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
June 22, 2004 -
Ottawa, Canada -- The doors will be open at the National Arts Centre (NAC) all day on Canada Day, Thursday, July 1. Activities will include two free concerts of the National Arts Centre Orchestra led by Music Director Pinchas Zukerman with Unisong and members of the renowned Young Artists Programme; plus a free concert by the 400-voice Unisong 2004 Choir, all in Southam Hall. There will also be on-going performances of music, singers and drumming inside and outside the NAC. Everyone is welcome and no tickets are required for any of the events.
At 10:00 in the morning, the full Unisong 2004 chorus combining 12 choirs for a total of 400 singers from Corner Brook, NL, to Nelson, BC will also present an inspiring concert led by Dr. Leonard Ratzlaff of Edmonton in Southam Hall.
At 14:30 and 19:30, hour-long celebratory Canada Day concerts with the National Arts Centre Orchestra conducted by Pinchas Zukerman will feature the 400-voice Unisong Choir and members of the NAC Young Artists Programme. The programme includes the NAC Orchestra performing Brahms’ Hungarian Dance and Dvorak’s Slavonic Dance, and Unisong with the NAC Orchestra performing Cable’s Sing - Sea to Sea, Tyson's Four Strong Winds, and Halley’s United in Song. A highlight will be 34 participants of the NAC Young Artists Programme joining together to perform an augmented version of the opening movement of Mendelssohn’s Octet.
There’s plenty of other free entertainment throughout the day: the Burundi Drummers will roam on Lawrence Freiman Lane (near NAC Box Office) drumming up excitement at 13:15 and 14:30; Terry Tufts and his special musical guests will enliven the Elgin Street Terrace from 12:30 to 15:45 with a delightful array of Great Canadian Songs; and stories for children about Canada presented in English and French by Chapters, will entertain families in the Salon between 11:30 and 15:00.
For more information:
Jayne Watson
Director of Communications
National Arts Centre
(613) 947-7000, ext. 260
Jane Morris,
Communications Officer
National Arts Centre
(613) 947-7000, ext. 335
