Orchestras in the Park: the weather did not stop the music!

Canada’Äôs Capital Region ’Äì The National Capital Commission (NCC) and the National Arts Centre (NAC) thank the 18,700 concert-goers who made the third edition of Orchestras in the Park a resounding success. The program of four free outdoor concerts in LeBreton Flats Park, from July 23 to 26, came to a close yesterday evening.

In spite of weather forecasts that threatened rain all four nights, concert-goers were rewarded with concerts that went ahead on time and in their entirety under almost entirely rainfree skies.

This excerpt from an unsolicited e-mail received this morning summarized what a lot of concert-goers were saying about these four perfect concerts:

’ÄúMy family appreciated the concerts at LeBreton Flats Park. I can't imagine a better way to give the general public an opportunity to hear music that some might not be familiar with. It also provided an opportunity for people who cannot afford to attend concerts at the NAC to hear good music performed by world-class musicians. My wife and I enjoyed Thursday, Friday and Sunday the most. My two granddaughters, however, thought that Natalie MacMaster was wonderful (and she was). The setting and ease of access to the site could not have been better.’Äù

Indeed, the National Capital Commission and the National Arts Centre are proud of the strong line-up of performers featured this year with the NAC Orchestra and the Orchestre de la francophonie canadienne: Anton Kuerti, Julian Kuerti, Amy Horvey, Jean-Marie Zeitouni, Erin Wall, Antonio Figueroa, James Westman, Laurence Ewashko, Jean-Philippe Tremblay, Hong Xu and of course, Natalie MacMaster.

Orchestras in the Park is a collaboration between the NAC and the NCC to present a series of free outdoor orchestral concerts at LeBreton Flats Park, the biggest gathering site for cultural events in the Capital.