The National Arts Centre Orchestra was born in the cultural euphoria of the 1960’s, an off shoot of a bold Centennial Year project for our nation’s capital. Not only did Ottawa get its first arts centre complex, it acquired a world class orchestra almost instantly.  Meet the bold and visionary men who created the NAC and the orchestra.  Hear from Music Director Mario Bernardi and from players and music lovers alike who remember those early days, and hear excerpts from the orchestra’s audio archive.

Summer Special Episode 1 - An Orchestra is born: The Bernardi Years

Join host Sean Rice (Second Clarinet, NAC Orchestra) as he explores the world of classical music and its great composers. In this series of audio programmes you can look forward to hearing insightful commentary about upcoming NAC Orchestra programmes as well as musical excerpts and interviews with NACO musicians and guest artists.

Music

NAC Orchestra Music Director Alexander Shelley talks with uOttawa Professor and Clara Schumann expert Julie Pedneault-Deslauriers about the Orchestra's recording project focusing on Clara Schumann, Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms. The first release, recorded live in Southam Hall at the NAC, can be purchased online.

A musical love triangle: Clara Schumann, Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms.

In this episode of the NACOcast NAC Orchestra violinist Carissa Klopoushak interviews two founding violinists, Karoly Sziladi and Elaine Klimasko. They are joined by long time orchestra champion Evelyn Greenberg who was also the original harpsichordist and pianist of the orchestra. Together they share many wonderful memories, from first auditions to fifty years of touring and performing across Canada and the world. This episode of the NACOcast will transport you to the very beginning of this beloved orchestral family.

Additional Resources:

NACO at 50: Karoly Szilady’s journey full of musical memories

NACO on Tour: On the road with the happy warrior Elaine Klimasko

Musical memories: Evelyn Greenberg connects NACO and uOttawa

The NAC celebrates our 50th anniversary all year long

Celebrating the NAC Orchestra’s 50th anniversary season

An advocate for Canadian music, Principal Cellist Rachel Mercer speaks with Sean Rice about her activities in and beyond the National Arts Centre Orchestra, including recording, commissioning and playing world premieres. Recorded prior to Rachel's Casual Friday debut with NACO and Alexander Shelley of the world premiere of Canadian pianist and composer Stewart Goodyear's Cello Concerto.

Rachel Mercer: NAC Orchestra Principal Cellist

In this archival episode of the NACOcast host Sean Rice, NAC Orchestra’s 2nd clarinetist,  speaks with conductor Peter Oundjian weeks before his retirement as Music Director of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in 2018. They discuss Bruckner’s Eighth Symphony and Peter shares memories from his student days at The Juilliard School, his first encounter with Pinchas Zukerman and performing with the National Arts Centre Orchestra.

Peter Oundjian on his career in music

In this episode of the NACOcast host Sean Rice (Second clarinet, NAC Orchestra) speaks with Remy Siu Carrefour Composer (2017-2019) about his early interest in film as well as his multi-disciplinary studies at Simon Fraser Univeristy that sparked his love for artist collaboration.
 
In 2015 in collaboration with Western Front, Remy fused his many interests to create Foxconn Frequency (no.2) — for one visibly Chinese performer. Today his work continues to span chamber music, dance, theatre, installations, and audio-visual work. During his residency with the Canada Council for the Arts and the National Arts Centre’s Carrefour Composer program, Remy composed New Notations, a work for two X-box controllers and machine, which will premiere in 2020.

Summer Special Episode 1 - An Orchestra is born: The Bernardi Years

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