National Arts Centre Orchestra announces details of the 2003 Great Composers Festival, July 8-22
May 13, 2003 -
Ottawa, Canada -- The National Arts Centre today announced the
programming of the fifth annual Great Composers Festival with the
National Arts Centre Orchestra and Music Director Pinchas Zukerman,
featuring concerts of music by the classical masters and Canadian
composers, including an all-Schubert concert, an all-Tchaikovsky
concert, and a special celebration of the dean of Canadian
composition John Weinzweig in honour of his 90th birthday.
The five concerts of the Festival will take place in the National
Arts Centre's Southam Hall between July 8 and July 22, 2003.
Details of an additional six concerts were also unveiled, plus two
free concerts on July 1 as part of daylong activities in and around
the NAC.
The National Arts Centre also revealed details of its three summer
training programmes: the NAC Young Artists Programme now in its fifth
year, the NAC Conductors Programme in its third, and for the first
time this summer, the NAC Young Composers Programme.
The five concerts of the Great Composers Festival feature the
National Arts Centre Orchestra (July 8, 10, 15, 17, and 22), and all
but one are conducted by Pinchas Zukerman who also performs as violin
soloist for one of them. Every concert ticket includes a chamber
music concert at 18:15 followed by an orchestral concert at 19:30.
The Festival is presented by the Casino du Lac-Leamy in association
with the Ottawa Citizen.
The five Great Composers Festival concerts, the first four of
which are led by Pinchas Zukerman, are: Mozart Plus Harbison
including pianist Joseph Kalichstein performing Mozart's
Piano Concerto No. 27 and, for the "plus" a piece by American
composer John Harbison; Mozart Plus Louie featuring Pinchas
Zukerman performing Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 5
"Turkish" and, for the "plus" the world premiere of the
NAC-commissioned String Quartet by NAC Awards Composer Alexina
Louie; Russian Romance, an all-Tchaikovsky concert including
his Piano Concerto No. 1 performed by Canadian pianist Jon
Kimura Parker; Tribute to Schubert featuring both his Symphony
No. 8 "Unfinished", and Symphony No. 9 "The Great"; and Weinzweig
Celebration conducted by Bramwell Tovey including
Weinzweig's Divertimento No. 1 for Flute and Strings
performed by NACO principal flute Joanna G'froerer. (See
attached listing for programming details.)
There will be chamber music presentations prior to each of the
five Great Composers Festival concerts and some of the other summer
concerts. These mini-chamber music concerts begin at 18:15, last
approximately 30 minutes, and are included in the ticket price of the
orchestral concerts, which begin at 19:30. Ticket-holders have the
option of arriving early for the 18:15 chamber music, or coming at
19:30 if they wish to attend only the orchestral concert.
This summer will feature the first edition of the NAC Young
Composers Programme for the development of new Canadian composers,
and the creation of Canadian musical works. Under Lead Composer Gary
Kulesha, one of the three NAC Award Composers, supported by Award
Composer Alexina Louie, Kulesha's Affiliate Composer Andrew
Staniland, and American composer John Harbison, four young composers
from across Canada will participate. The Celebration of Future
Classics concert on July 6 at 19:30 will feature world premieres
of NAC-commissioned works by Kulesha and Staniland, as well as John
Harbison's String Quartet No. 4. This concert takes place
at U of O's Tabaret Hall. There will also be public lectures and
workshops during the course of the programme. (See separate release
for more details.)
A two-part Chamber Music Extravaganza will take place on
July 4 (at 18:15 and 19:30), in Southam Hall featuring faculty and
participants of the NAC Young Artists Programme. This three-week
programme (June 16 to July 5) will bring 36 young musicians, ages 14
to 25, from across Canada and outside the country to Ottawa for
high-level music training with Pinchas Zukerman and an international
faculty. The programme's final concert to showcase the
participants in chamber ensembles will take place on July 5 at
Tabaret Hall. There will also be a series of master classes at the
NAC and the University of Ottawa open to the public from June 18 to
July 2. The associate sponsor of the Young Artists Programme is
Galaxie: The Continuous Music Network. (See separate release for more
details.)
The NAC Conductors Programme now in its third year takes place
from June 23 to July 3 during which time eight full participants,
five conducting auditors and eight auditors from Canada and abroad
will study under master conductor Jorma Panula as well as Pinchas
Zukerman. The programme culminates in a final concert on July 3 where
up to four of the participants will be chosen to lead the National
Arts Centre Orchestra in a free concert of classical favourites. (See
separate release for more details.)
