June 13, 2005 -

Ottawa, Canada -- Music Director Pinchas Zukerman’s final concert of the National Arts Centre Orchestra’s 2004-05 regular season is a Beethoven feast that begins with a famous chamber piece for seven musicians followed by the composer’s immortal Symphony No. 9 “Choral”, with an augmented orchestra and a chorus of five local choirs for a total of over 280 on stage. These Bostonian Bravo Series concerts take place on Thursday, June 16 and Friday, June 17 at 20:00 in Southam Hall.

Beethoven’s Septet in E-flat major for strings and winds will be performed by Pinchas Zukerman (violin), and principal musicians Jethro Marks (viola), Amanda Forsyth (cello), Leon Bosch (guest double bass), Kimball Sykes (clarinet), Christopher Millard (bassoon) and Lawrence Vine (horn).

The soloists for Beethoven’s Ninth are Laura Whalen (soprano) – the original Filumena in the hit Alberta opera of the same name; Susan Platts (alto), who is spending this year as the protegee of Jessye Norman and will be returning to the NAC to perform with Norman at this fall’s NAC Gala; plus tenor Richard Clement and bass-baritone Stephen Powell both making their NAC debuts.

The choral component of the Ninth Symphony is provided by the Ottawa Choral Society prepared by Iwan Edwards, three choirs from the University of Ottawa (the University of Ottawa Choir, the Ensemble Calixa-Lavallée, and the University of Ottawa Choral Ensemble) all prepared by Laurence Ewashko, and the Ottawa Regional Youth Choir prepared by Barbara Clark. The Chorusmaster is Duain Wolfe, Director of the Chicago Symphony Chorus.

This Ode to Joy is also an Ode to Youth. The musicians of the National Arts Centre Orchestra will be joined by 13 students of the NAC Young Artists Programme (YAP) which began on June 10 under the direction of Pinchas Zukerman as part of the Summer Music Institute (SMI). The SMI also includes the Conductors Programme and the Young Composers Programme, and this summer has brought together over 80 students from Canada and 14 other countries around the world. Seven students of the YAP will also double with the seven musicians of the septet in rehearsal.

Tickets for these Bostonian Bravo Series concerts on June 16 and 17 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

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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