October 29, 2004 -

Ottawa, Ontario -- The Toronto Symphony Orchestra returns to the National Arts Centre on Tuesday, November 9 at 20:00 in Southam Hall giving Ottawa audiences their first chance to see the Orchestra’s new Music Director, Peter Oundjian (pronounced OON-jun), on the podium. Oundjian will lead the 96-member orchestra in Smetana’s rousing “Sárka” from Má Vlast and Beethoven’s “Eroica” Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major. Internationally renowned violinist Sarah Chang completes the programme with her performance of the magnificent Dvorák Violin Concerto. The Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s concert at the NAC is sponsored by RBC Investments.

Peter Oundjian has just begun his first season as Music Director of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, after being named to the post in January 2003. Born in Toronto, he was educated in England as a student of Manoug Parikian. Oundjian attended London’s Royal College of Music where he won several awards and then completed his violin studies with Ivan Galamian, Itzhak Perlman, and Dorothy DeLay at the Juilliard School. It was there he first conducted for Herbert von Karajan in a series of master classes.

A dynamic presence in the orchestral world, Peter Oundjian’s probing musicality, spirit of collaboration, and engaging personality have earned him appointments as Artistic Director of the Caramoor International Music Festival (NY), and Principal Guest Conductor of the Colorado Symphony as well as his new post with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. He has guest conducted orchestras in Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Philadelphia, and in London and Berlin, among others, and he has also led the National Arts Centre Orchestra, most recently in 2000.

Violinist Sarah Chang is recognized the world over as one of classical music’s most captivating and gifted artists. Yehudi Menuhin, hearing her at ten, called her “the most wonderful, the most perfect, the most ideal violinist I have ever heard.” She made a sensational NAC Orchestra debut at age 12, returning ten years later in 2002. She has appeared in the music capitals of Asia, Europe and the Americas, and collaborated with most major orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony, the Boston Symphony, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic, the principal London orchestras and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam.

The Dvorák Violin Concerto in A minor which Chang will perform is filled with melodic invention and romantic effusion and, with a soloist of Chang’s proficiency, sets off a fine display of virtuoso fireworks.  Chang recorded the Dvorák concerto in 2003 with the London Symphony and Sir Colin Davis.

Tickets for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra with Peter Oundjian and Sarah Chang are on sale now at $27.00, $46.00, $57.00 and $59.00, with box seats at $77.50 (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. Groups of 20 and more save up to 20% on NAC Music, Theatre and Dance performances.  To book call 947-7000 ext. 384 or email grp@nac-cna.ca

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

Liz Parker, Public Relations Manager,
Toronto Symphony Orchestra
(416) 596-7769 ext. 310
lparker@tso.ca