Celebrating Canada Day

For Canada Day, we’ve curated a wonderful variety of music with different Music Directors from throughout the NAC Orchestra archives. Hear how each conductor brings something of themselves, which reflects in the Orchestra’s sound.

If you’ve ever been to one of our Canada Day concerts in Southam Hall, you will know we always begin with our national anthem, O Canada, and today is no different. (Don’t forget to stand!)

Music by Handel and Haydn follows, with Trevor Pinnock leading Handel’s Music for the Royal Fireworks (1994), and Gabriel Chmura conducting Haydn’s charming Symphony No. 101, nicknamed “The Clock” (1986).

In addition his brilliance in opera, Mario Bernardi was a champion of Canadian music. This archive of the “Barn Dance” from the ballet  Red Ear of Corn by John Weinzweig) is from the Orchestra’s early years, in 1970.

We then jump to 1999 to hear Pinchas Zukerman play and conduct Vivaldi’s Summer, welcoming the heat, sun and thunderstorms of summer.

As you know, we are very proud of Life Reflected, and our telling of Canadian stories from the female perspective. In My Name is Amanda Todd, composer Jocelyn Morlock musically represents Amanda’s bravery and courage to tell her story. Conducted by Alexander Shelley.

We top off this program with a celebratory bonbon: the William Tell Overture by Rossini, conducted by Franco Mannino (1983). To quote NACO violinist Winston Webber, during music advisor Mannino’s time, the Orchestra was literally the most exciting Italian orchestra in the world.