April 27, 2005 -

Ottawa, Ontario -- The Alberta Scene’s series of classical music recitals at the National Gallery of Canada opens on Monday, May 2 in the Auditorium with the NAC Orchestra’s dazzling principal cello Amanda Forsyth and pianist Jean Desmarais. The duo will perform works for cello and piano by Schumann, Chopin and Shostakovich, as well as by the renowned Edmonton-based composer Malcolm Forsyth, father of Amanda. The concert is presented by the NAC Orchestra as part of Alberta Scene, the NAC’s arts and culture festival featuring 600 Alberta artists from April 28 to May 10. Alberta Scene is presented by EPCOR.

Amanda Forsyth and Jean Desmarais will perform Schumann’s Adagio and Allegro, originally scored for horn and transcribed for cello; Chopin’s Sonata for Cello and Piano in G minor, the composer’s final major work; and Shostakovich’s Sonata for Cello and Piano in D minor. Malcolm Forsyth’s The Swan Sees His Reflection was originally written in 1987. It was recently features in a television special produced by Veronica Tennant in which dancer Rex Harrington performed The Swan Sees His Reflection to the score played by Amanda Forsyth.

Juno Award-winning Amanda Forsyth is considered one of North America’s most dynamic cellists.  Born in South Africa, she moved to Edmonton as a child and began playing the cello at age three.  By the time she was 24 years old she had performed two seasons with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and was appointed principal cello of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra.  Since 1999, she has been the NAC Orchestra’s principal cello and she is also often featured as a soloist. As an eminent recitalist, soloist and chamber musician she performs with leading orchestras in Canada, the United States, Europe, Asia and Australia. Recent engagements include appearances with the Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver Symphonies, New West Symphony in California and the Austin Symphony Orchestra in Texas, as well as at Carnegie Hall, the Washington Library of Congress, Fiddlefest Gala in New York.

Jean Desmarais is an extraordinarily versatile pianist in constant demand as a soloist, a chamber musician and in the remarkably challenging role of an accompanist. He won second prize at the Concours international de musique de chambre du XXième siècle (with violinist David Lefèvre), in Martigues, France and in 1992 he was laureate of the International Yehudi Menuhin Foundation. In recognition of his contribution to the arts in Canada he received a commemorative medal for the 125th anniversary of Canadian Confederation. He has performed more than 40 world premieres of Canadian Music.

Alberta Scene is presented by EPCOR and supported by Major Sponsors TSX Venture Exchange, The Banff Centre, and National Arts Centre Friends - Alberta. Performance Sponsors are Enbridge, CIBC, Suncor Energy Inc. and Capital Health. Media sponsors include CBC Radio-Canada, the National Post, the Ottawa Citizen, LeDroit, the Edmonton Journal, the Calgary Herald, and Y1O1 FM. Supporting Sponsors include Edmonton Festival City, Galaxie, CD Warehouse, mymusic.ca, Holiday Inn, Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation and Big Rock Brewery.

Alberta Scene is grateful for support from the Government of Canada, the Government of Alberta, the Canada Council for the Arts, Western Economic Diversification Canada, and Foreign Affairs Canada.

Tickets for this recital by Amanda Forsyth and Jean Desmarais on May 2 are on sale now at $20 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.  Tickets may also be purchased one hour before the concert outside the Auditorium of the National Gallery.

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