NAC Orchestra plays an all-Mendelssohn programme on April 23-24, including the Violin Concerto performed by Greek violinist Leonidas Kavakos
April 16, 2003 -
Ottawa, Canada -- Gilbert Varga returns to the National Arts Centre Orchestra to lead the musicians in an all-Mendelssohn programme on Wednesday, April 23 and Thursday, April 24 at 20:00 in the NAC's Southam Hall. The programme includes Mendelssohn's eternally fresh and glorious Violin Concerto, one of the most popular in the repertoire, performed by the Greek virtuoso Leonidas Kavakos in his NAC Orchestra debut. The concert also features Mendelssohn's Fair Melusina Overture and the cheerful, summery "Italian" Symphony, one of the most perfectly realized pieces ever written.
Violinist Leonidas Kavakos is the winner of the 1985 Sibelius Competition in Helsinki, the 1988 Nicolu Paganini Violin Competition in Genoa, the 1988 Walter W. Naumburg Violin Competition in New York and the silver medal in the 1986 Indianapolis International Violin Competition. He has established himself as a much sought-after artist with international orchestras as well as in recital, chamber music and recordings. This season has seen his debuts with the New York Philharmonic and, the Berlin Philharmonic and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, and now the National Arts Centre Orchestra. In 2001 he was named Artistic Director and principal guest artist by the Camerata Salzburg, where he will direct a number of projects for the ensemble and appear annually as soloist and conductor during his five-year appointment.
Gilbert Varga returns to the NAC Orchestra for the first time since 1996. He is now in his fifth season as Music Director of the Euskadi Symphony Orchestra (Basque Country), and has been Permanent Guest Conductor of the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra, and Principal Guest Conductor of the Malmö Symphony. Son of the famous Hungarian violinist Tibor Varga, his first teacher, he went on to study conducting under three very different Maestros: Ferrara, Celibidache and Bruck. From 1985-1990 he was Chief Conductor of Philharmonia Hungarica, following which his reputation in the symphonic repertoire spread quickly.
Tickets for these NAC Orchestra Audi Signature Series concerts at the National Arts Centre on April 23 and 24 are on sale now at $26.50, $43.50 and $54.50, with box seats at $68.00 (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. 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.
