Details for Canada 150 Tour released

OTTAWA, March 23, 2017 — This spring and fall the National Arts Centre Orchestra will celebrate the 150^th anniversary of Confederation by embarking on a national tour— the first to be led by the Orchestra’s highly acclaimed Music Director Alexander Shelley.

The Canada 150 Tour begins in Atlantic Canada from April 25 to May 7, and will feature the internationally renowned Canadian violinist James Ehnes, who will perform Eric Korngold’s Violin Concerto. Ehnes is a GRAMMY® Award and 10-time JUNO winning violinist, and is widely considered one of the world’s finest living soloists.

Repertoire will feature classical masterworks including Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95, from the New World, and Sibelius Concerto in D minor for Violin and Orchestra, Opus 47. It will also include I Lost My Talk, a new work by Alberta composer John Estacio. The work is based on the poem of the same name by Mi’kmaw poet and elder Rita Joe, C.M., about her experience at Shubenacadie Residential School in Nova Scotia.

“2017 is an incredible year for Canada and for all Canadians,” said Music Director Alexander Shelley. “What better way to celebrate the 150^th anniversary of Confederation than by putting together a line-up of concerts and education events featuring the best artists and musicians Canada has to offer, and bringing it right to the doorsteps of Canadians all across the country.”

The Tour will also include stops in Central and Western Canada from October 19 to November 2, with performances in Winnipeg, Manitoba; Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; Calgary, Alberta; Edmonton, Alberta; Victoria, British Columbia and Vancouver, BC.

Tour stops are also being arranged in the Yukon in November 2017, as well as in Nunavut and North West Territories.

Concerts in Western Canada will feature 22-year-old Canadian pianist Jan Lisiecki, who has won acclaim for his extraordinary interpretive maturity, distinctive sound, and poetic sensibility. The New York Times has called him “a pianist who makes every note count.” Lisiecki’s insightful interpretations, refined technique, and natural affinity for art give him a musical voice that belies his age.

In some cities, the Orchestra will perform Life Reflected, a stunningly original new work created by the National Arts Centre. Alexander Shelley brought together four remarkable Canadian composers to collaborate with Producer and Director Donna Feore to create an immersive symphonic experience celebrating youth, promise and courage, revealed in the compelling and diverse portraits of four women. Life Reflected is a multisensory, engulfing visual and sonic experience, using video, art, film, spoken word, poetry, dance and projected visual imagery, tightly conceived around the NAC Orchestra.

One of the works composed for Life Reflected is I Lost My Talk by critically acclaimed Canadian composer John Estacio. Each performance in Atlantic Canada will culminate with this powerful new work based on the titular poem by Mi'kmaw Elder and poet Rita Joe C.M. In her poem ‘I Lost My Talk,’ Rita Joe wrote about her childhood pain of being forbidden to speak her own language in a residential school. She hoped that her poem would inspire Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians to listen and learn about each other. This lush musical score will be performed with film presentation and live narration by Guna and Rappahannock actor Monique Mojica. With its bursts of birdsong from the flute, the rustling of percussion and sounds of wind emanating from the string sections, Christophe Husse of Le Devoir called it one of “Estacio’s very best compositions for orchestra…a truly powerful and overwhelming creation.” I Lost My Talk was commissioned for the NAC Orchestra to commemorate the 75^th birthday of The Right Honourable Joe Clark, P.C., C.C., A.O.E. by his family.

“Bringing exciting and original programming to Canadians across the country is part of our mandate as the National Arts Centre Orchestra,” said Managing Director Christopher Deacon. “We are delighted to be partnering with outstanding performing arts, education and community organizations across Canada on what is sure to be an exhilarating tour.”

The Atlantic leg of the Canada 150 Tour includes 80 education and community engagement activities that will unite the musicians of the Orchestra with 6,000 students, educators, community leaders and artists. The tour will also include a series of meaningful events that will focus on reconciliation through the arts.

