and the grand and melancholic Humoreske in B-flat major.  He will also perform Schubert’s intimate Sonata in G major (D. 894), which Schumann considered to be Schubert’s “most perfect work, both in form and spirit.” Radu Lupu won a Grammy Award in 1995 for his London/Decca recording of other sonatas by Schubert, and won an Edison Award the same year for a Schumann recording that includes the Humoreske. In 2001 Decca released a two-CD set of Schubert’s music for violin and piano, featuring Lupu together with Szymon Goldberg.

First Prize winner in the 1966 Van Cliburn, the 1967 Enescu International and the 1969 Leeds International competitions, Radu Lupu has regularly performed as soloist and recitalist in the musical capitals and major festivals of Europe and the United States. He has appeared many times with the Berlin Philharmonic since his debut with that orchestra in 1978 Herbert von Karajan, and with the Vienna Philharmonic in 1986 under Riccardo Muti. He is also a frequent visitor to the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and all of the major London orchestras. Radu Lupu has made more than 20 recordings for London/Decca, including the complete Beethoven concertos with the Israel Philharmonic and Zubin Mehta, the complete Mozart violin and piano sonatas with Szymon Goldberg, and numerous solo recordings of Beethoven, Brahms and Schubert. This season, in additional to this date in Ottawa, he will perform recitals in Seattle, Vancouver, Los Angeles, San Francisco and a duo piano recital in Chicago and New York’s Carnegie Hall with Daniel Barenboim.

Tickets for this Bombardier Great Performers recital featuring Radu Lupu on February 8 are on sale now at $25.00, $41.00, $43.00, $51.50 and $53.00, with box seats at $65.00 (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.

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.

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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