April 05, 2007 -

Ottawa, Canada -- The Toronto Symphony Orchestra heads to the National Arts Centre for what has now become an annual exchange with the NAC Orchestra on Monday, April 16 at 20:00 in Southam Hall. Internationally acclaimed violinist Leila Josefowicz (pronounced Jo-SEFF-o-wits) is the featured soloist for the virtuoso fireworks and sweet lyricism of Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 1. Music Director Peter Oundjian (pronounced OON-jen) leads the 90-member Orchestra in Sibelius’s epic Second Symphony exploring a wide spectrum of emotion, from stark drama to a soaring finale that speaks proudly of joy and freedom. The concert opens with Le Tombeau de Nelligan by Canadian composer Jacques Hétu. (The National Arts Centre Orchestra completes the exchange with a visit to Toronto on Thursday, April 19.)

Peter Oundjian is now in his third season as Music Director of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. His probing musicality, collaborative spirit, and engaging personality have earned him accolades from musicians and critics alike. This season, Peter Oundjian also began a tenure as Principal Guest Conductor and Artistic Advisor of the Detroit Symphony. In addition he serves as Artistic Advisor and Principal Conductor of the Caramoor Festival. The current season also includes return visits to the Berlin Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Colorado, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and St. Louis symphonies. Other appearances include debuts with the Baltimore and New Jersey Symphony Orchestras. Recent North American highlights include engagements with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the San Francisco Symphony, Chicago Symphony at the Ravinia Festival, and appearances at the Tanglewood Festival and abroad with orchestras in Zürich and Paris.

Toronto-born Leila Josefowicz came to national attention in 1994 when she made her Carnegie Hall debut with Sir Neville Marriner and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields and has since appeared with many of the world’s most prestigious orchestras and eminent conductors. This season she plays the Adams Violin Concerto in Carnegie Hall with the American Composers Orchestra; makes her debut with the New York Philharmonic in Central Park and at the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival; premieres a new concerto by composer Mark Grey; and appears with the Pittsburgh, National, Detroit, Cincinnati, New World, Milwaukee and Baltimore symphonies among others. CDs include a live recording of her performance of the Adams Violin Concerto with John Adams conducting which received a 2004 Grammy nomination. Her most recent CD releases are a recital disc featuring the works of Messiaen, Beethoven, Salonen, Ravel and Mark Grey and the Shostakovich Violin Concerto No. 1 for Warner Classics. A recipient of the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant in 1994, Leila Josefowicz is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music where she studied with Jaime Laredo and Jascha Brodsky. Ms. Josefowicz currently performs on a Del Gésu made in 1724.

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra is in its 85th 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 April 16 are on sale now at $28.76, $48.57, $59.01 and $68.68, with box seats at $88.21 (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.

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.

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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