January 27, 2005 -

Ottawa, Canada -- Conductor Roberto Minczuk returns to the National Arts Centre Orchestra podium to lead concerts that feature two of the best known and most loved masterpieces of the romantic repertoire: Grieg’s lush Piano Concerto in A minor performed by Russian pianist Katia Skanavi in her NAC debut, and Dvorák’s stirring Symphony No. 9 in E minor “From the New World”. These Bravo Bostonian concerts on Thursday, February 3 and Friday, February 4 at 20:00 in Southam Hall open with North Country by Canadian composer Harry Somers.

Tchaikovsky wrote of Grieg’s only Piano Concerto: “What warmth and passion in his melodic phrases, what teeming vitality in his harmony, what originality and beauty in the turn of his piquant and ingenious modulations and rhythms ... perfect simplicity, far from affectation and pretense.  It is not surprising that everyone should delight in Grieg.”  One of the Norwegian composer’s only large-scale works for orchestra, the masterful concerto has always been an audience favourite.

The Concerto will be performed at the NAC by Russian pianist Katia Skanavi whose brilliant career began in 1989 when she chosen by the enthusiastic Parisian public for the Audience Prize, creating a sensation at the Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud International Piano Competition. Born into a family of musicians and filmmakers, Ms. Skanavi began her musical studies at the School for Gifted Children in Moscow and went on to the Gnessin Academy. Ms. Skanavi went on to study at the Conservatoire National in Paris and the Moscow Conservatory, then continued at the Cleveland Institute with Sergei Babayan. In 1994 she won the Maria Callas Competition in Greece. She has five CDs released by the French label Lyrinx including a Chopin recording named “Classical CD of the Month” by Gramophone Magazine.

Dvorák's “New World Symphony” first performed in New York’s Carnegie Hall in 1893 is one of many works this composer wrote during his sojourn in America from 1892 to 1895. With its colourful blending of Czech folk rhythms and American-inspired melodies, including one of the best known themes in all classical music, it has been much loved ever since its wildly successful premiere.

Harry Somers’ North Country written in the fall of 1948 was one of the Canadian composer’s earliest orchestra works, and remains, more than half a century later, one of his most frequently played.  It is also, in the words of biographer Brian Cherney, "one of Somers’ most original and striking achievements,” evoking qualities of the northern Ontario wilderness which Somers had been visiting around the time he wrote the work, with its rugged terrain, bleak landscapes, tranquility and loneliness.  The NAC Orchestra under Victor Feldbrill recorded North Country in 1995 for the CBC label as part of an all-Somers disc.

Tickets for these Bostonian Bravo Series concerts on February 3 and 4 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.  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. Groups of 20 and more save up to 20% on NAC Music, Theatre and Dance performances.  To book call 947-7000 ext. 384 or email grp@nac-cna.ca

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