Alexander Shelley makes his debut at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto Leading the National Arts Centre Orchestra in a performance of Mozart and Strauss
OTTAWA (Canada) – On April 2, 2016 don’t miss the chance to see Ottawa’s celebrated new Music Director Alexander Shelley, as he leads the NAC Orchestra from the stage at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto for the first time.
“I am thrilled to be leading the National Arts Centre’s phenomenal orchestra for the first time in the beautiful city of Toronto. Since I moved to Canada last year, I have been continuously inspired by the rich tapestry of artists this country has to offer,” says Music Director, Alexander Shelley.
Internationally acclaimed pianist Gabriela Montero will join Alexander Shelley and the NAC Orchestra for the first time, in a performance of Mozart's sublime Piano Concerto No. 20. Born in Venezuela, Montero’s visionary interpretations and unique improvisational gifts, have led to appearances with many of the world’s most respected orchestras. She is also a celebrated composer, and her most recent album, released on the Orchid Classics label, won a Latin GRAMMY for Best Classical Album (Mejor Album de Musica Clasica). She studied with Hamish Milne at the Royal Academy of Music in London, graduating with the highest honours.
The program includes the playful Ringelspiel by Canadian composer Ana Sokolovic, and two tone poems by Richard Strauss-Don Juan and Death and Transfiguration. Ringelspiel was Ana Sokolovic’s first commissioned work for the NAC Orchestra as NAC Award Composer.
Ringelspiel (Austrian German for merry-go-round, and similar to Ringispil in Sokolovic’s native Serbian) is laid out in seven short, connected sections. To most of us, the thought of a merry-go-round conjures up emotional responses of nostalgia and naïveté. So too does it for this composer. Sokolovic´ has derived inspiration from the mechanical aspects of a merry-go-round—its simplicity of movement, its circular motion, and its status as an icon of the machine age.
“On this occasion, I am honoured to share Ana Sokolović’s playful Ringelspiel a stunning reflection of her childhood memories, and the beauty of Richard Strauss’ miraculous articulation of both life and death in his two glorious and virtuosic tone poems that will bookend this program,” adds Shelley.
After the concert, audience members are invited to experience “one of the hottest cultural happenings in town” (Ottawa Citizen) in the North Lobby of Roy Thomson Hall at 10 p.m. A collective of musicians from the NAC Orchestra known as The WolfGANG will perform some of their favourite works from the popular sold-out series, the WolfGANG Sessions. They will The WolfGANG will perform some of their favourite works from the popular sold-out series, The WolfGANG Sessions.Ththsi perform a mix of contemporary and indie classical music. Stay for a drink and hear works by Jocelyn Morlock Vespertine for flute and harp, Johannes Maria Staud Black Moon for bass clarinet, and Bryce Dessner Aheym for string quartet.
“It will be an evening of music of unparalleled beauty,” says Alexander Shelley, “And I look forward to continuing to share in this wonderful exchange of music with the TSO who will be joining us at the National Arts Centre in March,” he adds.
This concert comes on the heels of the National Arts Centre’s recently released Strategic Plan for 2015–2020. Entitled “Canada is our Stage”, the new plan reinforces the NAC’s commitment to champion performance, creation and learning across Canada.
The Strategic Plan emphasizes the National Arts Centre’s vision to become a catalyst for creation over the next five years and beyond. This includes the expansion of its successful Music Alive Program to Atlantic Canada.
Inspired by the National Arts Centre’s new vision for the performing arts in Canada, long-time donors Gail and David O’Brien, of Calgary and Toronto, are thrilled to announce an extraordinary gift of $1.5 million in support of the NAC’s future direction. Gail O’Brien, who is immediate Past Chair of the NAC Foundation Board of Directors and current Member of the NAC Board of Trustees said “David and I are proud to champion the performing arts across this country. I have long been committed to the work of the NAC, and am thrilled to contribute to this bold new chapter.”
The National Arts Centre wishes to thank PearTree Financial Services, proud founding Presenting Partner of the National Arts Centre Orchestra’s annual Toronto concert, Official Rail Partner VIA Rail, Hotel Partner Shangri-La and Media Partner The Globe and Mail.
Additional information about the concert:
7:15 p.m. Pre-concert Chat in the lobby by Rick Phillips
Pre-concert Chats are sponsored by Worldwide Quest.
8:00-10:00 p.m. NAC Orchestra Concert
10:00 p.m. WolfGANG Sessions North Lobby
Gabriela Montero will be signing CDs post concert in the North Lobby.
The National Arts Centre Orchestra performs at Roy Thomson Hall on Saturday April 2 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are available from $33.75 at the Roy Thomson Hall Box Office (in person) at 60 Simcoe St (corner of King St.); by telephone at 416-598-3375; or online http://www.roythomson.com.
ABOUT THE NAC ORCHESTRA
In September 2015 Alexander Shelley began his tenure as Music Director with the National Arts Centre’s Orchestra. Shelley has an unwavering reputation as one of Europe’s leading young conductors, notably as Chief conductor of the Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra and most recently as the Principal Associate Conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Formed in 1969 at the opening of Canada's National Arts Centre, the NAC Orchestra gives over 100 performances a year with renowned artists including Itzhak Perlman, Renée Fleming, James Ehnes, Emanuel Ax and Yo-Yo Ma. It is noted for the passion and clarity of its performances and recordings, its ground-breaking teaching and outreach programs, and nurturing of Canadian creativity. In addition to a full series of subscription concerts at the National Arts Centre each season, tours are undertaken to regions throughout Canada and around the world.
Since its inception the Orchestra has commissioned 80 works, mostly from Canadian composers. In 2001 it inaugurated the National Arts Centre Awards for Canadian Composers and the recipients thus far have been Denys Bouliane, John Estacio, Peter Paul Koprowski, Gary Kulesha, Alexina Louie and Ana Sokolovic.
Previous NAC Orchestra Music Directors include Pinchas Zukerman, Mario Bernardi and Trevor Pinnock. The 2015-16 season features Principal Guest Conductor John Storgårds, Alain Trudel as Principal Youth and Family Conductor and Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly completing the strong artistic team.
In 1999, Pinchas Zukerman founded the NAC Young Artists Program, part of the wider NAC Summer Music Institute, which provides elite training to talented young musicians. Students all over the world are also taught via videoconferencing in the NAC's cutting-edge Hexagon Studio. The NAC Orchestra also created and continues to pioneer education work locally and in indigenous communities in northern Canada.
The NAC Orchestra has made over 40 commercial recordings, including Angela Hewitt’s 2014 Juno Award-winning album of Mozart Piano Concertos conducted by Hannu Lintu. Many more concerts are freely available through NACmusicbox.ca on the NAC's performing arts education website ArtsAlive.ca. These include many of the 100 new Canadian works commissioned by the NAC Orchestra in its 45 year history.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Rosemary Thompson,
Director, Communications and Public Affairs
National Arts Centre
613 947-7000 x260
Andrea Ruttan
Communications Officer, NAC Orchestra
National Arts Centre
613 947-7000 x335