These advanced training programmes are supported by the National
Youth and Education Trust with special thanks to TELUS, Founding
Partner of the Trust, Corus Entertainment, J. Armand Bombardier
Foundation and Universal Music.
Other special concerts in the month of July include
l'Orchestre de la Francophonie canadienne on July 18 including
chamber music at 18:15 led by Jean-Philippe Tremblay, the NAC's
Apprentice Conductor and a graduate of the NAC Conductors Programme;
The Glory of Organ and Brass on July 24, as part of the Royal
Canadian College of Organists' Organ Festival; and the National
Youth Orchestra of Canada led by Simon Streatfeild on July 25.
On evenings when there is chamber music at 18:15 as well as a main
concert at 19:30, a light supper menu prepared by NAC Executive Chef
Kurt Waldele will be available in the Foyer.
On Canada Day, the National Arts Centre will be alive with
activities all day long. Pinchas Zukerman will lead the National Arts
Centre Orchestra in two free special Canada Day concerts at 14:30 and
19:30 in Southam Hall including the participation of Unisong choirs
from across Canada and participants in the Young Artists Programme.
Unisong will again present its own choral concert in Southam Hall at
10:00. Other performances and activities will take place in the
Foyers and on the Terraces throughout the day. The National Arts
Centre's Canada Day activities are presented by CPAC -
The Cable Public Affairs Channel.
The Great Composers Festival is priced affordably for summer
audiences with tickets for the National Arts Centre Orchestra
concerts on July 8, 10, 15, 17 and 22 selling for $13, $22 and $30.
The Chamber Music Extravaganza on July 4 is $15, and the Classics of
Tomorrow concert on July 6 is $12. Either of these may be added to
any other Great Composer's Festival concert for just $5. Tickets
for the Glory of Organ and Brass on July 24 are $13, $22 and $30.
Concerts on July 3, 18 and 25 are free and tickets may be picked up
in person at the NAC Box Office. No tickets are required for any of
the Canada Day concerts and activities. Admission to master classes,
Young Composers workshops, and the final concert of the Young Artists
Programme are $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors, and can
be purchased at the door.
Tickets 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.
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.
Great Composers Festival 2003 concerts
MOZART PLUS HARBISON
Tuesday, July 8
National Arts Centre Orchestra
Pinchas Zukerman, conductor
Joseph Kalichstein, piano
Chamber music (18:15)
Featuring members of the NAC Young Artists Programme
Orchestral concert (19:30)
JOHN HARBISON: TBA
MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 27 in B-flat major, K595
MOZART: Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K550
MOZART PLUS LOUIE
Thursday, July 10
National Arts Centre Orchestra
Pinchas Zukerman, conductor and violin
Chamber music (18:15)
MOZART: String Quintet in G minor, K516
Orchestral concert (19:30)
ALEXINA LOUIE: String Quartet (World premiere of NAC commission)
MOZART: Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major, K219 "Turkish"
MOZART: Symphony No. 29 in A major, K201
RUSSIAN ROMANCE
Tuesday, July 15
National Arts Centre Orchestra
Pinchas Zukerman, conductor
Jon Kimura Parker, piano
Chamber music (18:15)
DVORÁK: Sextet in A major, Op. 48
Orchestral concert (19:30)
TCHAIKOVSKY: Eugene Onegin : Waltz and Polonaise
TCHAIKOVSKY: Serenade, Op. 48
TCHAIKOVSKY: Piano Concerto No. 1
TRIBUTE TO SCHUBERT
Thursday, July 17
National Arts Centre Orchestra
Pinchas Zukerman, conductor
Chamber music (18:15)
SCHUBERT: Piano Quintet in A major, "Trout"
Orchestral concert (19:30)
SCHUBERT: Symphony No. 8 in B minor, D759 "Unfinished"
SCHUBERT: Symphony No. 9 in C major, D944 "The Great"
WEINZWEIG CELEBRATION
Tuesday, July 22
National Arts Centre Orchestra
Bramwell Tovey, conductor
Joanna G'froerer, flute
Chamber music / Musique de chambre (18:15)
TBA
Orchestral concert (19:30)
COPLAND: Appalachian Spring: Suite
JOHN WEINZWEIG: Divertimento No. 1 for Flute and Strings (1946)
JOHN WEINZWEIG: Dummiyah (1969)
STRAVINSKY: Pulcinella: Suite
A musical celebration in honour of the 90th birthday of
John Weinzweig, the Dean of Canadian composers.
