National Arts Centre Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The National Arts Centre Orchestra is an orchestra
in Ottawa
, Ontario
, Canada
's capital. It is a classically-sized ensemble currently conducted by Pinchas Zukerman
.
C.C. is the Conductor Laureate, Boris Brott
, O.C.
, is the Principal Youth and Family Conductor, and Jack Everly
is the Principal Pops Conductor.The NACO gives a series of subscription concerts at the National Arts Centre
each season (over 100 performances a year) and tours are undertaken to regions throughout Canada and around the world.
New York Times has stated that the NACO has "[A] rich, lustrous and highly unified sound”. The Kölnische Rundschau, from Cologne
, Germany
has stated that “The fact that the National Arts Centre Orchestra under (Zukerman’s) baton is not only an elite ensemble but his equal partner was proven.” The Birmingham Post
from Birmingham, England has stated “What a wonderfully responsive orchestra these Canadians have created.”
, with Jean-Marie Beaudet
as Music Director and Mario Bernardi as founding conductor and (from 1971) Music Director until 1982. Bernardi was succeeded by Franco Mannino
(1982 to 1987), Gabriel Chmura (1987 to 1990), and Trevor Pinnock
(1991-1997).
Franz-Paul Decker
was named to the position of Principal Guest Conductor in 1991, a role he continued until the end of the 1998-99 season. In 1997, founding conductor Mario Bernardi was appointed Conductor Laureate of the NAC Orchestra. In 2001, the young Chicoutimi native Jean-Philippe Tremblay
took up the newly created post of Apprentice Conductor for a two-year term.
led a Canadian tour. In October 1999, the Orchestra completed a coast-to-coast Canada Tour under its new Music Director. In 2002, the NACO toured Atlantic Canada
and Toronto
, Ontario
. In November 2004, there was a British Columbia
Tour documented on ArtsAlive.ca. In November 2005, the NACO toured Alberta
and Saskatchewan
. In November 2006, NACO conducted an 8-day tour of the Canadian province of Quebec
.
The first international tour, to the Europe
, was in 1973 under Mario Bernardi
. In 1978, the NACO performed in Italy
and Germany
. In 1985 under Franco Mannino, the Orchestra toured in Japan and Hong Kong.
The third European tour in 1990 was with Pinchas Zukerman, who also led the orchestra's 2000 tour to Europe and the Middle East. In 1995, the NACO toured Europe under Trevor Pinnock. In November 2003, with Zukerman as conductor and violin soloist, the Orchestra toured ten cities in the US and Mexico.
An all-Mozart double CD was released in 2003 featuring both orchestral and chamber music with Pinchas Zukerman as conductor and violin soloist. A CBC Records
chamber music CD of Mozart Flute Quartets featuring principal flutist Joanna G’froerer, guest violinist Martin Beaver
, Pinchas Zukerman on viola, and principal cellist Amanda Forsyth
was named best Canadian chamber music recording of 2001 by Opus Magazine.
on shows such as In Performance, Studio Sparks
, Symphony Hall
and Tempo
.
Teacher Resource Kits have been developed for distribution to elementary schools in the regions toured and across Canada, and the public has been able to follow each tour through fully interactive websites archived on the NAC’s Performing Arts Website at www.artsalive.ca. The Orchestra’s tour of Alberta and Saskatchewan in November 2005 included over 80 education events.
In 1999, Zukerman initiated the NAC Young Artists Programme, which is now part of the NAC Summer Music Institute (SMI) including the Conductors Programme founded in 2001, and the Young Composers Programme founded in 2003. The 2005 SMI assembled over 80 musicians chosen by audition from Canada and around the world to study with an international faculty headed by Zukerman.
Other Orchestra education activities at home include Musicians in the Schools, student matinees and open rehearsals, and master classes. Since the arrival of Pinchas Zukerman, the Orchestra is also exploring education through long-distance Broadband videoconferencing, and increased use of the Internet.
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
's capital. It is a classically-sized ensemble currently conducted by Pinchas Zukerman
Pinchas Zukerman
Pinchas Zukerman is a world-renowned violinist, violist, and conductor. He is considered one of the greatest violinists of the 20th and 21st centuries, and his ongoing 45-year career has seen him perform with the world's best-known orchestras and record over 100 works...
.
