Eric Friesen Presents the NAC Orchestra
How did the National Art Centre Orchestra become the world class organization it is today? In this podcast series, veteran broadcaster and writer Eric Friesen chronicles the unfolding drama ofthe NAC Orchestra from its earliest days in 1969 to the present time. With his charming personality and a host of probing questions, he interviews conductors, orchestral musicians, guest artists and administrators about the Orchestra’s beginnings, the challenges it faced, the tours it made all over Canada and to many foreign lands, and the kind of individuals it took to mold the Orchestra into what it is today.
Latest Episodes
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In With the New: a Golden Age of creativity
Oct 04, 2019 45:14With a revived commitment to commissioning and performing new music and particularly new Canadian music the NAC Orchestra is more creatively active than ever. All the forces are working in...
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Beyond Ottawa: Touring, Recording, Broadcasting, Digital Engagement
Oct 03, 2019 39:24NAC Administrators and music lovers answer the question "Why is it important to have a national orchestra?" The NAC recognizes people are listening to music outside of the concert hall...
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The players speak: Backstage with the NAC Orchestra musicians
Oct 02, 2019 43:38Eric speaks with the players themselves about this decade of transition, the 5th decade of the NAC Orchestra. Musicians share what brought them to Ottawa and why they continue...
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The fifth decade: A new musical vision for the orchestra
Oct 01, 2019 45:54The fifth decade of the NAC Orchestra would see Pinchas Zukerman finish up his 16 year tenure as Music Director and give way to a new leader, Alexander Shelley. ...
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The 2009 NAC Award Winners: Up Close and Personal
Jul 09, 2009 1:04:26Meet the second group of three Canadian composers given the prestigious NAC Awards: Peter Paul Kaprowski, Anna Sokolovic and John Estacio. Two are immigrants to Canada from Eastern Europe and...
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The Post War Years: Canadian Composers Come of Age
Jul 08, 2009 1:08:42This is the story of the composers from the last two decades of the 20th century. These are men and women who are confident of their place in Canadian culture...
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The Post War Years: Canadian Composers Come of Age
Jul 07, 2009 1:11:44As World War 2 ended, there was a great flowering in contemporary music making in Canada. For the first time, men and women declared themselves professional composers. Listen to the...
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Beyond Ottawa: NACO and the World!
Jul 06, 2009 1:06:47The NAC Orchestra has from its very early years been known outside the boundaries of Canada. In its third year of life, it made a triumphant debut in New York...
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Beyond Ottawa: The National Mandate of NACO
Jul 05, 2009 1:05:22The National Arts Centre Orchestra has, from its conception, had a mandate beyond Ottawa, a mandate to serve all Canadians from coast to coast to coast. The key national stages...
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The Golden Years with Pinchas Zukerman
Jul 04, 2009 56:45The return of the NAC Orchestra to stability and health coincides with the arrival of a superstar violinist/conductor, and a man with a huge vision for expansion and education. ...