November 04, 2005 -

Ottawa, Canada -- National Arts Centre audiences will have the opportunity to hear two massive works from the Romantic repertoire when the Toronto Symphony Orchestra led by Music Director Peter Oundjian returns to the NAC for what has now become an annual visit. The special concert, featuring Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 and Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 4 performed by Russian pianist Boris Berezovsky – winner of the 1990 Tchaikovsky Competition – will take place in Southam Hall on Wednesday, November 16 at 20:00. The programme will be especially exciting for National Arts Centre audiences, because the NAC Orchestra has never performed either of these large orchestral works.

Peter Oundjian, described by the Toronto Star as “a conductor who brings with him both a fellow player’s credentials and a leader’s instincts”, is now in his second season as Music Director of the Toronto Symphony. The strong bond he has forged with the musicians and community of Toronto continues. Through his communicative gifts on and off the podium, Mr. Oundjian explores the breadth and depth of orchestral repertoire and his concert feature world-renowned soloists. His current season includes twelve weeks at the TSO’s home in Toronto plus return visits to the San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Houston, and St. Louis Symphonies, as well as regular engagements in Colorado, where he is currently Principal Guest Conductor. Born in Toronto, Peter Oundjian was educated in England. He was the first violinist of the renowned Tokyo String Quartet for fourteen years before taking up conducting full time.

Pianist Boris Berezovsky, who Gramophone magazine called “the truest successor to the great Russian pianist” was born in Moscow in 1969, and studied at the Moscow Conservatory. Following his London debut at the Wigmore Hall in 1988, The Times described him as “an artist of exceptional promise, a player of dazzling virtuosity and formidable power”; two years later that promise was fulfilled when he won the Gold Medal at the 1990 International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. He works regularly as concerto soloist with orchestras including the Concertgebouw, Philharmonia Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Russian National Orchestra, New Japan Philharmonic, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and Dallas Symphony Orchestra. This will be his National Arts Centre debut.

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra is in its 84th season, and more than 400,000 patrons visit the Orchestra at Roy Thomson Hall each year. At the same time, the Orchestra maintains a strong international presence, built by a history of touring, including its triumphant European tour in the spring of 2000, and reinforced by acclaimed recordings available in music stores around the world. In 2004, Peter Oundjian succeeded Music Director Jukka Pekka Saraste (1994-2001). Previous Music Directors are: Luigi Von Kunits (founding conductor and Music Director, 1922-1931), Sir Ernest MacMillan (1931-1956), Walter Susskind (1956-1965), Seiji Ozawa (1965-1969), Karel Ancerl (1969-1973), Victor Feldbrill (Resident Conductor, 1973-1978), Sir Andrew Davis, (Music Director, 1975-1988, now Conductor Laureate) and Gunther Herbig (1989-1994).

Tickets for this special concert by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra on November 16 are on sale now at $27.00, $46.00, $57.00 and $59.00, with box seats at $77.50 (GST and Facility Fee included) 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. 

New for 05-06: Groups of 10 and more save 15% to 20% off the regular price of tickets to NAC Music, Theatre and Dance performances.  To reserve your seats call 947-7000 ext. 384 or email grp@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,

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