Special Concerts
CANADA DAY CONCERTS
Presented by CPAC - The Cable Public Affairs Channel
Monday, July 1
National Arts Centre Orchestra
Pinchas Zukerman, conductor
NAC Young Artists Programme participants
Unisong
10:00 Unisong
14:30 and 19:30 NAC Orchestra concerts
Pinchas Zukerman, The NAC Orchestra, participants from the NAC
Young Artists Programme and up to 400 Unisong choristers from coast
to coast join in a musical celebration of Canada's birthday in
two free hour-long concerts at 14:30 and 19:30. The Unisong
choristers also give their own concert at 10:00. These free events
are part of daylong festivities throughout the NAC. (No ticket
required.)
NAC CONDUCTORS PROGRAMME FINAL CONCERT
Wednesday, July 3 (19:30)
National Arts Centre Orchestra
The NAC Conductors Programme (June 23-July 3), under the direction
of master Finnish conductor Jorma Panula as well as Pinchas Zukerman
offers intensive training to eight conductors over an eleven-day
period. This final concert features up to four participants selected
to lead the National Arts Centre Orchestra in a programme of
classical favourites.
CHAMBER MUSIC EXTRAVAGANZA
Friday, July 4
Pinchas Zukerman, violin
Steven Dann, viola
Amanda Forsyth, cello
Joel Quarrington, double bass
Joseph Kalichstein, piano
Chamber music (18:15)
Featuring members of the NAC Young Artists Programme
Main concert / Concert principal (19:30)
Featuring faculty of the NAC Young Artists Programme
Programme to include:
ROSSINI: Duo in D major for cello and double bass
DVORÁK: Quintet in A major for Piano and Strings, Op. 81
CELEBRATION OF FUTURE CLASSICS
Sunday, July 6 (19:30)
Tabaret Hall, University of Ottawa
ANDREW STANILAND: "Alchemy" for Piano and Strings (World premiere
of NAC commission)
Gary Kulesha: Violin Concerto No. 2 (World premiere of NAC
commission)
John Harbison: String Quartet No. 4
L'ORCHESTRE DE LA FRANCOPHONIE CANADIENNE
Friday, July 18 (19:30)
L'Orchestre de la Francophonie canadienne
Jean-Philippe Tremblay, conductor
Lara St. John, violin
Chamber music (18:15)
FRANCK: Quintet in F minor for Piano and Strings, M.7
Orchestral concert (19:30)
OLIVIER LARUE: Eaux (World premiere)
CHAUSSON: Poème
RAVEL: Tzigane
TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 5 in B-flat major, Op. 23
The NAC Orchestra's Apprentice Conductor, a graduate of the
2001 NAC Conductors Programme, leads a concert with his own orchestra
founded in honour of Les Jeux de la Francophonie.
THE GLORY OF ORGAN AND BRASS
Thursday, July 24 (20:00)
Thomas Annand, conductor and organ
Capital BrassWorks
Karen Donnelly, trumpet
STEVEN GELLMAN: Fanfare for the Millenium
J.S. BACH: Three Chorales: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme; Ich ruf
zu dir; Jesu bleibet meine Freude
J.S. BACH: "Little" Fugue in G minor
ALBINONI: Trumpet Concerto in B-flat major
DUPRÉ: Poème héroïque
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: Procession of the Nobles from "Mlada"
CRESPO: Bruckner-Étude
MENDELSSOHN: Prelude & Fugue in C minor for organ
GERALD BALES: Variants
BORODIN: Polovtsian March from "Prince Igor"
Presented by the Royal Canadian College of Organists, the National
Arts Centre and Radio-Canada as part of a week of concerts and
recitals for the RCCO Organ Festival.
NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA OF CANADA
Friday, July 25 (19:30)
National Youth Orchestra of Canada
Simon Streatfeild, conductor
BRITTEN; Sinfonia da Requiem
STRAVINSKY: Firebird Suite (1919)
JOHN BURGE: Sonic Adventure
LUTOSLAWSKI: Concerto for Orchestra
