NACO, Jan. 30-31: principal oboe Charles Hamann solos in Strauss's Oboe Concerto with Pinchas Zukerman

National Arts Centre Orchestra / News Release

January 22, 2008

For immediate release

NAC Orchestra principal oboe Charles Hamann solos in Strauss's Oboe Concerto with Pinchas Zukerman on the podium on January 30-31

"The concert should not be missed because this concerto is arguably the greatest concerto written for our instrument and takes pride of place on the program with arguably the greatest symphony Mozart wrote, along with a sparkling overture by Handel featuring the dancing lines of a pair of oboes." - Charles "Chip" Hamann, NAC Orchestra principal oboe and soloist in the Richard Strauss Oboe Concerto.

Ottawa, Canada - The National Arts Centre Orchestra's superb principal oboe Charles "Chip" Hamann steps to the spotlight to perform Richard Strauss's magnificent Oboe Concerto under the baton of Music Director Pinchas Zukerman in Ovation Series concerts on Wednesday, January 30 and Thursday, January 31at 20:00 in the NAC's Southam Hall. The programme opens with Handel's Entrance of the Queen of Sheba and closes with Mozart's final symphonic masterpiece, the "Jupiter" Symphony No. 41.

There will be pre-concert talks in French offered at the NAC both nights at 19:00 by Montreal musicologist Franˆßois Tousignant entitled "Des musiques dˆ©moniaques".

Soloist Chip Hamann has been eagerly waiting 20 years for the opportunity to play the Strauss Oboe Concerto. He says: "All three of the composers on the programme (Haydn, Strauss and Mozart) were great masters of vocal music, and in particular, opera. It is no coincidence, I believe, that all three also wrote oboe concertos that are considered among the masterpieces in the genre. The Strauss is the grandest and most distinguished of these concerti, with the kind of soaring melodies and long lines you think of in his great operas. Yet this concerto looks backward towards Mozart and Handel in terms of the forces used in the orchestra and in the textures, harmonic language, and interplay between soloist and orchestra... It's definitely Mozart's voice finding its way into Strauss's world in terms of transparency, clarity and use of orchestral colour."

Recognized as one of Canada's foremost oboists, Chip Hamann has been principal oboe of the NAC Orchestra since 1995 after acting in the position from 1993. This month he had the honour of being invited to join the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of London as acting principal oboe on its 2008 North American tour led by Maestro Zukerman in cities across the U.S., including Chip's hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska! He participates annually in the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival, and has toured in Canada and in the United States with the National Arts Centre Wind Quintet. Charles Hamann's solo appearances include the Lincoln Symphony, Ottawa's Thirteen Strings, and Les Violons du Roy. He has appeared with NACO as soloist on many occasions.

In looking forward to the upcoming performance of the Strauss, Hamann adds: "To be able to collaborate with PZ on this piece is a special treat. He has such a way with the German Romantic tradition, and I can already see his sweeping gestures in the orchestral tuttis that will carry the orchestra and audience into Strauss's world... After our nearly ten years of making music together at the NAC, I'm sure there will be an instinctual understanding between us regarding how things should come together."

Tickets for these Ovation Series concerts on Wednesday, January 30 and Thursday, January 31 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

www.nac-cna.ca

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