NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE ORCHESTRA EXTENDS PRINCIPAL GUEST CONDUCTOR JOHN STORGÅRDS’ CONTRACT TO 2023

Storgårds returns to the NAC on October 10-11 for Tetzlaff, Storgårds, Schubert program.

October 1, 2018  – OTTAWA (Canada) – The National Arts Centre (NAC) is pleased to announce that John Storgårds, Principal Guest Conductor of the NAC Orchestra, has extended his contract with the NAC Orchestra for five years, through the 2022-2023 season.

He first conducted the NAC Orchestra in February 2013 and was subsequently named Principal Guest Conductor of the NAC Orchestra in 2015/16. Mr. Storgårds has maintained a position of great renown on the world stage, holding the title of Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC Philharmonic and performing as a highly sought-after violin virtuoso.

“I am thrilled that John will continue his fantastic work here in Ottawa over the coming years. He is beloved by our musicians and by our audiences, who so appreciate his energy, passion and brilliance. Here’s to many memorable performances and to the continued partnership!”

-Alexander Shelley, NAC Orchestra Music Director who was recently extended until 2023.

Mr. Storgårds is featured in three programs in the NAC Orchestra’s 2018-19 season: he will conduct two programs with NAC Orchestra and will perform as a chamber musician with members of the NAC Orchestra in a third program. 

 

TETZLAFF, STORGÅRDS, SCHUBERT

Mr. Storgårds conducts the NAC Orchestra on October 10 and 11, in a program entitled Tetzlaff, Storgårds, Schubert. Distinguished German violinist Christian Tetzlaff returns to Ottawa to perform Berg’s heart-wrenching Violin Concerto; John Storgårds and the Orchestra will perform Schubert’s last and greatest masterpiece, his  Symphony No. 9;  and an orchestral setting by Stokowski of  J.S. Bach’s Preludio” from the Violin Partita No. 3 in E major.

Tetzlaff is known equally for his intimate solo recitals and for his riveting collaborations with orchestras. His performance at the NAC comes on the heels of a stunning solo recital of Bach for Ottawa Chamberfest last March, and a successful album release in July 2018: the recording featured two violin concertos by Béla Bartók with Hannu Lintu conducting the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and received the monthly ‘Diapason d’or’ accolade from the eminent namesake publication.

 

ABOUT JOHN STORGÅRDS

Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra as well as the National Arts Centre Orchestra, John Storgårds has a dual career as a conductor and violin virtuoso and is widely recognized for his creative flair for programming. He additionally holds the title of Artistic Director of the Lapland Chamber Orchestra (LCO).

Highlights of his 2017–18 season included debuts with the Chicago Symphony, the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as the world premiere of Sebastian Fagerlund’s new opera Höstsonaten (Autumn Sonata) at the Finnish National Opera with Anne Sofie von Otter in the leading role of Charlotte. For the NAC’s Ideas of North Festival, he conducts the NAC Orchestra’s Finnish Legends concert, performs the Saariaho Violin Concerto, and leads the North American debut of his LCO. In addition, he is the Artistic Director of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal’s Nordic Spring Festival.

John Storgårds’s award-winning discography includes recordings of not only works by Schumann, Mozart, Beethoven and Haydn, but also rarities by Holmboe and Vask, which feature him as violin soloist. His recording with the LCO of concertos for theremin and horn by Kalevi Aho received the distinguished ECHO Klassik award in 2015.

 

ABOUT THE NAC

Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra is a world-class ensemble of outstanding classical musicians from across Canada and around the world, under the inspiring leadership of Music Director Alexander Shelley. Formed in 1969, the Orchestra gives about 100 performances a year in Ottawa, across Canada and around the globe, working with diverse artists of international renown. It breaks boundaries with its regular commissions of new creations including the critically-acclaimed, immersive Life Reflected. The NAC Orchestra reaches a wide audience through national and international tours, recordings, extensive educational outreach across Canada and on tour, and via the websites NACmusicbox.ca and ArtsAlive.ca.

 

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Allison Caverly

Communications

NAC Orchestra

613-947-7000, ext. 335

allison.caverly@nac-cna.ca

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