NACO, Feb 5-7: Neil Sedaka performs on NAC Orchestra Pops Series

Pop music legend Neil Sedaka comes to the National Arts Centre Orchestra CTV Pops Series from Feb. 5 to 7

Ottawa, Canada ’Äì Pop legend Neil Sedaka, whose more than a thousand songs have won him a place in the Songwriters’Äô Hall of Fame, joins the National Arts Centre Orchestra in CTV Pops concerts from Thursday, February 5 to Saturday, February 7 at 8 p.m. in the NAC’Äôs Southam Hall. Sedaka’Äôs 50 years as a topnotch musician, extraordinary vocalist, and ageless songwriting talent are celebrated in such chart-topping hits that have made him famous: ’ÄúLove Will Keep Us Together’Äù, ’ÄúBreaking Up Is Hard to Do’Äù, and ’ÄúLaughter in the Rain’Äù.

The second half of the concert opens with a short film of Neil Sedaka’Äôs long and illustrious career before the man himself takes the stage to perform (in his words) ’Äúthe hits that I am most known for, including my hidden treasures that I am just as proud of.’Äù

The opening half features the National Arts Centre Orchestra led by Earl Stafford performing a light classical program including Shostakovich’Äôs Festive Overture, Tchaikovsky’Äôs Serenade for Strings, Offenbach’Äôs Can-Can, and selections from Bernstein’Äôs West Side Story. There will also be a surprise orchestral selection by Neil Sedaka himself! Sedaka composed the short symphony, Joie de vivre, which the former classical piano student of the prestigious Juilliard School describes as being ’Äúinspired by all the classical music I was exposed to at a young age.’Äù Joie de vivre premiered last November and is now being performed in Canada for the first time. It will be conducted by Lee Holdridge, who also did the arrangement.

The history of Rock ’ÄôN’Äô Roll would be incomplete without the innumerable contributions of Neil Sedaka. For over five decades, he has written, performed, produced, and inspired countless songs, and his canon of compositions will continue to stand the test of time. His introduction to his young neighbor Howard Greenfield led to one of the most prolific songwriting partnerships of the last half century selling forty million records between 1959-1963.

Neil Sedaka catapulted into stardom after Connie Francis recorded his ’ÄúStupid Cupid.’Äù After signing a contract with RCA, Sedaka recorded chart toppers ’ÄúThe Diary,’Äù ’ÄúOh! Carol,’Äù ’Äú Stairway to Heaven,’Äù ’ÄúCalendar Girl,’Äù ’ÄúLittle Devil,’Äù ’ÄúHappy Birthday Sweet Sixteen,’Äù ’ÄúNext Door To An Angel,’Äù and ’ÄúBreaking Up Is Hard To Do.’Äù

The numerous honours Sedaka has received include being inducted into the Songwriter’Äôs Hall of Fame, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and a street named after him in his hometown of Brooklyn, while his song ’ÄúLove Will Keep Us Together,’Äù won a Grammy Award as Record of the Year for The Captain and Tenille. In 2004, he received the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Popular Music / Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Tickets for Neil Sedaka and the NAC Orchestra from February 5 to 7 in Southam Hall are on sale now at $29, $39, $49, $59, $69 and $86 (GST and Facility Fee included) at the NAC Box Office (Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.), and through Ticketmaster (with surcharges) at 613-755-1111. Ticketmaster may also be accessed through the NAC’Äôs web-site 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. Live Rush tickets (subject to availability) for full-time students (aged 13 to 29) are $11 at the NAC Box Office from 2 p.m. the day before the concert to 6 p.m. the day of, 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.