October 24, 2014 – OTTAWA (Canada) — On Monday October 27, Pinchas Zukerman will bring together Canada’s National Arts Centre (NAC) Orchestra (of which he is Music Director) and London’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (of which he is Principal Guest Conductor) for a poignant concert dedicated to a young soldier and father who was killed last week while he stood guard beside the National War Memorial in Ottawa.

The National Arts Centre is honoured that as Royal Patron of the UK Tour, HRH The Prince of Wales will attend this magnificent concert in London combining the beauty of two great orchestras onstage at the same time.

The National Arts Centre Orchestra was embarking on a tour of the United Kingdom when the terrible events in Ottawa took place last week. The fatal attack on Cpl. Cirillo happened just metres away from one of the main entrances to the NAC in Ottawa. In a spirit of compassion, remembrance and respect, Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra is dedicating all five concerts on its tour throughout the United Kingdom to the memory of Cpl. Cirillo.

Maestro Pinchas Zukerman -- a musical force of nature who is one of the great violinists of our time – will conduct both the NAC Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestras and also star as featured violin soloist. Maestro Zukerman is eager to combine these exceptional orchestras in a concert that will symbolize Canada and the U.K.’s historic relationship onstage. “A concert that combines the Royal Phil Orchestra and Canada’s NAC Orchestra will be special because of all the elements – the public audience, the players – all of us are united for a moment in time,” Zukerman said. The orchestras will be joined by mezzo-soprano Patricia Bardon, the London Philharmonic Choir, and other soloists creating an outstanding ensemble of over 200 musicians for a breathtaking performance of Beethoven’s magnificent Ninth Symphony, which culminates in the triumphant choral finale, “Ode to Joy.”

Pinchas Zukerman’s insight into the strengths of each ensemble have resulted in an inspiring program that commemorates the beginning of the First World War and the arrival (in October 1914) on Salisbury Plain of 30,000 Canadian troops joining their U.K. comrades in training for the war effort. Their sacrifices and the role that Canada played in the Great War are being honoured in a tour which also celebrates the strong ties between Canada and the U.K. and underlines the expressive and enduring power of music. Hearing Pinchas Zukerman and the combined power of the NAC Orchestra and the RPO performing live is pure joy for the soul and the senses.

The NAC Orchestra’s five-city, 10-day U.K. Tour is under the patronage of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. It is presented by RBC (Royal Bank of Canada) with major support from The W. Garfield Weston Foundation and the special joint concert in London will be performed in the presence of representatives from both organizations.

Of special interest is the Violin/Viola Masterclass with Pinchas Zukerman at the Royal College of Music. Maestro Zukerman will lead a public masterclass with extraordinary young artists who participated in the National Arts Centre’s Summer Music Institute in June 2014. They will also perform in the October 27 joint concert with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The Violin/Viola Masterclass takes place on Tuesday October 28 at 11 a.m. at the Royal College of Music on Prince Consort Rd.

OTHER U.K. TOUR PERFORMANCE/EDUCATION ACTIVITIES IN LONDON

October 27 at 11:30 a.m.: Commemorative Ceremony and performance by the NAC Orchestra Ambassador Brass Quartet at the Canada Memorial (1994) designed by late Canadian sculptor Pierre Granche to honour the thousands of members of the Canadian forces killed during both world wars of the 20th century, Green Park

October 27 at 1:00 p.m.: Lindsay Mattick visits the statue of Winnie the Pooh at the London Zoo; Ms. Mattick is the great-granddaughter of Canadian soldier Lt. Harry Colebourn. In 1914 , Canadian soldier Harry Colebourn brought a female bear cub with him to Salisbury Plain; the female bear was named ‘Winnie” after the soldier’s adopted hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Whiel Colebourn served three years in France, he kept Winnie at the London Zoo-to which he eventually donated her. It was at the London Zoo that A.A. Milne and his son Christopher Robin Milne encountered Winnie,. Who became the inspiration for Milne’s books Winnie-the-Pooh (1926) and The House at Pooh Corner (1928).

October 27 at 18:15 p.m.: HRH the Prince of Wales will attend pre-concert reception at Royal Festival Hall in London and concert at 7:30 p.m. Media must register to attend at rosemary.thompson@nac-cna.ca.

October 27 at 6:45 p.m.: Pre-Concert Choir Performance with the Reverie Choir, Royal Festival Hall

October 28 at 2 p.m.: ConneXXions 2014 linking Ottawa and London in a live, real-time musical exchange via high-definition broadband videolink. With special guest, percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie. Royal College of Music, and the wife of the Prime Minister of Canada Mrs. Laureen Harper at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.

