Experience the glamour of international intrigue and suave and sexy superspies in the third CTV Pops concert of the NAC Orchestra’s 2011-12 season. Conductor Michael Krajewski leads Broadway chanteuse Debbie Gravitte and the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Bond and Beyond, marking the 50th anniversary of the first James Bond movie, Dr. No (1962). This highly entertaining concert takes place in Southam Hall on Thursday January 19, Friday January 20, and Saturday January 21, 2012 at 8 p.m.

His name is Bond. … James Bond. Superspy James Bond was the central character in more than a dozen novels by English writer Ian Fleming (1908-1964). All of the books were made into phenomenally popular movies, and another dozen movies not based on the books have been added to the Bond canon. In addition to spies, sex, sin, and cinematography, Bond movies are known for their memorable title tunes. Some of the biggest names in pop music have recorded Bond songs: Shirley Bassey (Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever, Moonraker); Nancy Sinatra (You Only Live Twice); Paul McCartney and Wings (Live and Let Die); Tina Turner (GoldenEye); Carly Simon (Nobody Does it Better from The Spy Who Loved Me); a-ha (The Living Daylights); Sheena Easton (For Your Eyes Only); Madonna (Die Another Day); and Jack White and Alicia Keys (Another Way to Die from Quantum of Solace).

A generous selection of Bond film theme songs will be a highlight of Bond and Beyond. Joining 007 on the bill will be other clandestine cloak-and-dagger spies, detectives, and men-to-the-rescue  in musical selections from The Pink Panther, Peter Gunn, Austin Powers, Mission: Impossible, and more!

Known for his entertaining programs and clever humor, Michael Krajewski is a much sought-after conductor of symphonic pops concerts. He is the principal pops conductor of the Houston Symphony, the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. As a guest conductor Michael has performed with the Boston Pops, the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. Other guest conducting appearances include the San Francisco, Dallas, Baltimore, Detroit, Indianapolis, Phoenix and National symphonies, and many other orchestras across the U.S. and Canada. International appearances include performances with the Hong Kong Philharmonic, Iceland Symphony Orchestra and the Ulster Orchestra. Michael’s collaborative programs have included such artists as flutist James Galway, mezzo Marilyn Horne, and pop artists Roberta Flack, Judy Collins, Art Garfunkel, Doc Severinsen, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Pink Martini, Ann Hampton Callaway, Cirque de la Symphonie, and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.

 Dynamic Broadway belter Debbie Shapiro Gravitte made her debut on the Great White Way in the chorus of They're Playing Our Song in 1979. Additional Broadway credits include Blues in the Night, Zorba, Les Misérables, Chicago, and Jerome Robbins’ Broadway, for which she won the Tony award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. She was nominated for the Drama Desk Award for Jerome Robbins' Broadway and for the Frank Loesser revue Perfectly Frank. She has four solo albums to her credit, as well as guest appearances on fifteen more. Debbie Gravitte has performed her nightclub act worldwide, and has sung with numerous symphony orchestras. Associated Press wrote that Debbie Gravitte has “…one of the best voices on Broadway” and Theater Week wrote that "Gravitte can swing, slink, emote, belt and torch.”

The NAC Orchestra, under Michael Krajewski, performs Bond and Beyond in Southam Hall of the National Arts Centre on Thursday January 19, Friday January 20, and Saturday January 21, 2012 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20.45, $31.21, $42.51, $53.81, $64.57, $75.33, and $94.17 for adults and $11.73, $17.11, $22.76, $28.41, $33.79, $39.17, and $48.59 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 1-888-991-2787; Ticketmaster may also be accessed through 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.

Discover the new NACmusicbox TIMELINE: 200 orchestral works, 80 Canadian compositions,  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.

The National Arts Centre gratefully acknowledges the financial investment by the Department of Canadian Heritage in the creation of this online presentation for the Virtual Museum of Canada.
We also thank our partner CBC Radio 2 for generously providing broadcast-quality recordings of the NAC Orchestra’s archival performances.

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