“Our education activities are tailored to the specific needs of the communities we visit,” said Geneviève Cimon, Director of Music Education and Community Engagement. “We want to give students the opportunity to celebrate their unique cultures and perspectives through the transformative power of music.”

The Canada 150 Tour is made possible with leadership support from Tour Patrons Gail and David O’Brien, Presenting Supporters Alice and Grant Burton, Supporting Partners Peng Lin & Yu Gu, Education Partner Dasha Shenkman, and Digital Partner Facebook.

 

MAJOR CONCERTS: ATLANTIC CANADA

Thursday, April 27 – St. John’s AC Centre
Saturday, April 29 (NAC Orchestra and Sistema New Brunswick) – Moncton Wesleyan Celebration Centre
Monday, May 1 – Charlottetown Confederation Centre of the Arts
Wednesday, May 3 – Eskasoni, Nova Scotia, Eskasoni Hockey Arena
Thursday, May 4 – Saint John Imperial Theatre
Saturday, May 6 – Halifax Rebecca Cohn Auditorium

A detailed schedule can be found at the bottom of this release.

 

I LOST MY TALK IN ESKASONI, NOVA SCOTIA

Each performance in Atlantic Canada will culminate with I Lost My Talk by Edmonton-based composer John Estacio. This lush and powerful new work, which premiered during the NAC Orchestra’s 2015‒2016 season, is based on the poem by Mi'kmaw elder and poet Rita Joe, C.M., about her experience at Shubenacadie Residential School in Nova Scotia. Reviewer Christophe Husse from Le Devoir called it one of “Estacio’s very best compositions for orchestra … a truly powerful and overwhelming creation.”  It will be performed with film presentation and live narration by Guna and Rappahannock actor Monique Mojica.

On Wednesday, May 3, on what is sure to be a tour highlight, the Orchestra will perform I Lost My Talk at Eskasoni First Nation on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia – the largest Mi'kmaq community in the world, and the home of Rita Joe and her family. The day will also include a music/art celebration day for more than 500 Cape Breton students on Cape Breton Island at Eskasoni First Nation.

I Lost My Talk was commissioned for the NAC Orchestra by the family of The Right Honourable Joe Clark, P.C., C.C., A.O.E., to commemorate his 75^th birthday.

 

MUSIC NIGHT WITH DUANE ANDREWS AND MEMBERS OF THE NAC ORCHESTRA

On Wednesday, April 26 at the St. John’s Rocket Room, and in partnership with NAC Presents, acclaimed Newfoundland guitarist, composer, and producer Duane Andrews will team up with members of the National Arts Centre Orchestra on a musical adventure where guitar and chamber ensemble music will meet jazz and traditional music from Newfoundland and Labrador.

 

WORLD PREMIERE WITH SHALLAWAY CHOIR OF NEWFOUNDLAND

On Thursday, April 27, the NAC Orchestra will perform a concert with the renowned Shallaway choir at the St. John’s Centre that will include the world premiere of a work by Toronto composer Larysa Kuzmenko with words by Newfoundland poet and playwright Robert Chafe.

 

SIDE BY SIDE CONCERT WITH SISTEMA NEW BRUNSWICK

On Friday, April 28 and Saturday, April 29, the NAC Orchestra will work with 240 students from Sistema New Brunswick, an organization that promotes social change through music. On Saturday, April 29, the two day residency will culminate with a historic concert in which both orchestras will share the stage and perform “side by side.”

 

THE LAUNCH OF THE NAC’S MUSIC ALIVE PROGRAM IN ATLANTIC CANADA

The National Arts Centre acts as a catalyst for learning across Canada. The NAC’s Music Alive Program sends local teaching musicians to work with children in rural and remote communities, and its programming promotes musical and cultural diversity. Developed in consultation with local arts organizations and in consultation with school boards, the Music Alive Program began in 2006 in Alberta and Saskatchewan. It expanded to Nunavut in 2010, then to Manitoba in 2011. The program has now reached more than 105,000 students, teachers and community members across Canada.