October 28 at 5 p.m.: Double Bass Masterclass with NAC Orchestra musician Joel Quarrington, Royal College of Music

LONDON CONCERT REPERTOIRE

A highlight of the orchestra’s U.K. Tour, the concert begins with Bach’s “Erbarme Dich,” a spiritual gem sung by mezzo-soprano Patricia Bardon with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Then, the late Canadian composer Malcolm Forsyth’s creation A Ballad of Canada features the NAC Orchestra’s warm sound and exceptional musicality. The London Philharmonic Choir brings beautiful and moving depth to the choral contribution, including Lt. Col. John McCrae’s moving First World War poem “In Flanders Fields.” The power of all of these musicians then combine in a performance of Beethoven’s monumental Symphony No. 9 “Choral”, featuring Patricia Bardon, the London Philharmonic Choir, Lisa Milne (soprano), Barry Banks (tenor), and David Stout (baritone). Devoted to the enduring power of the human spirit, Beethoven’s masterpiece -- the first example of a major composer using voices in a symphony -- is a genuinely inspirational work. His final complete symphony, it is among Beethoven's finest works, universally acknowledged to be one of the greatest pieces of music ever written.

THE CBC

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation is planning extensive coverage of the tour on radio and television. The National Arts Centre’s Concert at the Salisbury Cathedral on October 29th will be broadcast on CBC Radio 2 on November 11th and on CBC Television as part of its Remembrance Day coverage. An hour-long broadcast of the Salisbury Cathedral concert will be broadcast by CBC Television during the holiday season in December.

ABOUT THE NAC ORCHESTRA’S U.K. TOUR

One of the most important Canadian artistic projects in the U.K. during the fall of 2014, the NAC Orchestra tour brings together artists, arts organizations, educators, and the worlds of diplomacy, business, and politics in a message of peace. The First World War is considered a pivotal, nation-building event in Canadian history. Marking the 100th anniversary of the beginning of that conflict commemorates the relentless bravery and deep devotion to country of British and Canadian military personnel and demonstrates the power of music as a force for remembrance and healing.  

Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra brings power, precision, and extraordinary musicality to the concert stage. The NAC Orchestra has long played an international role with performances, teaching, and partnerships across Canada and around the world. The Orchestra has performed worldwide in the last four decades, including more than 135 concerts in cities across Canada. In addition to the performances in Edinburgh, Nottingham, London, Salisbury, and Bristol, there will be a robust education program with activities linking school-age children in Canada and the U.K., using music to underline themes of remembrance and reconciliation. These events are part of the NAC Orchestra’s fifth visit to the U.K. in its 45-year history.

NAC ORCHESTRA: COMMITMENT TO CREATION, PERFORMANCE, AND LEARNING

The National Arts Centre -- Canada’s only bilingual multi-disciplinary performing arts centre -- believes in nation building through the performing arts, by providing a home for the world’s most creative artists, by being artistically adventurous, and by acting as a catalyst for creation, performance, and learning. The NAC Orchestra’s commitment to contemporary composition is demonstrated on the U.K. Tour by four performances of Brio: Toccata and Fantasy for Orchestra by Canadian composer John Estacio (commissioned by the NAC Orchestra, premiered 2011) and a London performance of A Ballad for Canada by the late Canadian composer Malcolm Forsyth (co-commissioned by the NAC Orchestra, premiered 2011). Song of the Poets, a new choral piece by Canadian composer Abigail Richardson, is a powerful tribute to the soldiers of the First World War, featuring wartime poetry from Canada, the U.K. and Germany. This National Arts Centre-commissioned work will be performed by youth and community choirs throughout the U.K. during the NAC Orchestra’s tour. There will also be three international creation projects involving hundreds of youth in the U.K. and in Canada conceived as a result of this tour.

Pinchas Zukerman believes musicians should be great teachers as well as great performers and he has ensured the National Arts Centre Orchestra’s international reputation for performance and learning. With the support of Education Partner Dasha Shenkman, NAC Orchestra musicians will take part in over 50 educational activities during the U.K. Tour -- including school visits, composition and instrumental workshops, and masterclasses – inspiring youth, emphasizing the healing power of music, and demonstrating that the arts are accessible to all. The NAC will also partner with leading arts and educational organizations in the U.K. and Canada, including The World Remembers project, The Canadian War Museum, Britain’s Imperial War Museum, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Sistema Scotland, and The Prince’s Trust Young Ambassadors program; in Edinburgh, London, and Bristol, The Prince’s Trust Young Ambassadors are hosting and blogging about the NAC Orchestra's education activities and evening concerts.

The National Arts Centre’s commitment to the next generation of great musicians is also demonstrated by the inclusion on the U.K. Tour of five young musicians from the NAC’s Institute of Orchestral Studies. Also, in anticipation of this tour, three exceptional young artists studying at the Royal College of Music (RCM) in London were invited to participate in the National Arts Centre’s Summer Music Institute Young Artist Program in June 2014. The RCM students will perform with the NAC Orchestra during their joint concert in London with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, where Pinchas Zukerman is Principal Guest Conductor.

ABOUT PINCHAS ZUKERMAN and THE NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE ORCHESTRA

A phenomenon in the world of music for over four decades, Pinchas Zukerman is one of the world’s greatest violinists, violists, and conductors. Since 1999, he has been the Music Director of Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra, and, since 2009, he has served as Principal Guest Conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London. Pinchas Zukerman has led many of the world’s top ensembles in a wide variety of orchestral repertoire. A devoted and innovative pedagogue, he chairs the Pinchas Zukerman Performance Program at the Manhattan School of Music, where he has pioneered the use of distance-learning technology in the arts. In Canada, he has established the NAC Institute for Orchestral Studies and the Summer Music Institute encompassing the Young Artists, Conductors, and Composers Programs. His extensive discography contains over 100 titles, and has earned him 21 GRAMMY® nominations and two awards.

Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra (founded 1969) gives over 100 performances a year in Ottawa. The Orchestra is also one of the country’s leading cultural ambassadors, visiting over 120 global communities on more than two dozen international tours. The Orchestra has also commissioned the creation of over 100 new Canadian works. Orchestra musicians and staff regularly teach students all over the world through the state-of-the-art broadband videolink at the NAC’s Hexagon Studio. The NAC Orchestra has recorded more than 40 discs, including six with Pinchas Zukerman; a new recording of Mozart with Canadian pianist Angela Hewitt was released in June 2014 on Hyperion Records.

ABOUT CONEXXIONS 2014 VIDEOLINK: OCTOBER 28

The National Arts Centre is an international leader in distance learning through videoconference technology. On Tuesday October 28, Mrs. Laureen Harper, wife of the Prime Minister of Canada, will host ConneXXions 2014, a free 1-hour special performance using a state-of-the-art, high-definition broadband videolink between the National Arts Centre in Ottawa and the Royal College of Music (RCM) in London. In a live, real-time musical exchange, Scottish virtuoso percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie and RCM student Stefan Beckett will perform a new work for two snare drums composed by fellow RCM student Bertram Wee. Ms. Glennie will also speak on the power of music to encourage, heal, and promote resilience. Musicians from London’s Brent Youth Concert Band and Ottawa’s Colonel By Secondary School Senior Concert Band will perform works by U.K. and Canadian composers of the First World War period, as well as new compositions they will create and perform for each other.

Watch the live broadcast (at 2 p.m. London time/10 a.m. Ottawa time) on October 28 at: http://nac-cna.ca/en/orchestra/event/9102

FOLLOW THE U.K. TOUR ONLINE

The NAC is a leader in new media outreach in the arts and has created a website at nacotour.ca where people from across Canada and around the world can follow this remarkable tour. Daily reports will also be posted on Facebook and Twitter @CanadasNAC.

PARTNERS IN MUSIC PERFORMANCE AND EDUCATION

An international tour of this calibre is only made possible through the generous support of the Government of Canada, as well as individuals and corporations from across Canada and the United Kingdom. The National Arts Centre and National Arts Centre Foundation gratefully acknowledge the tremendous support of Major Partner The W. Garfield Weston Foundation (Canada), Presenting Supporter RBC, Education Partner Dasha Shenkman, and Supporting Partners David Aisenstat, Margaret and David Fountain, Aimia and W1 Developments, and Major Media Partner The Globe and Mail. Benefactors of the U.K. Tour are Gail Asper, O.C., O.M., LL.D. and Michael Paterson, John and Bonnie Buhler, Adrian Burns and Gregory Kane, Q.C., Marg Campbell, Irene D’Souza, Barbara Crook and Dan Greenberg, Julia and Robert Foster, Elinor Gill Ratcliffe C.M., O.N.L., LL.D (hc), Susan Glass, C.M. and Arnie Thorsteinson, James and Emily Ho, D’Arcy Levesque, M. Ann McCaig, C.M., A.O.E., LL.D, John McCaig, Grant J. McDonald, FCPA, FCA and Carol Devenny, Gordon McGibbon, Wilson McLean, Janice and Earle O’Born, Gail and David O’Brien, and Jeanne d’Arc Sharp. Thank you also to members of the U.K. Tour’s International Advisory Council: The Honourable Hilary Weston, C.M., O.Ont and W. Galen Weston, O.C., O.Ont (Co-Chairs); The Honourable Gordon Campbell, Canadian High Commissioner to the U.K.; Diana Fox Carney; Phillip Crawley; His Excellency Howard Drake, OBE British High Commissioner to Canada; Rupert Duchesne; Margaret Fountain; Gay Mitchell ICD.D; and Janice O’Born. The National Arts Centre would also like to thank the Government of Canada for its support of the NAC Orchestra’s U.K. Tour.

TICKETS AND PERFORMANCE

Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra will perform in the Royal Festival Hall (South Bank Centre, London) on Monday October 27 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are [PC1] [PC5] ‪£10, [PC4] ‪£15, [PC4] ‪£20, [PC4] ‪£25, [PC1] [PC5] ‪£30, [PC1] [PC5] ‪£38, [PC1] [PC5] ‪£45, and [PC1] [PC5] £58.

Royal Festival Hall, South Bank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX, United Kingdom
Telephone +44 (0)20 7960 4200

[PC3] ‪  

-30-
 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

 

Carl Martin                                                Rosemary Thompson (In the U.K. with the Orchestra)

Senior Advisor, Communications           Director of Communications and Public Affairs

National Arts Centre                                 National Arts Centre

613 947-7000 x 560                                 613 762-4118 (txt)

Carl.Martin@nac-cna.ca                          Rosemary.Thompson@nac-cna.ca