NACO, Jan 9-10: Superstar violinist Midori makes her long-awaited NACO debut performing the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto

National Arts Centre Orchestra / News Release

December 19, 2007

For immediate release

Superstar violinist Midori makes her long-awaited NAC Orchestra debut performing the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with Ludovic Morlot on January 9 and 10

JAN. 10 CONCERT INCLUDES "EXPLORATION OF THE CONCERTO",

A MUSICAL DEMONSTRATION AND DISCUSSION OF THE TCHAIKOVSKY VIOLIN CONCERTO WITH NIKKI CHOOI AND TEACHER WILLIAM VAN DER SLOOT AT 18:30

Ottawa , Canada ’Äì Midori, one of the world's leading violinists for the past 25 years and still only in her mid-30s, makes her long-awaited National Arts Centre Orchestra debut performing the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with conductor Ludovic Morlot in Mark Motors Audi Signature Series concerts on Wednesday, January 9 and Thursday, January 10 at 20:00 in the NAC's Southam Hall. Morlot, also making his NAC Orchestra debut, will lead the musicians in Mother Goose Suite and Pavane pour une infante dˆ©funte both by Ravel, and in Shostakovich's Symphony No. 9.

The second of the two concerts on January 10 includes a new addition to the pre-concert Musically Speaking experience. The audience is invited to the Salon at 18:30 for an "Exploration of the Concerto" as described by violin teacher William van der Sloot of Mount Royal College Conservatory and demonstrated by young Victoria violinist Nikki Chooi and pianist Jean Desmarais. This entertaining and informative lecture-demonstration is free.

The violinist Midori made her historic debut at the age of 11 when she was introduced as a surprise guest artist by conductor Zubin Mehta at the New York Philharmonic's annual New Year's Eve concert in 1982. Since that night, she has established a record of achievement which sets her apart as a master musician, an innovator, and a champion of the developmental potential of children. This season, Midori will play over 90 concerts, making six trips to Europe and three to Asia and will be featured on a new Sony BMG Masterworks release of Bach and Bartˆ„k with pianist Robert McDonald. In 1992 Midori founded Midori & Friends, a non-profit organization in New York, which brings music education programs to thousands of underprivileged children each year. Two other organizations, Music Sharing (based in Japan), and Partners in Performance (based in the US), also bring music into the lives of people who may not otherwise have involvement with the arts.

Midori recently inspired these comments from the Denver Post after performing the Tchaikovsky Concerto this December: "This devilishly challenging work, with all its high-flying pyrotechnics, is generally considered a virtuosic showpiece, and Midori didn't shirk from that aspect of the concerto in the least, dashing through the finale at an impressively breakneck speed. But the word that kept coming to mind to describe her interpretation is one not typically associated with this piece: spellbinding. Right from her seductive entrance in the first movement, she seemed most intent on a telling story, finding meaning in each phrase."

Ludovic Morlot is quickly establishing a reputation as one of the leading conductors of his generation. In the summer of 2007 alone, he had re-engagements with the New York Philharmonic and the Boston Symphony, and made debuts with the Houston Symphony, the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra. Highlights of this season include debuts with Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Deutsches Symphonie Orchester (Berlin), the Moscow National Philharmonic, the Budapest Festival Orchestra. Trained as a violinist, Mr. Morlot studied conducting as a pupil of the late Charles Bruck at the Pierre Monteux School. From 2004-2006 he served as assistant conductor to the Boston Symphony Orchestra and James Levine.

Tickets for these Mark Motor Audi Signature Series concerts on Wednesday, January 9 and Thursday, January 10 at 20:00 are on sale now at $19.00, $29.00, $49.00, $59.00, $69.00 with box seats at $83.00 (GST and Facility Fee included) at the NAC Box Office (Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 21:00), and through Ticketmaster (with surcharges) at 613-755-1111. Ticketmaster may also be accessed through the NAC's website at www.nac-cna.ca.

Half-price tickets for students in all sections of the hall are on sale in person at the NAC Box Office upon presentation of a valid student ID card. Same-day Live Rush tickets (subject to availability) for full-time students (aged 13 to 29) are $10 at the NAC Box Office between 14:00 and 18:00 on the day of performance only, upon presentation of a valid Live Rush card.

Groups of 10 and more save 15% to 20% off the regular price of tickets to NAC Music, Theatre and Dance performances. To reserve your seats call 613-947-7000 ext. 384 or email grp@nac-cna.ca.

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Jane Morris

Communications Officer/Agente de communication

National Arts Centre Orchestra/Orchestre du Centre national des Arts

Telephone/Tˆ©lˆ©phone: 613-947-7000 x 335

Fax: 613-996-2828

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