June 29, 2005 -

Ottawa, Ontario -- The National Arts Centre Orchestra’s summer Great Composers series opens on Tuesday, July 5 with the Canadian premiere of Marching to Carcassonne by esteemed German-born British composer Alexander Goehr (pronounced GAIR) in the world premiere of a new orchestration of the work with enlarged string section for the NAC Orchestra. It will feature famed pianist Peter Serkin, who gave the world premiere performance in 2003 of the original version in London, England – subtitled Serenade for Piano and 12 Instruments – conducted by Oliver Knussen. The NAC Orchestra will be conducted by Alexander Mickelthwate, who made his NAC debut last summer leading Howard Shore’s Lord of the Rings Symphonic Concert. In the second half of the concert, NAC Orchestra Music Director Pinchas Zukerman will lead the musicians in Mozart’s Symphony No. 40.

The 19:30 NAC Orchestra concert is preceded at 18:30 by the first of organist Thomas Annand’s Encounters with Bach which he is offering prior to each of the four Great Composers concerts on July 5, 7, 12 and 20. For these half-hour Evening Overtures of organ music and chat, Annand will discuss and perform music by Bach as well by composers who influenced or were influenced by him. The 30-minute Encounter with Bach is included in the ticket price of the orchestral concert. Ticket-holders have the option of arriving at 18:30 for Thomas Annand, or coming at 19:30 if they choose to attend only the orchestral concert.

The NAC Orchestra’s Great Composers series is presented in association with the Ottawa Citizen.

American pianist Peter Serkin is one of the most thoughtful and individualistic musicians appearing before the public today. His performances with symphony orchestras, recital appearances, chamber music collaborations and recordings are respected worldwide.

Peter Serkin’s grandfather was violinist and composer Adolf Busch and his father pianist Rudolf Serkin. In 1958, at age eleven, he entered the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. This season, Peter Serkin performed the world premiere of Charles Wuorinen's Piano Concerto No. 4 with the Boston Symphony/James Levine, and the New York premiere of Lieberson's Piano Concerto No. 2 Red Garuda with the New York Philharmonic/James Conlon. In 2005-06, Mr. Serkin will play the world premieres of another work for piano and orchestra by Charles Wuorinen with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s in Carnegie Hall and a solo piano piece by Elliot Carter at his Carnegie Hall recital and the Gilmore Keyboard Festival.

Tickets for this Great Composers series concert on July 5 at 19:30, including the Encounter with Bach at 18:30 are on sale now at $22.00 and $28.00 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 website 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.

- 30 -

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