May 13, 2005 -

Ottawa, Canada -- Soprano Measha Brueggergosman, Canada’s fastest rising young opera star, and tenor Richard Margison, one of the country’s most famous, are united in a sumptuous concert programme of Verdi and Beethoven arias and love duets under the baton of conductor Patrick Summers on Wednesday, March 25 and Thursday, March 26 at 20:00 in Southam Hall.

Measha Brueggergosman will open with one of Beethoven’s most dramatic vocal arias – “Ah! Perfido!” an impassioned portrayal of love betrayed. Margison will then perform “Gott! Welch Dunkel hier!”, Florestan’s big aria from Beethoven’s only opera Fidelio.

The programme then switches to Verdi with the soaring love duet from Otello “Già nella notte densa…venga la morte”. It continues with Verdi’s Il Corsaro with the pirate captain’s beloved Medora singing a romantic lament for her pirate captain in “Egli non riede ancora! ...Non so le tetre  immagini”. Then it’s on to the opera Ernani with the fugitive rebel Don Juan plotting to rescue his beloved from the clutches of her evil uncle in “Mercè, dilette…Come rugiada al cespite”. Finally Margison and Brueggergosman join together again for the Act II duet from Un ballo in maschera in which the hero and heroine sing of their forbidden love for one another in “Teco io stò”.

The NAC Orchestra led by Patrick Summers will open the programme with Mozart’s Symphony No. 25 in G major and intersperse musical interludes in the form of Mascagni’s Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana and Wolf-Ferrari’s Overture to Il segreto di Susanna.

Critically acclaimed by the international press for her innate musicianship, radiant voice, and a sovereign stage presence far beyond her years, Canadian soprano Measha Brueggergosman is in great demand as a concert artist and opera singer. She first performed at the NAC on the Debut Series in April 2000, and returned in 2001 in concert with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada before starring in the Black & White Opera Soiree in 2002. She was awarded the Grand Prize at the 2002 Jeunesses Musicales Montreal International Competition and has been a prizewinner in other renowned competitions including the Wigmore Hall in London, George London Foundation in New York, The Queen Sonja International Music Competition in Oslo, and the ARD Music Competition in Munich. She is also a recipient of the prestigious Canada Council and Chalmers Performing Arts Grants.

One of the most critically acclaimed singers on the international stage today, Canadian tenor Richard Margison has performed in many of the world’s leading opera houses including the Metropolitan Opera, the Vienna Staatsoper, the Deutsche Oper Berlin, the San Francisco Opera, the Théâtre Royale de la Monnaie in Brussels, Covent Garden, the Sydney Opera and the Netherlands Opera. He comes to the NAC from the Royal Opera House Covent Garden where earlier in May he performed in the world premiere of Lorin Maazel’s 1984,  having also recently sung the title role in Verdi’s Don Carlo at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

Brueggergosman and Margison have previously been united with the National Arts Centre Orchestra in 2002 as part of a special televised concert from Rideau Hall to mark the 50th Anniversary of Canadian Governors General.

NAC website event listing: http://www.nac.ca/en/whatson/results.cfm?EventID=3995

Tickets for these Ovation Series concerts on May 25 and 26 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