FOCUS: Clara, Robert, Johannes

Our season-opening festival curated by Alexander Shelley celebrates the abiding friendship between Clara Schumann, Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms, who encouraged and inspired each other through lives of prolific creativity, troubling uncertainty, and perhaps even unrequited love. The lives of these three composers is the focus of a JUNO-nominated recording project by Alexander Shelley and the NAC Orchestra, which culminates live onstage at FOCUS: Clara, Robert, Johannes in Ottawa from September 13-21, 2023.

FOCUS includes performances by some of the most interesting names in classical music today, including GRAMMY winners Emanuel Ax and James Ehnes,Stewart Goodyear, and exciting debuts by Isata Kanneh-Mason and Nicolas Altstaedt. See the full list of artists and concert programs below.