NACO's Apprentice Conductor Jean-Philippe Tremblay leads the Orchestre de la Francophonie canadienne in a free concert at the NAC on July 18
July 10, 2003 -
Ottawa, Canada -- Jean-Philippe Tremblay, Music Director of the Orchestre de la Francophonie canadienne, will bring this orchestra of young musicians to the National Arts Centre for its second annual summer visit in a free concert on Friday, July 18 at 19:30. Tremblay, a graduate of the first edition of the NAC Conductors Programme, is just finishing his two-year appointment as Apprentice Conductor of the National Arts Centre Orchestra.
The Orchestre de la francophonie canadienne will perform the world premiere of Eaux by Canadian composer Olivier Larue, Ravel's Tzigane and Chausson's Poème, both featuring Canadian violinist Lara St. John, and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5 in B-flat major.
In keeping with the tradition of this summer's Great Composer's Festival, there will be a pre-concert chamber music recital beginning at 18:15 in Southam Hall featuring the Franck Quintet in F minor for Piano and Strings. This will give audience a chance to hear Jean-Philippe Tremblay perform on viola, along with Lara St. John (violin), Renée-Paule Gauthier (violin), Gwendolyn Smith (cello) and Jean Desmarais (piano). NAC Executive Chef Kurt Waldele will have a light supper available in the Foyer so concertgoers can dine before or between the two parts of the programme.
The Orchestre de la francophonie canadienne was created specially for the IVth Games of La Francophonie, which took place in the National Capital Region in July 2001. After its debut concert that summer on Parliament Hill as the official orchestra of the Canada Day show, the Orchestra went on to perform a dozen more concerts in the province of Quebec, including ceremonial performances, symphony concerts, chamber music performances, children's concerts and master classes.
Now in its third summer, the Orchestre de la francophonie has recruited 66 young Canadian professional musicians, Francophone or Francophile, with classical training, aged 30 or less, who have completed or are about to complete their university studies, or are members of a Canadian professional orchestra. They are in residence at the University of Ottawa for the early part of July. Nine of these musicians formed the new music ensemble that workshopped the compositions of the four participants in this summer's first edition of the NAC Young Composers Programme.
In addition to the concert at the National Arts Centre on July 18, the Orchestra is performing in Domaine Forget on July 13, Quebec City on July 14, and Montreal on July 20-21.
In June 2001, Jean-Philippe Tremblay was one of eight conductors chosen from Canada and abroad to participate in the National Arts Centre's first annual Conductors Programme led by maestros Jorma Panula and Pinchas Zukerman. This led to his appointment to the newly created position of Apprentice Conductor of the NAC Orchestra. The Chicoutimi-born Tremblay was last summer's winner of the Joyce Conger Award for the Arts valued at $10,000. In November 2002, he was the only Canadian from 250 contestants to reach the finals of the Dmitris Mitropoulos International Competition for Orchestral Conducting in Athens, Greece. He received the Orchestra's Preference Award as well as an Honorable Mention for Excellence from the jury.
Canadian-born violinist Lara St. John, described as a "high-powered soloist" by the New York Times, has performed as soloist with major orchestras around the world. The Los Angeles Times said: "St. John brings to the stage personal charisma, an unflagging musical imagination and genuine passion." She has been signed to an exclusive multi-release recording contract with Sony Classical that includes innovative and core classical projects. Her first disc featuring works by Bach was released in June 2003 in Canada and will be available worldwide at the end of the year.
Tickets to this concert by l'Orchestre de la Francophonie canadienne on Friday, July 18 at 19:30, with pre-concert chamber music at 18:15, are free and may be picked up in person at the National Arts Centre Box Office.
