NACO, March 28: TD Canada Trust Family Adventures presents "Bravo Beethoven"

’ÄúBravo Beethoven’Äù led by Maestro Boris Brott ’Äì the next TD Canada Trust Family Adventures concert on March 28

Ottawa (Canada) ’Äì The great Ludwig Van Beethoven himself is celebrated in the next TD Canada Trust Family Adventures series concerts with the National Arts Centre Orchestra led by Principal Youth and Family Conductor Boris Brott on Saturday, March 28 at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. in the afternoon. ’ÄúBravo Beethoven’Äù features Ottawa performer Peter Duschenes of Platypus Theatre in the role of the composer, joined by violinist Nikki Chooi, NACO percussionist Kenneth Simpson on synthesizer, and a massed youth choir from community and school choirs coordinated by Barbara Clark. These bilingual TD Canada Trust Family Adventures are perfect for kids 5 and up and their grown-up friends.

The concert ticket includes ’ÄúTuneTown’Äù, pre-concert activities in the NAC Foyer organized by Friends of the NAC Orchestra 45 minutes prior to each concert, beginning at 12:45 p.m. for the first concert and 2:45 p.m. for the second concert.

Join Ludwig van Beethoven (played by Peter Duschenes) as he rediscovers the sounds of his music with the help of a 21^st century hearing device. Children can share Beethoven’Äôs delight in listening to such musical masterpieces as the Fifth Symphony, the ’ÄúEroica’Äù Symphony, ’ÄúWellington’Äôs Victory’Äù, and the Storm from the ’ÄúPastoral’Äù Symphony. An excerpt from Beethoven’Äôs Violin Concerto will feature Victoria-born violinist Nikki Chooi, a former student at the Victoria and Mount Royal College Conservatories and a participant in the NAC’Äôs Summer Music Institute. For the grand finale, audience members are invited to join with the children’Äôs choir in singing the magnificent ’ÄúOde to Joy’Äù, from the Ninth Symphony!

The National Arts Centre is dedicating these concerts to the memory of Mario Duschenes, the famed Canadian flutist, composer and conductor (and father of Peter Duschenes) who died earlier this year. Mario Duschenes led the NAC Orchestra’Äôs first-ever family concerts and continued to do so from 1973 to 1988. He last conducted the NAC Orchestra in 2001 in the NAC-commissioned score for Rhythm in Your Rubbish, which was reprised this January under its new title Music Under a Midnight Moon.

The ’ÄúTuneTown’Äù activities for ’ÄúBravo Beethoven’Äù include an Ottawa Public Library book display on the theme of Beethoven; an activity station by Music for Young Children; a string instrument petting zoo with the Ottawa Youth Orchestra Academy; a craft station to make Beethoven bookmarks, and an area to sing along and rehearse Beethoven’Äôs ’ÄúOde to Joy’Äù in preparation for participating in the concert. There will also be information displays from the Ottawa Regional Youth Choir, the Ottawa Children’Äôs Choir, the Ottawa Catholic School Board Choir, the Cantiamo Girls Choir of Ottawa, and ˆâcole secondaire publique De La Salle.

All TD Canada Trust Family Adventures feature NACOtron presented in collaboration with Rogers Television. Five television cameras positioned on stage and in the hall capture live video images of the musicians while they are performing, and these images are projected onto a giant screen above the stage allowing the audience to watch the action in close-up.

The Ottawa Citizen is the media partner of the TD Canada Trust Family Adventures with the NAC Orchestra.

Tickets for Bravo Beethoven on Saturday, March 28 at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., including TuneTown Pre-Concert Activities, are $12.00 for children and $20.00 for adults (including GST and Facility Fee where applicable) and are on sale now 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. Visit the National Arts Centre’Äôs web site at www.nac-cna.ca.

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.