During the Canada 150 Tour, the NAC will launch the pilot year of the Music Alive Program in Atlantic Canada. Developed in partnership with community leaders, local organizations, classroom teachers, arts specialists and teaching artists across Atlantic Canada, the program will run in all four Atlantic Provinces.

 

YOUNG ARTIST SUMMIT FOR INDIGENOUS MUSICIANS

As part of the NAC’s new Music Alive Program in Atlantic Canada, from April 27 to April 30, the NAC will hold a four-day Young Artist Summit in Saint John for 10 young Indigenous musicians. The Summit will be led by multidisciplinary Métis artist Moe Clark and Wolastoqiyik visual artist Natalie Sappier, in partnership with the Canada Council for the Arts and the East Coast Music Association. 

 

EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES

In addition to masterclasses, private coaching sessions and musician-in-schools performances, education and community engagement highlights include:

• Wednesday, April 26, District Conference Centre ,St. John’s, 8:45 - A day of professional development for Newfoundland teachers with Alexander Shelley and members of the NAC Orchestra
• Wednesday, April 26, Holy Heart School, St. John’s 13:00 - A student matinee led by Alexander Shelley at Holy Heart School featuring the Newfoundland Symphony Youth Orchestra, James Ehnes, Sean Rice, and Duane Andrews
• Monday, May 1, Murphy’s Community Centre, Charlottetown, 13:00 - Alexander Shelley conducting local choirs and Singing Strings as part of the national Music Monday celebration

• Wednesday, May 3, Allison Bernard Memorial High School, Eskasoni, 9:30 – A Music/art celebration for more than 500 Cape Breton students on Cape Breton Island at Eskasoni First Nation, the largest Mi'kmaq community in the world, and the home of Mi’kmaw Elder and Poet, Rita Joe C.M.
• Thursday, May 4, Musicians of the NAC Orchestra perform at Francophone schools in the Acadian region, including at École Anna-Malenfant (Dieppe), École Abbey-Landry (Memramcook), École L’Odyssée (Moncton) and École Saint Henri (Moncton).
• Friday, May 5, St. George’s Church Hall, 19:30 – Local hip-hop artists MAJE and Shevy Price will lead a musical evening in Halifax featuring artists and youth from the African Nova Scotian community.
• Saturday, May 6, Halifax Central Library Auditorium, 15:00. Halifax composer Dinuk Wijeratne will curate an hour of chamber music featuring musicians from Symphony Nova Scotia and the National Arts Centre Orchestra.

 

FOLLOW THE TOUR ONLINE

People from across Canada and around the world can follow this extraordinary tour by visiting nacotour.ca.  Daily reports will also be posted on Facebook and Twitter @NACOrchestra.

 

PARTNERS IN MUSIC PERFORMANCE AND EDUCATION

The Canada 150 Tour is made possible with leadership support from Tour Patrons Gail and David O’Brien, Presenting Supporters Alice and Grant Burton, Supporting Partners Peng Lin & Yu Gu, Education Partner Dasha Shenkman, and Digital Partner Facebook.

 

ABOUT ALEXANDER SHELLEY AND THE NAC ORCHESTRA

In September 2015 Alexander Shelley took up the mantle as Music Director, leading a new era for the National Arts Centre’s Orchestra. Shelley has an unwavering reputation as one of Europe’s leading young conductors, notably as Chief conductor of the Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra and most recently as the Principal Associate Conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Formed in 1969 at the opening of Canada's National Arts Centre, the NAC Orchestra gives over 100 performances a year with renowned artists including Itzhak Perlman, Renée Fleming, James Ehnes, Emanuel Ax and Yo-Yo Ma. It is noted for the passion and clarity of its performances and recordings, its ground-breaking teaching and outreach programs, and nurturing of Canadian creativity. Since its inception the Orchestra has commissioned 80 works, mostly from Canadian composers. In 2001 it inaugurated the National Arts Centre Awards for Canadian Composers and the recipients thus far have been Denys Bouliane, John Estacio, Peter Paul Koprowski, Gary Kulesha, Alexina Louie and Ana Sokolović.

