Symphony Nova Scotia puts spotlight on concertmaster Robert Uchida

Halifax, NS ’Äì Symphony Nova Scotia concertmaster Robert Uchida takes centre stage for Brushstrokes and Bows at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium on Thursday, November 5 at 7:30 pm.

As the ’Äúbows’Äù part of the concert, Uchida and the orchestra will perform the Nova Scotian premiere of Canadian composer Andrew P. MacDonald’Äôs Violin Concerto. This concerto won the Juno Award for Best Classical Composition in 1995, and Fanfare described it as ’Äúsparkling with life, both in its brilliant writing for the soloist and its imaginative use of orchestral colour.’Äù

’ÄúThe MacDonald Violin Concerto is one of the greatest Canadian pieces written for solo violin,’Äù says Uchida, who will be performing the concerto under the baton of Symphony Nova Scotia Music Director Bernhard Gueller. ’ÄúI am very excited to be a part of its introduction to the Nova Scotia audience. This concerto has everything ’Äì from incredible virtuosic writing to sheer depth, lyricism and beauty.’Äù

The ’Äúbrushstrokes’Äù section of the concert is made up of Respighi’Äôs Botticelli Pictures, which he wrote in honour of the three of Botticelli’Äôs most famous paintings ’Äì Spring, The Birth of Venus, and The Adoration of the Magi. This musical representation transforms colour into sound, capturing the mood, light, and passion of the art of Botticelli.

The orchestra will complete the concert with a performance of Schubert’Äôs buoyant, joyous Symphony no. 5.

Get your tickets now! Prices range from $29-49 (HST included), or you can pick up a subscription package and save up to 30%. Under age 30? Pay only $15 with your TD Under-30 Access Pass, now available at the box office. For tickets and more information, call 494.3820 or visit our website at www.symphonynovascotia.ca.

About Robert Uchida

Hailed by critics for his ’Äúrich tone and virtuosic technique’Äù (the Chronicle Herald), Canadian-born violinist Robert Uchida has quickly established himself as a collaborative artist and concertmaster of distinction. Regarded as a musically sensitive and cerebral performer, Uchida has performed as a soloist and concertmaster across North America and Europe. His most recent recording, Sonata for Unaccompanied Violin by Andrew Violette, has been released through Innova Records and is receiving rave reviews.

About Symphony Nova Scotia

Symphony Nova Scotia is Nova Scotia’Äôs orchestra. Each year more than 50,000 audience members (including 15,000 young music lovers) join us in communities across Nova Scotia for performances of the music they love ’Äì from baroque and classical to pop and rock and folk. Under the inspirational leadership of Music Director Bernhard Gueller, Symphony Nova Scotia is recognized as one of the finest orchestras in the country. Visit www.SymphonyNovaScotia.ca to learn more, listen online, or subscribe today!

Symphony Nova Scotia is grateful to the Canada Council for the Arts, Nova Scotia Tourism, Culture, and Heritage, and the Halifax Regional Municipality for their continued support.