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Ottawa articles, news, reviews

NAC Orchestra (Photo Credit: Curtis Perry, courtesy of the National Arts Centre)

Review | NAC Orchestra’s stellar performance of The Planets

By Zenith Wolfe on 23 May 2023 Concert Reviews, Orchestral, Ottawa

It was a phenomenal night of endings and new beginnings for the National Arts Centre (NAC): the orchestra capped off both 2023’s Mentorship program and the tenure of outgoing CEO Jayne Watson with a stellar concert featuring Gustav Holst’s famous composition The Planets, as well as the Canadian premiere of Catamorphosis by Icelandic symphonist Anna Thorvaldsdóttir. The May 18 concert began with a rendition of Lili Boulanger’s D’un matin du printemps. It’s one of the last works written by the French composer before her death at the young age of 24, with the orchestral version posthumously finalized by her sister,…

Newswire | NACO Music Director Alexander Shelley Contract Extended

By Newswire on 12 September 2022 Newswire, Ottawa

September 8, 2022 – OTTAWA (Canada) – The National Arts Centre (NAC) is pleased to announce a three-year contract extension for Alexander Shelley as Music Director of the NAC Orchestra, from September 1, 2023, to August 31, 2026. Since taking on the role of Music Director in 2015, Alexander Shelley has led the NAC Orchestra through transformational initiatives and major tours, highlighting the ensemble’s national role and positioning it as a creative and collaborative space for Canadian composers, conductors, artists and partners. “I continue to be energized by the individual and collective brilliance of our musicians and inspired by the…

Photo: Curtis Perry

Review: NACO Returns to Ottawa

By Natasha Gauthier on 18 April 2022 Concert Reviews, Orchestral, Ottawa

After performing in Toronto and New York, the National Arts Centre Orchestra brought its Truth in our Time program home to the NAC in Ottawa on April 13 and 14. For my third and last time listening to this concert, I decided to sample the April 14 Livestream. The NAC has significantly upped its videocasting game over the pandemic. Although this particular livestream had a charge attached, plenty of events have been available for free. For all the setbacks and hardships the performing arts have experienced over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, accessibility gains have been a silver lining.…

Photo: Dominick Mastrangeo

Review: NACO on Tour–New York Dispatch, Boris Brott Remembered

By Natasha Gauthier on 6 April 2022 Concert Reviews, Ottawa

The National Arts Centre Orchestra’s Carnegie Hall concert on Tuesday night began under a dark cloud, as musicians learned of the horrific hit-and-run death of Orchestre Classique de Montréal and former Hamilton Symphony conductor Boris Brott an hour before going onstage. “I’m still processing it,” soloist James Ehnes said after the concert. “He was the first conductor I ever worked with, in 1987. From the time I was 11, he treated me with respect and gave me confidence that I had something to say that was worth hearing. It’s a tragic loss, both personally and professionally.” Canadian violinist Lara…

Review: Truth in our time – NACO Toronto Premiere

By Natasha Gauthier on 31 March 2022 Concert Reviews, Ottawa

The National Arts Centre Orchestra is touring for the first time since before the Covid era, its new Philip Glass commission to Toronto and New York City before returning to Ottawa later in April. Just as the orchestra left for Toronto, however, there was a stark reminder that the pandemic is not behind us, as one musician was unable to join the tour due to testing positive that morning for Covid (we wish them a speedy and uncomplicated recovery). The tour program consists of the new Glass work–his Symphony No. 13, written in memory of the Canadian-American newsman Peter Jennings,…

Review : Montero & Shostakovich with NACO

By Natasha Gauthier on 14 March 2022 Classical Music, Concert Reviews, Ottawa

If you want an example of how all art is political, you needn’t look any further than the National Arts Centre Orchestra’s Southam Hall concerts on March 9-10. The soloist was the incandescent Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Montero, a musician who has never blanched at criticizing the greed and cruelty of the Chavez and Maduro governments. She often aims her sharpest barbs at the country’s El Sistema musical education scheme, and of her fellow musicians who promote its propaganda abroad while remaining silent on its track record of corruption and exploitation. Joining Montero was 37-year-old Ukrainain-Finnsh conductor Dalia Stasevska. If Stasevska…

The NAC Orchestra Welcomes Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser as Principal Youth Conductor and Creative Partner

By Newswire on 23 February 2022 Newswire, Ottawa

February 23, 2022 – Ottawa — Orchestral Conductor Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser joins the National Arts Centre Orchestra as Principal Youth Conductor and Creative Partner for a three-year mandate beginning this month. In the first major initiative of his mandate, Bartholomew-Poyser will be directing Reggae Roots, an upcoming video-on-demand learning series and a concert that will be part of the NAC Orchestra’s 2022-2023 Pops Series. “Daniel is a wonderfully engaging, passionate and dedicated ambassador for all that is vibrant about symphonic music. He brings his great talent and experience to bear in conceiving and leading projects that use the orchestra and its…

The National Arts Centre of Canada

The NAC announces new initiative to support female-identifying producers

By Newswire on 23 February 2021 Arts Industry, Ottawa

February 23, 2021 – OTTAWA, CANADA – The National Arts Centre is proud to announce a new initiative to support female-identifying producers in the music industry, and right the gender imbalance in their field. The new Global Network for Female-Identifying Music Producers will provide an opportunity for up to 25 female-identifying studio producers and beatmakers from around the globe to meet, discuss ideas, network and help overcome barriers in the industry together. Led by Heather Gibson, the NAC’s Executive Producer of Popular Music and Variety, and developed in partnership with international music industry leaders, the multi-year program will be designed to meet the needs…

NAC 50th anniversary golden gala to feature music, dance, theatre & special set by icon Sarah McLachlan

By Newswire on 10 June 2019 Arts Industry, Ottawa

OTTAWA, June 10th, 2019 —The 23rd annual NAC fundraising Gala marking the National Arts Centre’s 50th Anniversary will take place on Saturday, October 5th, 2019. The gala-concert showcases artists from Dance, Theatre and Music and includes a performance by Grammy and Juno award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan with the NAC Orchestra. Tickets go on sale to the public on June 13th. The first half of the performance features some of Canada’s brightest stars, including NAC Orchestra and Music Director Alexander Shelley; The National Ballet of Canada principal Dancer Greta Hodgkinson; and the phenomenal Canadian Indigenous pop singer-songwriter iskwē. Writer, director…

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