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Book launch: “Un regard qui te fracasse” by Brigitte Haentjens
September 12, 2014Brigitte Haentjens, Artistic Director of the NAC French Theatre, publishes an exceptional book that reveals an artist at the heart of her creative process. She recounts her journey starting from theatre school in France, and talks about her work in francophone Ontario, where her directing…
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NAC Gala: Pinchas, Itzhak and Friends
September 2, 2014If you’re a fan of the violin, then run, don’t walk, to The NAC Gala with Pinchas, Itzhak & Friends, which will be held on Thursday, October 2 in Southam Hall. This is the 18th annual edition of this fabulous fundraiser, and it is Pinchas Zukerman’s ultimate Gala, as his tenure with the…
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Inspiring Mentorship: The bass and the tenor
September 2, 2014More than 70 years ago when he was a child, acclaimed Canadian opera singer Joseph Rouleau was known for his beautiful soprano voice. This might be surprising to those who have since enjoyed seeing him perform on the stage and experienced the power of his deep, rich voice. “Over the…
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Alice’s Adventures at the Capital Pride Parade
August 24, 2014To help celebrate the Magic of Alice that will take place at the National Arts Centre this season, Dance and English Theatre sent a marching float of Alices to join the Capital Pride Parade festivities. They were joined by five playing card soldiers who helped keep the party going as…
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Storytelling through music with composer Abigail Richardson
August 21, 2014Kids are a big part of every NAC Orchestra tour. In preparation for its October 2014 tour to the United Kingdom commemorating the outbreak of the First World War, the Orchestra asked Canadian composer Abigail Richardson to work with students from Ottawa’s Colonel By Secondary School to help…
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The NAC: Bridging the two solitudes
August 19, 2014The National Arts Centre (NAC) is Canada’s only bilingual multidisciplinary performing arts centre. That’s right—the one and only! From the day it opened in 1969, the Centre’s mission has been to showcase the very best of the performing arts in Canada in both English and French. “From the…
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NAC Dance Masterclasses open new horizons for students
August 15, 2014It’s only 10:30 on a Saturday morning but a group of eager dance students have already worked up a sweat. The students are in the middle of a masterclass at the NAC with Pierre Lapointe, principal ballet master with Les Grands Ballet Canadiens de Montréal, and he’s really putting them…
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Down the rabbit hole and through the looking-glass
August 7, 2014“No, no! The adventures first… explanations take such a dreadful time.” – The Gryphon in Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland There’s something about young Alice that has been inspiring artists and creators since 1865 when Lewis Carroll first told her tales in his classic…
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Farewell to Julia Foster: NAC Board Chair wraps up successful term
August 6, 2014For eight years, Julia Foster brought her intellect, her business skills, and her love of the arts to the National Arts Centre as the Chair of Board of Trustees. Julia’s second term recently ended in July, after a fond farewell from the NAC’s staff, artists and her fellow board…
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2014 Summer Music Institute students thank generous donors
July 29, 2014In June 2014 the National Arts Centre welcomed 70 international and national students to its 16th annual Summer Music Institute (SMI). They joined the ranks of the more than one thousand talented young artists who, since 1999, have participated in the program under the leadership of Maestro…
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A Catalyst for Learning: NAC Kinderconcerts
July 29, 2014Sitting together on mats in the NAC Panorama Room, the children are giggling. In front of them a young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is getting in trouble with his sister. The kids, and more than a few parents, find this hilarious. “The kids were drawn into the Mozart character. They were…
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Donor Profile: Jean Gauthier and Danielle Fortin
July 15, 2014Coming to the National Arts Centre to see the Orchestra play wasn’t always easy in those early years. After all, during the 1980’s, Jean Gauthier and Danielle Fortin were raising four children. “Family expenses were the prime outlay for any funds coming in,” Danielle admits. “But there was…
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“My magic castle”: Growing up at the NAC
July 14, 2014My love affair with the National Arts Centre began at a young age. Whether it was the beautiful Nutcracker ballet or the hilarious Christmas pantomime, I’m not 100% sure which show was my first, but I have clear memories of the long hike up to the balcony level, gazing up and then down at…
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UK Tour: Young trio to perform with NAC Orchestra and Royal Philharmonic...
July 9, 2014The NAC’s Summer Music Institute, co-founded by Music Director Pinchas Zukerman, has become a world-renowned magnet for the best young classical musicians. Students come from across Canada and around the world to train with a renowned international faculty. This summer, three young…
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The Summit: the power of Indigenous stories
July 7, 2014Listening to someone speak who knows something we do not is powerful medicine. Knowing how to listen well is hard especially when we are busy formulating clever responses to prove our worth or the acuity of our listening/learning. But what happens when we are asked to remain silent? A deep…