Description
Since 1998, Pinchas Zukerman has been the Music Director. Mario BernardiMario Bernardi
Mario Bernardi, is a Canadian conductor and pianist. He has conducted 75 different operas and over 450 other works with the National Arts Centre Orchestra.-Early years:...
C.C. is the Conductor Laureate, Boris Brott
Boris Brott
Boris Brott, OC, O.Ont is a Canadian conductor and motivational speaker.Born in Montreal, the son of violinist and composer Alexander Brott and cellist Lotte Brott, and brother of cellist Denis Brott....
, O.C.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, is the Principal Youth and Family Conductor, and Jack Everly
Jack Everly
Jack Everly is an American conductor and music arranger who serves as Principal Pops Conductor with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Naples Philharmonic Orchestra and National Arts Centre Orchestra as well as Music Director for the Symphonic Pops Consortium.Born...
is the Principal Pops Conductor.The NACO gives a series of subscription concerts at the National Arts Centre
National Arts Centre
The National Arts Centre is a centre for the performing arts located in Ottawa, Ontario, between Elgin Street and the Rideau Canal...
each season (over 100 performances a year) and tours are undertaken to regions throughout Canada and around the world.
New York Times has stated that the NACO has "[A] rich, lustrous and highly unified sound”. The Kölnische Rundschau, from Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
has stated that “The fact that the National Arts Centre Orchestra under (Zukerman’s) baton is not only an elite ensemble but his equal partner was proven.” The Birmingham Post
Birmingham Post
The Birmingham Post newspaper was originally published under the name Daily Post in Birmingham, England, in 1857 by John Frederick Feeney. It was the largest selling broadsheet in the West Midlands, though it faced little if any competition in this category. It changed to tabloid size in 2008...
from Birmingham, England has stated “What a wonderfully responsive orchestra these Canadians have created.”
History
The NAC Orchestra was founded in 1969 as the resident orchestra of the newly opened National Arts CentreNational Arts Centre
The National Arts Centre is a centre for the performing arts located in Ottawa, Ontario, between Elgin Street and the Rideau Canal...
, with Jean-Marie Beaudet
Jean-Marie Beaudet
Jean-Marie Beaudet was a Canadian conductor, organist, pianist, radio producer, and music educator. He had a long career with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, serving variously as a music producer, programing director, conductor, and administrator...
as Music Director and Mario Bernardi as founding conductor and (from 1971) Music Director until 1982. Bernardi was succeeded by Franco Mannino
Franco Mannino
Franco Mannino was an Italian film composer, pianist, opera director, playwright and novelist, born in Palermo.He made his debut as pianist at the age of 16...
(1982 to 1987), Gabriel Chmura (1987 to 1990), and Trevor Pinnock
Trevor Pinnock
Trevor David Pinnock CBE is an English conductor, harpsichordist, and occasional organist and pianist.He is best known for his association with the period-performance orchestra The English Concert which he helped found and directed from the keyboard for over 30 years in baroque and early classical...
(1991-1997).
Franz-Paul Decker
Franz-Paul Decker
Franz-Paul Decker is a German-born conductor.-Biography:Decker was born in Cologne, Germany, where he studied at the Hochschule für Musik with Philip Jarnach and Eugen Papst...
was named to the position of Principal Guest Conductor in 1991, a role he continued until the end of the 1998-99 season. In 1997, founding conductor Mario Bernardi was appointed Conductor Laureate of the NAC Orchestra. In 2001, the young Chicoutimi native Jean-Philippe Tremblay
Jean-Philippe Tremblay
Jean-Philippe Tremblay is the musical director and orchestra conductor of L'orchestre de la francophonie canadienne.-External links:*...
took up the newly created post of Apprentice Conductor for a two-year term.
Touring
The Orchestra has visited 112 cities in Canada and 122 cities internationally in its 38-year history. In 1991/92 Victor FeldbrillVictor Feldbrill
Victor Feldbrill, OC, O.Ont, FRHCM, is a Canadian conductor and violinist.He attended Harbord Collegiate Institute at an early age....
led a Canadian tour. In October 1999, the Orchestra completed a coast-to-coast Canada Tour under its new Music Director. In 2002, the NACO toured Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada is the region of Canada comprising the four provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec: the three Maritime provinces – New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia – and Newfoundland and Labrador...
and Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. In November 2004, there was a British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
Tour documented on ArtsAlive.ca. In November 2005, the NACO toured Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
and Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
. In November 2006, NACO conducted an 8-day tour of the Canadian province of Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
.
