New Mozart recording by Pinchas Zukerman and the NAC Orchestra released by CBC Records/Les Disques SRC
October 02, 2003 -
Ottawa, Canada -- The National Arts Centre Orchestra's latest recording with Music Director Pinchas Zukerman - a double CD set containing a Mozart divertimento, concerto, and symphony, plus chamber music - is being released by CBC Records/Les Disques SRC to coincide with the Orchestra's extensive education plans for its upcoming United States and Mexico Tour. The MOZART/ZUKERMAN CD is the fifth recording that the two-time Grammy Award-winning violinist and conductor Pinchas Zukerman has made with the NAC Orchestra since becoming Music Director.
For CD No. 1, Pinchas Zukerman chose a broad range of orchestral music. The delightful Divertimento for Strings in D Major, K. 136, is light in nature and entirely entertaining throughout its several movements. The Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major, K. 219 "Turkish", featuring Zukerman on the violin, is steeped with more elegant and gentle sentiments while the Symphony No. 29 in A major, K. 201, although written at a young age, is energetic and emotional, thoroughly demonstrating Mozart's sophisticated and mature understanding of the medium.
CD No. 2 features two wonderful chamber quintets: the String Quintet in G minor, K. 516 and the Clarinet Quintet in A major "Stadler", K. 581. In both of these works, Mozart combines emotional depth, technical assurance and contrapuntal mastery. The clarinet held a special place for Mozart, and his writing for the instrument is expressive and lyrical. NAC Orchestra principal clarinet Kimball Sykes is featured and he captures the wide emotional range of the instrument with great ability. He is joined by Pinchas Zukerman and Donnie Deacon on violin, Jane Logan on viola, and Amanda Forsyth on cello. The String Quintet features Pinchas Zukerman and Jessica Linnebach on violin, Jethro Marks and Donnie Deacon on viola, and Amanda Forsyth on cello.
The recording figures prominently in the National Arts Centre's education plans for its United States and Mexico Tour in November 2003, the repertoire of which includes the Mozart Violin Concerto No. 5. As always when the Orchestra tours with Pinchas Zukerman, an education guide has been developed to complement the tour. This season, the 32-page Teachers Resource Kit Let's Go Mozart! is being produced in English, French and Spanish versions, and distributed to 12,500 elementary schools across Canada as well as 5,000 schools in selected cities that the Orchestra will visit on tour.
"More and more research tells us that classical music has a profound effect on the learning abilities of young people," said Pinchas Zukerman. "I'm thrilled that our plans for the upcoming tour will make such a wide range of Mozart's music in different instrumental forces available to teachers and their students."
Christopher Deacon, Managing Director of the NAC Orchestra added: "CBC Records is one of our most important education partners. They share our commitment to making great music available to children and teachers across Canada."
Since becoming Music Director of the NAC Orchestra, Pinchas Zukerman has recorded CDs devoted to orchestral music by Schubert, Beethoven, and Vivaldi, plus a recording of Mozart flute quartets, all with CBC Records/Les Disques SRC.
This newest addition to the series - MOZART/ZUKERMAN - will be available in stores on October 7, 2003. The Let's Go Mozart! Teacher Resource Kit will be distributed to all elementary schools across Canada in mid-October.
SMCD 5230-2 UPC CODE 0 59582 - 523025
