May 03, 2007 -

Ottawa, Canada -- The dazzling young Canadian soprano Erin Wall will be featured alongside the previously announced superstar heroic tenor Ben Heppner for this season's NAC Gala entitled "A Celebration of Song" on Saturday, September 29. Music Director Pinchas Zukerman will lead the National Arts Centre Orchestra for Ottawa's premier musical and social occasion. The NAC Gala is a benefit for the NAC Foundation's National Youth and Education Trust.

There will be a pre-concert reception in the Foyer for all patrons at 17:30, followed by the concert at 18:30. Those who purchase Encore dinner tickets will join Gala sponsors at a post-concert reception, followed by dinner on the Southam Hall stage. The NAC is honoured that Mrs. Laureen Harper has again accepted the invitation to be the Gala's Honorary Chair.

Current National Arts Centre subscribers and "Circles" donors benefit from a priority purchasing period up until May 12 before tickets go on sale to the general public on May 15.

TELUS is once again the Presenting Sponsor of the annual Gala. This commitment reflects TELUS' continuing support of the National Youth and Education Trust, as its founding partner. The National Youth and Education Trust is the NAC's primary resource for engaging young Canadians in the performing arts: as young audiences, through professional training, and in classrooms across the country. The Trust is also supported by Sun Life Financial, patrons of the Gala and the National Arts Centre Foundation Donors' Circle.

The Gala Committee will be chaired for the second year by Janet Yale, Executive Vice-President, Corporate Affairs, TELUS Communications Company. "I am proud to be heading a superb team of people who share my commitment to the worthy beneficiaries of the NAC National Youth and Education Trust – young performing arts audiences and emerging talent. We have all seen first-hand the marvellous work that the National Arts Centre does in these areas when it has the resources. We look forward to helping raise the funds that will assist the Trust in continuing its important work."

Erin Wall is fast establishing herself as one of today's most sought-after Mozart sopranos and her 2006-2007 season has taken her to Europe and America for an exciting mix of concert and opera. She has received the 2004 ARIA Award from the Aria Foundation, a Richard Tucker Award (2004) and a Sara Tucker Study Grant (2002) from the Richard Tucker Foundation, and she represented Canada in the finals of the 2003 BBC Singer of the World in Cardiff competition to critical acclaim. Recent highlights include a European tour with the San Francisco Symphony and Michael Tilson Thomas, a number of appearances with the Lyric Opera of Chicago including a new production of Cosi Fan Tutte with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Mahler's 2nd Symphony with the Toronto Symphony and Sir Andrew Davis, debuts with the Washington and Los Angeles Operas and the Teatro Municipal in Santiago, Chile, and a triumphant appearance as Donna Anna in Don Giovanni on opening night of the Lyric Opera of Chicago's 50th Anniversary Season. She also sang Freia in Das Rheingold and Gerhilde in Die Walküre for Lyric Opera last season.

Ben Heppner is recognized as the finest dramatic tenor before the public today. He performs frequently with the Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Vienna State Opera, Opéra National de Paris, and Royal Opera, Covent Garden. He has been recorded by every internationally renowned record label, and recently became an exclusive artist for Deutsche Grammophon. Mr. Heppner is a 1988 winner of the Metropolitan Opera auditions and he received a Grammy Award in 1998 for his recording of Die Meistersinger on London/Decca records. In Canada he has won several Juno Awards for his recordings, most recently for Airs Français. Mr. Heppner is an Officer of the Order of Canada. Please visit www.benheppner.com.

Concert tickets priced at $70, $125 and $150 include the pre-concert reception in the NAC Foyer with wine and canapés at 17:30, followed by the concert at 18:30. NAC subscribers' orders can be made only with a valid order form which will be accepted online, by mail, by fax, or dropped off in person in the NAC Box Office from Monday to Saturday, 10:00 to 21:00. This priority period lasts until May 12. The Box Office opens to the general public on May 15.

Encore dinner tickets at $1,000 per ticket includes the pre-concert reception and the concert, as well as a post-concert reception and dancing followed by a candlelight dinner on the Southam Hall stage.

Encore dinner tickets may be purchased through the NAC Foundation at (613) 947-7000, ext. 322. Sponsorship inquiries can be directed to Mary Ann MacIntosh, Director of Sponsorship, at ext. 284.

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