The first international tour, to the Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, was in 1973 under Mario Bernardi
Mario Bernardi
Mario Bernardi, is a Canadian conductor and pianist. He has conducted 75 different operas and over 450 other works with the National Arts Centre Orchestra.-Early years:...
. In 1978, the NACO performed in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. In 1985 under Franco Mannino, the Orchestra toured in Japan and Hong Kong.
The third European tour in 1990 was with Pinchas Zukerman, who also led the orchestra's 2000 tour to Europe and the Middle East. In 1995, the NACO toured Europe under Trevor Pinnock. In November 2003, with Zukerman as conductor and violin soloist, the Orchestra toured ten cities in the US and Mexico.
Recordings
The NAC Orchestra has 40 recordings, six with Pinchas Zukerman: Haydn, Vivaldi, Beethoven, Schubert and two of Mozart (a CD of flute quartets, and a CD of orchestral music and string quintets). The commissioning of original Canadian works has been an important part of the National Arts Centre’s mandate, with over 50 works commissioned to date.An all-Mozart double CD was released in 2003 featuring both orchestral and chamber music with Pinchas Zukerman as conductor and violin soloist. A CBC Records
CBC Records
CBC Records is a Canadian record label, owned and operated by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, which distributes CBC programming, including live concert performances in album and digital format....
chamber music CD of Mozart Flute Quartets featuring principal flutist Joanna G’froerer, guest violinist Martin Beaver
Martin Beaver
Martin Beaver is a Canadian violinist. As a part of the Tokyo String Quartet he plays the Paganini-Comte Cozio di Salabue violin circa 1727...
, Pinchas Zukerman on viola, and principal cellist Amanda Forsyth
Amanda Forsyth
Amanda Forsyth is a Juno Award-winning Canadian cellist, and is the principal cello of the National Arts Centre Orchestra.-Biography:...
was named best Canadian chamber music recording of 2001 by Opus Magazine.
Radio Broadcasts
National Arts Centre Orchestra concerts have been broadcast nationally on CBC RadioCBC Radio
CBC Radio generally refers to the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which are outlined below.-English:CBC Radio operates three English language...
on shows such as In Performance, Studio Sparks
Studio Sparks
Studio Sparks was a Canadian radio program, which aired weekday afternoons from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM on CBC Radio 2. Hosted by Eric Friesen, the program aired concert performances by classical, jazz and world music performers, as well as interview segments with the performers.It was broadcast from...
, Symphony Hall
Symphony Hall
Symphony Hall usually refers to:* Symphony Hall, Boston, Massachusetts, USAIt may also refer to:Concert Halls* Allentown Symphony Hall in Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA* Phoenix Symphony Hall in Phoenix, Arizona, USA...
and Tempo
Tempo
In musical terminology, tempo is the speed or pace of a given piece. Tempo is a crucial element of any musical composition, as it can affect the mood and difficulty of a piece.-Measuring tempo:...
.
Educational Outreach Activities
Educational outreach is an important component of the orchestra's activities. During the tours within Canada in 1999, 2002 and 2004, the tours to Europe and Israel in 2000, and the tours to the US and Mexico in 2003, educational activities were added, ranging from master classes and question-and-answer sessions to sectional rehearsals with youth and community orchestras and student matinees.Teacher Resource Kits have been developed for distribution to elementary schools in the regions toured and across Canada, and the public has been able to follow each tour through fully interactive websites archived on the NAC’s Performing Arts Website at www.artsalive.ca. The Orchestra’s tour of Alberta and Saskatchewan in November 2005 included over 80 education events.
In 1999, Zukerman initiated the NAC Young Artists Programme, which is now part of the NAC Summer Music Institute (SMI) including the Conductors Programme founded in 2001, and the Young Composers Programme founded in 2003. The 2005 SMI assembled over 80 musicians chosen by audition from Canada and around the world to study with an international faculty headed by Zukerman.
Other Orchestra education activities at home include Musicians in the Schools, student matinees and open rehearsals, and master classes. Since the arrival of Pinchas Zukerman, the Orchestra is also exploring education through long-distance Broadband videoconferencing, and increased use of the Internet.