ANGELA HEWITT’S BACH ODYSSEY COMES TO OTTAWA
OTTAWA (Canada) – She’s been called “the outstanding Bach pianist of her generation” (The Sunday Times, London), and now, Angela Hewitt is set to bring her latest musical feat to Ottawa.
In The Bach Odyssey, Hewitt will explore J.S. Bach’s complete keyboard works in 12 recitals over the course of four years. The National Arts Centre Orchestra in partnership with Ottawa Chamber Music Society (Chamberfest) will offer these recitals alongside London’s Wigmore Hall, The 92nd Street Y in New York City, and at other locations around the world including Tokyo and Florence for this extremely ambitious concert series.
Hewitt’s performances and recordings of Bach have drawn particular praise, making her one of the composer's foremost interpreters of our time. Performing his body of work has impacted her greatly: “To develop in his [Bach’s] company one’s musical intelligence, technique, beauty of sound and spirit is a great gift and a lifelong adventure,” she says.
Hewitt will lend her distinctive voice, remarkable colour, and sparkling clarity to her performances in Ottawa, the first of which – Recitals I & II – will take place in March 2017 at Dominion-Chalmers United Church, as part of the Chamberfest Concert Series. In July 2017, she will perform Recital III, in Southam Hall, as part of Canada Scene.
During the 2017/18 Season, Hewitt will perform Recital V as part of the NAC Orchestra’s Great Performers Series in Southam Hall, with two following recitals to be held at Dominion Chalmers Church during the Chamberfest Concert Series, and in July/August 2018 as part of Chamberfest’s annual international summer festival.
As The New York Times reviewer Bernard Holland says, “Ms. Hewitt is one of those rare musicians who seem to get something into their heads and hearts and find it at their fingertips instantaneously.”
Hewitt’s ability to capture the sense of splendour and dramatic effects found in Bach’s Baroque music, with its dynamic movement, vast rhythmic energy, and relentless unfolding musical lines will leave audiences breathless and awe inspired.
“Angela Hewitt has earned a world-famous reputation for her joyful interpretations of J.S. Bach’s work. As always, it is a privilege to have her return to the Southam Hall stage, to share these masterful recitals with the NAC Orchestra and the Ottawa community,” says NAC Orchestra Music Director, Alexander Shelley.
“In the past, Ms. Hewitt has said performing at the NAC feels like “home” and we are delighted to welcome her back to our stage,” he adds.
“Chamberfest enjoys its longstanding partnership with NACO and is thrilled to bring such a monumental artistic undertaking to this community,” says Chamberfest Artistic and Executive Director Roman Borys. “To experience the genius of Bach in the hands of Hewitt over the course of four years will be absolutely transformative.
“The intimacy of Dominion-Chalmers will only add to the experience and reveal insights into the work of this great master.”
Born and raised in Ottawa, the capital city of Canada, Angela Hewitt has received numerous international awards and accolades. She lives in London, U.K., with homes in Ottawa and in Umbria, Italy, where she has created her own annual music festival at Lake Trasimeno. Find out more about this extraordinary artist at angelahewitt.com.
For ticket information and specific recital dates please visit NAC-CNA.ca for more detail.
The Bach Odyssey Recital Details:
Angela Hewitt, piano
The keyboard works of J.S. Bach in twelve recitals
Recital I *(To be performed as part of the Chamberfest Concert Series in March 2017)
Fantasia in C minor, BWV 906
Aria Variata “alla Maniera Italiana”, BWV 989
Fifteen Two-part Inventions, BWV 772-786
interval
Fifteen Three-part Sinfonias (Inventions),
BWV 787-801
Capriccio on the Departure of his Beloved Brother,
BWV 992
Capriccio in E major, BWV 993
Fantasia and Fugue in A minor, BWV 904
Recital II *(To be performed as part of the Chamberfest Concert Series in March 2017)
French Suite No. 1 in D minor, BWV 812
French Suite No. 2 in C minor BWV 813
French Suite No. 4 in E-flat major, BWV 815
interval
French Suite No. 6 in E major, BWV 817
French Suite No. 3 in B minor, BWV 814
French Suite No. 5 in G major, WV 816
Recital III (To be performed at the NAC in Southam Hall, as part of the Canada Scene Festival July 2017)
Partita No. 1 in B-flat major, BWV 825
Partita No. 2 in C minor, BWV 826
interval
Sonata in D minor, BWV 964
Partita No. 4 in D major, BWV 828
Recital IV
Partita No. 3 in A minor, BWV 827
Partita No. 5 in G major, BWV 829
interval
Partie in A major, BWV 832
Partita No. 6 in E minor, BWV 830
Recital V (To be Performed at the NAC in Southam Hall during the NAC) Orchestra’s 17/18 Season)
The Well-Tempered Clavier Book I
Nos. 1-12
interval
Nos. 13-24
Recital VI
The Goldberg Variations
Recital VII
The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book II
Nos. 1-12
interval
Nos. 13-24
Recital VIII
Toccata in C minor, BWV 911
Toccata in G major, BWV 916
Toccata in F-sharp minor, BWV 910
Toccata in E minor, BWV 914
interval
Toccata in D minor, BWV 913
Toccata in G minor, BWV 915
Toccata in D major, BWV 912
Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue in D minor,
BWV 903
Recital IX
English Suite No. 1 in A major, BWV 806
English Suite No. 2 in A minor, BWV 807
interval
Suite in F minor, BWV 823
English Suite No. 3 in G minor, BWV 808
Prelude and Fugue in A minor, BWV 894
Recital X
English Suite No. 4 in F major, BWV 809
English Suite No. 5 in E minor, BWV 810
interval
Sonata in D major, BWV 963
English Suite No. 6 in D minor, BWV 811
Recital XI
Four Duets, BWV 802-805
Eighteen Little Preludes, BWV 924-928,
930, 933-938, 939-943, 999
Fantasia and Fugue in A minor, BWV 944
interval
Italian Concerto in F major, BWV 971
French Overture in B minor, BWV 831
Recital XII
The Art of Fugue
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For more information, please contact:
Andrea Ruttan
Communications Officer, NAC Orchestra
Agente de Communication, Orchestre de CNA
Andrea.Ruttan@nac-cna.ca
613 947-7000 x335
613 220-5487 (mobile)