The National Arts Centre is the place to be on Canada Day: free NAC Orchestra concerts with Pinchas Zukerman, Unisong, and other activities throughout the day, July 1
June 23, 2003 -
Ottawa, Canada -- The doors will be open at the National Arts Centre all day on Canada Day, Tuesday, July 1. Activities will include two free concerts of the National Arts Centre Orchestra led by Music Director Pinchas Zukerman and featuring members of the renowned Young Artists Programme, a free concert by the 400-voice Unisong 2003 Choir all in Southam Hall, plus on-going performances of music, dance theatre, and drumming in the foyer and terraces of the NAC. Everyone is welcome and no tickets are required for any of the events.
The hour-long National Arts Centre Orchestra concerts at 14:30 and 19:30 conducted by Pinchas Zukerman will feature Weber's Overture to Der Freischütz. Zukerman will also lead a special orchestra of Young Artists Programme musicians in Mozart's Divertimento for Strings in D Major, K 136. Two violinists from the Young Artists Programme will perform Sarasate's Navarra for Two Violins, Op. 33. The Unisong Chorus will join the NAC Orchestra on Canadian Rhapsody by Peter Bjerring, Stephen Hatfield's Living in a Holy City, and Paul Halley's stirring United in Song.
The full Unisong 2003 chorus of 400 singers from 14 choirs from coast-to-coast in Canada will also present an inspiring concert led by Dr. Lee Willingham of the University of Toronto at 10:00 in the morning in Southam Hall.
There's plenty of other entertainment throughout the day: the Burundi Drummers will roam through the NAC periodically drumming up excitement between 11:30 and 14:00; the Franco-Ontarien music group Deux Saisons will liven the Terrace at 13:00 and 14:45; and Calgary's Bishop Grandin Marching Ghost Show Band will entertain visitors near the Box Office at 19:30.
The National Arts Centre's Canada Day celebration is presented by CPAC - the Cable Public Affairs Channel.
