In the second Mark Motors Audi Signature Series concert of the NAC’s 2011-2012 season – Mozart and Brahms – the National Arts Centre Orchestra shows off the music and artists to be featured on the orchestra’s Atlantic Canada Tour, which takes place November 13-25. The Mozart and Brahms concert is at 8 p.m. in Southam Hall on Wednesday November 9 and Thursday November 10, 2011.

Sixteen year old piano phenomenon Jan Lisiecki performs Mozart’s sublime Piano Concerto No. 20 while rising star Julian Kuerti conducts Brahms’s glorious Symphony No. 1 and the world premiere of Brio: Toccata and Fantasy for Orchestra, a new work commissioned by the National Arts Centre from NAC Award composer John Estacio.

The program for the evening includes:
JOHN ESTACIO          Brio: Toccata and Fantasy for Orchestra
MOZART                    Piano Concerto No. 20
BRAHMS                    Symphony No. 1

This program will be performed at several of the concerts on the NAC Orchestra’s upcoming Atlantic Canada Tour, which is made possible with the support of Regional Partners CN (Nova Scotia), Suncor Energy (Newfoundland) and Tim Hortons (CFB Gagetown, New Brunswick) as well as with generous support from the National Arts Centre’s CEO National Fund and individual donors.

Conductor Julian Kuerti and pianist Jan Lisiecki are both fast-rising Canadian stars of the music world. Julian Kuerti was born in Toronto into one of Canada's most distinguished musical families; his father is famed pianist Anton Kuerti. He studied at the University of Toronto, the Pierre Monteux School for Conductors in Maine, at the University of the Arts Berlin, with David Zinman at the American Academy of Conducting at Aspen, and with acclaimed Finnish maestro Jorma Panula in the Conductors Program at the NAC’s  Summer Music Institute. One of today’s most significant emerging conducting talents, Kuerti is known for his confident style, artistic integrity, and passion for musical collaboration.

Regarding Symphony No. 1 by Brahms, Julian Kuerti says, “This was one of the first pieces of symphonic music to catch my ear as a child. I remember sitting for hours at the piano trying to piece together the interlocking harmonies in the introduction. From the wrenching opening, through a first movement in C minor full of turmoil and existential doubt, towards the joy and exuberance of the C major finale, this is one of the greatest symphonic journeys and still one of my all-time favourites.” Regarding John Estacio’s new work, Brio: Toccata and Fantasy for Orchestra, Maestro Kuerti says, “It's always very exciting to work on a piece that has never been heard before! As I study the score, I try to draw out the composer's intentions through the notes and markings on the page. There is no recording to listen to, no 'traditions' to be aware of – this is trailblazing and the adventure is half the fun. In some ways I feel like I'm being trusted to deliver somebody's baby: they have been working on this for months, and I'm the one who is to bring it into the world for all to hear.”

Born in Calgary in 1995, Jan Lisiecki made his orchestral debut at the age of 9. He has since performed as a soloist more than 100 times with orchestras in Canada and internationally. According to the July 2010 BBC Music Magazine, Jan “is perhaps the most 'complete' pianist of his age.” Jan signed an exclusive recording agreement with Deutsche Grammophon at age 15, in October 2010. Jan is also an alumnus of the NAC’s Summer Music Institute and began performing with the NAC Orchestra when he was eleven years old. He matriculated at the Glenn Gould School of Music in Toronto on a full scholarship in September 2011.

JUNO-nominated composer John Estacio (operas Filumena, Frobisher, and Lillian Alling; Wonderland ballet) was one of three composers who received the NAC Award for Composers in 2009. Each composer was commissioned to write three pieces of music, and this is the first to be performed by the orchestra. Estacio has been in residence with the Calgary Philharmonic, the Calgary Opera, and the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. He has created music for several ensembles and his compositions are frequently recorded, performed and broadcast on international radio and television.

Regarding Brio: Toccata and Fantasy for Orchestra, John Estacio says, “The middle part of the piece, the "fantasy", was composed the day after I found out [Canadian composer] Malcolm Forsyth had passed. I had Malcolm on my mind when I was struggling with a musical issue in the piece -- the piece is dedicated to him. I think after a decade of working with text in opera and oratorios, I was keen on just focusing on the music and seeing where the musical ideas took me in this new piece. Having said that, my inspiration is certainly all the fantastic toccatas for piano and organ and orchestra that I've heard -- I was inspired to create several short flashy opportunities for members of the orchestra to shine.”  

Mozart and Brahms will be performed in Southam Hall of the National Arts Centre on Wednesday November 9 and Thursday November 10, 2011 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20.45, $31.21, $42.51, $53.81, $64.57, $75.33, and $94.17, for adults and $11.38, $16.76, $22.41, $28.06, $33.44, $38.82, and $48.24 for students (upon presentation of a valid student ID card). Tickets are available at the NAC Box Office (in person) and through Ticketmaster (with surcharges) at 613-755-1111; Ticketmaster may also be accessed through the NAC’s website www.nac-cna.ca.

Subject to availability, full-time students (aged 13-29) with valid Live Rush™ membership (free registration at www.liverush.ca) may buy up to 2 tickets per performance at the discount price of $12 per ticket. Tickets are available online (www.nac-cna.ca) or at the NAC box office from 10 a.m. on the day before the performance until 6 p.m. on the day of the show or 2 hours before a matinee. Groups of 10 or more save 15% to 20% off regular ticket prices to all NAC Music, Theatre and Dance performances; to reserve your seats, call 613-947-7000, ext. 634 or e-mail grp@nac-cna.ca.

For additional information, visit the NAC website at www.nac-cna.ca

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