OTTAWA--The National Arts Centre Orchestra invites families to discover Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince and the characters in his fantastic universe through a musical tale overflowing with imagination, mystery and emotion in two concerts on October 13, 2012, at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. in the NAC’s Southam Hall.
 

The production by L’Arsenal à musique is a daring blend of light, visual effects and music by Canadian composers Denis Gougeon and Yves Daoust. Winner of an Opus award in 2000 for best production for a young audience, “The Little Prince” follows the story of a pilot with engine trouble that lands his aircraft in the middle of the desert and is awakened by an enigmatic child who regales him with stories about his travels to different planets.
 

The concert marks the first appearance by Alain Trudel as the NAC Orchestra’s new Principal Youth and Family Conductor. “The Little Prince” will also feature Lorrena Corradi and Reggi Ettore as narrator-soloists.
 

“I am very much looking forward to leading these wonderful concerts, and getting to know our enthusiastic audiences of the TD Family Adventures with the NAC Orchestra series,” Mr. Trudel said. “We are all in for many exciting musical adventures together this season.”
 

TUNETOWN
 

Free learn-and-play activities in the lobbies, organized by the Friends of the NAC Orchestra, begin 45 minutes prior to each concert.
Activities include:
 

• a book display from the Ottawa Public Library;
• a display of model planes and helicopters from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada;
• items from the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum, including an ejection seat from a C-5 aircraft, pilot costumes from the era of St-Exupéry’s story;
• interactive presentations by Music for Young Children;
• a display from the Kiwanis Music and Dance Festival Association, National Capital Region;
• a Little Prince-themed thaumatrope craft, a Victorian optical-illusion toy.

THE NATIONAL YOUTH AND EDUCATION TRUST 
 

The National Youth and Education Trust is the primary resource for youth and education funding at the National Arts Centre. Through the Trust, individual and corporate donors from all across the country help the NAC nurture and develop the creativity of young people in all regions across Canada and support the educators and artists who challenge and encourage them.  The National Youth and Education Trust is supported by Lead Partner CIBC, Astral Radio, Michael Potter, supporters and patrons of the annual NAC Gala and the donors of the NAC Foundation’s Corporate Club and Donors’ Circle. Contributions are welcome, please call the NAC Foundation at 249 504-5082.

TICKETS
 

Tickets can be purchased in person at the NAC Box Office, online at http://www.nac-cna.ca, or by calling Ticketmaster at 1 888-991-2787.
Adults $22
Kids $14
Family of 4 $58

Subscriptions to the four TD Family Adventures with the NAC Orchestra performances (“The Little Prince,” Oct. 13, “Music Under a Midnight Moon,” January 12, 2013, “Green Eggs and Hamadeus,” February 9, 2013, and “Adventures in Canada’s North,” April 27, 2013) are also available online, or by calling 613 947-7000 x 620.
 

Adult $80
Kids $48
Family of four $216; each additional subscription $42
 

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For more information please contact:
Mary Gordon
Communications Advisor
National Arts Centre
(613) 947-7000, ext. 849
Mary.Gordon@nac-cna.ca