The National Arts Centre and The Ottawa Citizen to mark the tenth anniversary of September 11, 2001, with a
Concert of Hope and Remembrance
Ottawa (Canada)—The National Arts Centre (NAC), in collaboration with The Ottawa Citizen, will present an open-air concert on Sunday, September 11, 2011, featuring the NAC Orchestra and the Christ Church Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys. The hour-long concert called The 9/11 Concert of Hope and Remembrance is a gesture marking the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on New York City, Washington and Pennsylvania. The concert will take place on the outdoor terrace of the NAC at 8:46 a.m. to coincide with the time the first plane crashed into New York’s World Trade Center.
The National Arts Centre invites the public to attend this free concert. Peter Oundjian, Music Director of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO), will conduct the NAC Orchestra and Matthew Larkin will lead the Christ Church Cathedral Choir.
“The National Arts Centre wants to give the gift of music to families who were affected by 9/11 and to honour military personnel and civilians who have fought so tirelessly to bring peace and stability to Afghanistan for nearly a decade,” said Peter Herrndorf, the NAC’s President and CEO. “Canadians responded with courage on 9/11 and in the years that followed. The concert will be an opportunity to reflect and to demonstrate our great friendship and solidarity with the United States of America.”
“Canadians responded on the days that followed 9/11 when tens of thousands poured onto Parliament Hill for a national day of mourning. We believe this concert is another chance for the public to remember the events of that day and to reflect on a decade of tremendous sacrifice,” said Gerry Nott, Publisher of The Ottawa Citizen.
Maureen Basnicki’s husband was killed at the World Trade Centre in New York on that tragic day in September 2001. The Toronto resident was delighted to hear news of the concert. “What a touching tribute,” said Ms. Basnicki, who is also the co-founder of The Canadian Coalition Against Terrorism. “I’m so proud that such a wonderful event is taking place here in Canada. It means a lot – not only to those of us who lost their loved ones that day – but also to all those people who have worked so hard over the last decade to fight terrorism throughout the world.”
“I am honoured to be conducting on September 11th as a national gesture of remembrance to people both in Canada and the United States who were affected. Music is universal, it is also healing and it is in that spirit that the National Arts Centre’s Orchestra will perform,” said TSO Music Director Peter Oundjian.
The NAC Orchestra will graciously perform on their day off to mark this solemn occasion. The Orchestra will play moving and uplifting music, including the first movement of Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 in G minor, Barber’s Adagio for Strings, Nimrod from Elgar’s Enigma Variations, and the fourth movement of Brahms’s Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68.
In case of rain, the performance will take place in the main foyer of the National Arts Centre.
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For more information please contact:
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Rosemary Thompson |
Carl Martin |
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Lynne Clark
Director of Marketing
Ottawa Citizen
(613) 726-5925
lclark@ottawacitizen.com