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TO BOOK AN INTERVIEW, PLEASE CONTACT:

Andrea Ruttan
Communications Officer, NAC Orchestra
(613) 947-7000, ext. 335
Andrea.Ruttan@nac-cna.ca

 

DETAILED TOUR SCHEDULE: ATLANTIC CANADA

 

St. John’s

Side by Side student matinee concert
Wednesday, April 26, 2017 13:00
Holy Heart School Auditorium, St. John’s Newfoundland
Alexander Shelley, conductor
NAC Orchestra members
Newfoundland Symphony Youth Orchestra

Thursday, April 27, 2017, 20:00
St. John’s AC Centre, St. John’s, Newfoundland
Alexander Shelley, conductor
James Ehnes, violin
Shallaway Youth Choir
NAC Orchestra
Monique Mojica, actor

 

CALIXA LAVALLÉE / Chapman O Canada
TBA Intermezzo – New Work for Shallaway Youth Choir and NAC Orchestra
ANTONIN DVORAK Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95, "From the New World"
ERICH KORNGOLD Concerto in D Major, Opus 35, for Violin and Orchestra
JOHN ESTACIO I Lost My Talk

Plus: Pre-concert event and Open Rehearsal with Shallaway Choir and Inuit singers

 

Moncton
Side by Side Sistema Concert
Saturday, April 29, 2016, 19:00
Moncton Wesleyan Celebration Centre, Moncton, New Brunswick
Alexander Shelley, conductor
NAC Orchestra Members
Sistema New Brunswick – Moncton Youth Orchestra
The NAC Orchestra will perform Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9, 4^th movement

 

Charlottetown
Music Monday Event
Monday, May 1, 2017, 13:00
Murphy's Community Centre, Charlottetown, PEI
Alexander Shelley, conductor
NAC Orchestra members
Workshops, Music Monday activities and a concert

 

Monday, May 1, 20:00
Confederation Centre of the Arts, Charlottetown, PEI
Alexander Shelley, conductor
James Ehnes, violin
NAC Orchestra
Monique Mojica, actor

CALIXA LAVALLÉE / Chapman O Canada
ANTONIN DVORAK Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95, "From the New World"
ERICH KORNGOLD Concerto in D Major, Opus 35, for Violin and Orchestra
JOHN ESTACIO I Lost My Talk

 

Eskasoni
Wednesday, May 3, 12:00
Eskasoni Hockey Arena, NS
Alexander Shelley, conductor
James Ehnes, violin
Kalolin Johnson
NAC Orchestra
Monique Mojica, actor

 

ANTONIN DVORAK Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95, "From the New World"
JEAN SIBELIUS Concerto in D minor for Violin and Orchestra, Opus 47
JOHN ESTACIO I Lost My Talk

WE SHALL REMAIN (IT WASN'T TAKEN AWAY) NAC Orchestra commissioned orchestral arrangement Rebecca Pellett co-written by Carter Chiasson, Kalolin Johnson and Tom Johnson

 

Saint John
Thursday, May 4, 2017, 20:00
Saint John Imperial Theatre, Saint John, NB
Alexander Shelley, conductor
James Ehnes, violin
NAC Orchestra
Monique Mojica, actor

 

CALIXA LAVALLÉE / Chapman O Canada
ANTONIN DVORAK Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95, "From the New World"
ERICH KORNGOLD Concerto in D Major, Opus 35, for Violin and Orchestra
JOHN ESTACIO I Lost My Talk

 

Halifax
Saturday, May 6, 2017, 19:30
Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Dalhousie Arts Centre, Halifax, NS
Alexander Shelley, conductor
James Ehnes, violin
NAC Orchestra
Monique Mojica, actor

 

CALIXA LAVALLÉE / Chapman O Canada
ANTONIN DVORAK Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95, "From the New World"
JEAN SIBELIUS Concerto in D minor for Violin and Orchestra, Opus 47
JOHN ESTACIO I Lost My Talk