It’s going to be a BOO-tiful afternoon when the first TD Bank Group ‘Family Adventures with the National Arts Centre Orchestra’ concerts of the 2011-12 season take place on Saturday October 29 in Southam Hall of the NAC at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. The musicians onstage will be in their special Hallowe’en costumes and the entire audience is invited to dress up as well – it’s going to be spooktacular!

Ghosts and goblins come out from every corner of the orchestra to play frightful favourites as conductor Alain Trudel -- the newly-appointed Principal Youth and Family Conductor of the NAC Orchestra -- and the NAC Orchestra welcome some very special guests: actors Annie Lefebvre and Jean Marchand, and organist Thomas Annand. A-BACH-cadabra is a one-hour bilingual concert which includes audience participation that is fun for the whole family.

Samara the witch and all the musicians set off on a Halloween adventure to discover the great musical magician, Johann Sebastian Bach. The audience will be spellbound as it journeys “Bach” in time through the Organ Time Machine, uncovering the composer’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor. This magical ride will then spin forward to the hauntingly rich works Bach inspired – from Mendelssohn’s Fingal’s Cave Overture to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera. There will also be a few musical surprises.

View close-up action on the giant NACOtron screen, presented in collaboration with Rogers TV. ‘Family Adventures with the National Arts Centre Orchestra’ concerts offer dazzling performances, fun-filled audience participation, and entertaining storytelling. This unique 4-concert series -- ideal for ages 5 to 105 -- is a great way to enjoy a Saturday afternoon.

TUNETOWN: Pre-Concert Activities
Pre-concert activities organized by the Friends of the NAC Orchestra begin 45 minutes prior to each concert. They include:

• Interactive musical activities by Music for Young Children
• University of Ottawa instrument demonstrations: “Low Instruments” of the orchestra and other spooky sounds
• Interactive “Tickle Trunk” of various capes, with standing mirror
• Craft station: Halloween cutouts
• A book display by the Ottawa Public Library
• A visit from Royal Canadian College of Organists

This series is made possible in part by the National Arts Centre Foundation’s National Youth and Education Trust. Now celebrating its eleventh year, the Trust is supported by Founding Partner TELUS, Sun Life Financial, Michael Potter, supporters and patrons of the annual NAC Gala, and the donors of the NAC Foundation’s Corporate Club and Donors’ Circle.

Discover the new NACmusicbox TIMELINE: 200 orchestral works, 80 Canadian compositions, 1 interactive TIMELINE that provides a visual representation of our rare online archival collection and encourages the exploration of music connections. The NACmusicbox TIMELINE has been specifically designed to showcase the works of Canadian composers within the history of orchestral music and offers cross-curricular content with classroom-ready activities and lesson plans developed by teachers for teachers. Visit NACmusicbox.ca today.

Information:   
Gerald Morris
Communications Officer, NAC Music
613-947-7000, ext. 335 
[e-mail]  gerald.morris@nac-cna.ca