February 03, 2007 -

Ottawa, Canada -- Shostakovich’s virtuoso Cello Concerto No. 1, alternately brilliant and brooding will be performed by the National Arts Centre Orchestra’s principal cello Amanda Forsyth in Bostonian Bravo Series concerts led by Music Director Pinchas Zukerman on Thursday, February 8 and Friday, February 9 at 20:00 in the NAC’s Southam Hall. Zukerman will also lead the Orchestra and the Ottawa Festival Chorus in Fauré’s stately Pavane. The concert comes to a stirring conclusion with Fauré’s life-affirming Requiem which will feature the Ottawa Regional Youth Choir, prepared by Barbara Clark, together with the Ottawa Festival Chorus and Ottawa’s own internationally renowned soprano Donna Brown, and bass-baritone Gaétan Laperrière, a rising star from Quebec. Duain Wolfe of the Chicago Symphony Chorus is the chorus master for these performances.

There will be free pre-concert talks at 19:00 both evenings given in English by music critic Jean-Jacques van Vlasselaer entitled “The Strength of Tenderness”.

Juno Award-winning Amanda Forsyth has been principal cello and soloist with the National Arts Centre Orchestra since 1999 and appears with leading orchestras and prestigious chamber music festivals in Canada, the US, Europe, Israel, South America, Asia and Australia. Recent guest soloing has included debut appearances in Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Taipei, with the Gulbenkian Orchestra in Lisbon, with the Israel Sinfonietta Beer-Sheva, in Cortona Italy with the Russian National Orchestra, and in Sofia, Bulgaria. She recently appeared with New West Symphony, San Antonio Symphony Orchestra, Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra, and Washington National Symphony Orchestra, and in a recital recorded for CBC. Upcoming touring includes soloing with The Royal Philharmonic in Spain, as well as return engagements in Lisbon, Israel, and China and a tour in South America. She recently collaborated with Wynton Marsalis in New York recording the sound track for Ken Burns’ 7-part television film about World War II for SBS. Her recordings appear on the Fanfare, Marquis, Pro Arte, Altara, Naxos and CBC labels.

Renowned for the floating, silver-toned quality of her voice, celebrated Canadian soprano Donna Brown performs on many of the world’s great opera and concert stages including performances of Mahler Second Symphony with the Elora Festival, Schubert songs orchestrated with the Halifax Orchestra, Handel/Mozart’s Messiah with the Rio de Janeiro Orchestra, Haydn’s Creation with Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire, Haydn’s Schöpfungsmesse, concerts and recording with the Oregon Bach Festival, Handel’s Messiah with Musica Angelica, Los Angeles, a series of recitals in the Vancouver Music in the Morning series, and Beethoven’s Ninth and Missa Solemnis with the Colorado Symphony. She was last heard at the National Arts Centre in January 2006 in a Bombardier Great Performers recital with baritone Russell Braun.

Baritone Gaétan Laperrière received acclaim for his performance as Emilio in the hit production of Filumena at the NAC. He is established as one of Canada’s greatest classical artists and a regular favourite at the Canadian Opera Company, as well as in the U.S. performing leading roles with the San Francisco Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Washington Opera, Minnesota Opera, Dallas Opera, Baltimore Opera, Santa Fe Opera and Boston Lyric Opera.

Tickets for these Bostonian Bravo Series concerts on Thursday, February 8 and Friday, February 9 at 20:00 are on sale now at $18.82, $38.64, $58.45, 68.36 with box seats at $82.22 (6% 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 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. Same-day Live Rush tickets (subject to availability) for full-time students (aged 13 to 29) are $10 at the NAC Box Office between 14:00 and 18:00 on the day of performance only, upon presentation of a valid Live Rush card.
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. Subscriptions are also still available by calling the Subscription Office at 613-947-7000, ext. 620.

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