June 23, 2004 -

Ottawa, Canada -- The National Arts Centre Orchestra’s Great Composers Series begins with a Chamber Music Extravaganza featuring National Arts Centre Orchestra Music Director Pinchas Zukerman together with selected students and faculty of the 2004 Young Artists Programme (YAP) on Saturday, July 3 at 19:30 in the NAC’s Southam Hall.

The Chamber Music Extravaganza opens with internationally renowned pianist and faculty member Joseph Kalichstein performing a Schubert solo piano work: the “Allegretto in E-flat major” from Drei Klavierstücke. Then a setting for seven players of Richard Strauss’s deeply moving Metamorphosen will be performed by Pinchas Zukerman on violin, NACO principal second violin Donnie Deacon, NACO associate principal viola Jethro Marks, YAP violist Tom Palney from Israel, NACO principal cello Amanda Forsyth, YAP cellist Alon Bisk from Israel, and NACO principal double bass Joel Quarrington.

Schumann’s Piano Quintet in E-flat major was the composer’s best-known work during his lifetime and the first great composition to unite piano with standard string quartet. The quintet will be performed by Pinchas Zukerman on violin, YAP violinist Amaury Coeytaux from France, violist Steven Dann from the Royal Conservatory of Music, Amanda Forsyth on cello, and pianist Joseph Kalichstein of the Juilliard School.

There is a special bonus price for adding this concert to any of the three National Arts Centre Orchestra Great Composers concerts on July 6, 13 or 15. The Great Composers Series is presented by the Casino de Lac-Leamy in association with the Ottawa Citizen.

The NAC Young Artists Programme, together with the Conductors Programme and the Young Composers Programme, make up the National Arts Centre Summer Music Institute which is supported by scholarships, private donations, the NAC National Youth and Education Trust, and corporate partners including the Scotiabank Group.

The Chamber Music Extravaganza takes place on Saturday, July 3 at 19:30 in the NAC’s Southam Hall. Tickets are $10 (or $5 with purchase of another Great Composers ticket). They are on sale now 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.

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