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Ben Heppner featured in Stratford concert
Canadian commission:
Kati Agocs
July 24 – August 14, 2010
TORONTO, ONTARIO –
The National Youth Orchestra of Canada (NYOC), will embark on
the TD Music 50th Anniversary National Tour, with
Maestro Jacques Lacombe on the podium. This three-week venture
commences in late July following the NYOC’s training session.
The tour will also feature travel to the west coast for the
first time in five years. It is also with great excitement the
NYOC proudly announces world-renowned Canadian tenor Ben Heppner
to perform at the NYOC’s Stratford date on July 25th,
as well as performing a Canadian work by Kati Agocs,
Composer-in-Residence with the NYOC. Her commissioned work,
Perpetual Summer, will receive its world premiere July 28 at
the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. Another Canadian composer,
the late Jacques Hétu, composed Sur les rives du Saint-Maurice,
a work dedicated to Maestro Lacombe and is featured on this
tour.
Currently celebrating its 50th season, the NYOC will
give concerts featuring two programmes in the following cities,
starting in Ontario: London (Alumni Hall, July 24);
Stratford (Central United Church, July 25); Kingston (Kingston
Gospel Temple, July 26); and Ottawa (National Arts Centre, July
28). In Quebec: Montreal (Notre-Dame Basilica, July 29),
and Mont Tremblant (St. Jovite Church, August 1). The NYOC
returns to Ontario for a Toronto date (Koerner Hall,
August 3). In British Columbia, the Youth Orchestra will
perform in Nanaimo (Port Theatre, August 5), Vancouver (Chan
Centre, August 8) and Kelowna (Rotary Center for the Arts,
August 10); and finally, two Alberta dates: Calgary (Jack
Singer Concert Hall, August 12) and Edmonton (Winspear Centre,
August 14).
The National Youth Centre Orchestra will present three sets of
repertoire.
Programme One
(Ottawa/July 28; Montreal/July 29; Mont Tremblant/August 1;
Vancouver/ August 8; Kelowna/August 10; and Edmonton/August 14):
Shostakovich’s Festive Overture; Canadian composer
Kati Agocs’ Perpetual Summer (commission); R.
Strauss’ Don Juan; and Rimsky-Korsakov’s
Scherazade.
Programme Two
(July 24/London; July 26/Kingston; August 3/Toronto; August
5/Nanaimo; August 12/Calgary):
Dukas’
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice;
Hétu’s
Sur les rives du
Saint-Maurice;
Ravel’s La Valse;
and Stravinsky’s
Petrouchka (1947
version).
Special Programme (July 25/Stratford): Prelude to Die
Meistersinger von Nürnberg; Prize Song from Die
Meistersinger von Nürnberg; Prelude to Lohengrin; The
Grail Aria from Lohengrin; R. Strauss’ Don Juan;
“Winterstürme” from Die Walküre; Ride of the
Valkyries.
The National Youth Orchestra of Canada provides valuable
training to young classical musicians considering an orchestra
career: preparing chamber and orchestral repertoire, rehearsing,
and preparing for the rigours of frequent performing and
touring. From a record number of 623 applications, 94 young
musicians from across Canada, who range in age from 16- 28, were
chosen through auditions held in major cities across the country
in January. “As the NYOC prepares to celebrate its 50 year
history, these 94 young musicians find themselves in very
distinguished company,” says Barbara Smith, Executive Director
of the NYOC. “Many of Canada’s professional orchestral musicians
are alumni of the NYOC, making our organisation a true Canadian
treasure. Also, the NYOC’s received a JUNO nomination for its
2009 CD/DVD in the category of Classical Album of the Year:
Large Ensemble. 2010 is certainly a milestone year for the
NYOC.”
The National Youth Orchestra of Canada is Canada's
advanced orchestral training institute for musicians ages 16 to
28. Its mission is to educate, elevate, and empower Canada’s
most gifted young orchestral musicians. Forty percent of
Canada’s professional orchestral musicians are alumni of the
NYOC. Over the years, the reviews and praise bestowed on the
NYOC have been nothing short of amazing. The NYOC was awarded
the prestigious title, “the best youth orchestra in the world”
at the World Youth Orchestra Conference in Tokyo. In 2010, the
NYOC received a JUNO nomination for its 2009 CD/DVD in the
category of Classical Album: Large Ensemble or Soloist.
For more information and ticket purchase information, please
visit
www.nyoc.org.
The National Youth Orchestra of Canada gratefully acknowledges
TD Music, the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Ontario Arts
Council, and the BC Arts Council.
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