NACO, May 12: Grammy winning violinist James Ehnes performs in recital

Ottawa, Canada – Canadian violinist James Ehnes (pronounced ENN-is), who has won both a Grammy Award and his fifth Juno Award this year, returns to the National Arts Centre’s Southam Hall to perform in recital on Monday, May 12 at 20:00 as part of the Bombardier Great Performers Series. His recital partner is pianist Andrew Armstrong.

Ehnes and Armstrong will perform Leclair’s Sonata in D major, Brahms’ Sonata No. 1 in G major, Bartók’s Rhapsody No. 2 for Violin and Piano, and R. Strauss’s Sonata in E-flat major.

Violinist James Ehnes is widely considered one of classical music’s brightest talents. He has performed in over 20 countries on five continents with many of the world’s most renowned orchestras and conductors. He first performed at the NAC in recital on the NAC Debut Series in 1993 at age 16 and a few months later made his NAC Orchestra debut at the CBC Young Performers Competition which he won. He has returned a number of times since, most recently performing on both violin and viola with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra this past November. He will return to the National Arts Centre Orchestra next season to perform the Korngold Violin Concerto, his recording of which (along with concertos by Barber and Walton) earned him his recent Grammy and Juno Awards. The recording joins an already impressive and internationally multi-award winning discography of over 20 recordings featuring repertoire ranging from Bach violin sonatas to John Adams’s Road Movies. His 250^th Mozart anniversary double-disc of the composer’s complete works for violin and orchestra won the 2007 Juno.

Born in Brandon, Manitoba in 1976, James Ehnes began violin studies at the age of four, and at nine became a protégé of Canadian violinist Francis Chaplin. He continued his studies with Sally Thomas at The Juilliard School, winning the Peter Mennin Prize for Outstanding Achievement and Leadership in Music upon his graduation in 1997. In 2007 he became the youngest person ever elected as a Fellow to the Royal Society of Canada. James Ehnes plays the “Ex Marsick” Stradivarius of 1715 and gratefully acknowledges its extended loan from the Fulton Collection.

Pianist Andrew Armstrong has been praised by critics for his passionate expression and dazzling technique, delighting audiences around the world. He has performed solo recitals and appeared with orchestras in Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the United States, including performances at Alice Tully Hall, Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, and Warsaw’s National Philharmonic. Having performed over 35 concertos, Armstrong has impressed his international audiences with a large repertoire ranging from Bach to Babbit and beyond. In 1996, he was named Gilmore Young Artist, and at the 1993 Van Cliburn Competition, where he was the youngest pianist entered, he received the Jury Discretionary Award.

Tickets for this Bombardier Great Performers recital on Monday, May 12 at 20:00 are on sale now at $19.00, $29.00, $39.00, $45.00, $49.00, and $59.00 with box seats at $69.00 (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. Subscriptions are also still available by calling the Subscription Office at 613-947-7000, ext. 620.

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.