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FREE – Registration required - Tickets available starting May 1st

No passport required! Join the National Arts Centre Orchestra for a special send-off concert in Ottawa before they embark on their tour to Japan and Korea.

This free (but ticketed) event offers a unique opportunity to connect with the Orchestra and experience a preview of the exciting repertoire they’ll be performing on their international journey.

7:00 PM – Onstage Talk

Hosted by Paul Wells in Southam Hall, this conversation will feature conductor Alexander Shelley and Canadian composer Kelly-Marie Murphy. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the tour, the music, and the artists who will bring Canadian culture to the world stage.

8:00 PM – Concert

The concert will begin with a performance of Brahms’ Hungarian Dances No. 5 and 6, followed by Canadian composer Kelly-Marie Murphy’s Dark Nights, Bright Stars, Vast Universe. This evocative work, commissioned by the NAC, explores the beauty and mystery of the cosmos through powerful, emotional soundscapes. The evening will conclude with Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, a dramatic and deeply moving piece, featuring piano prodigy Olga Scheps.

Be part of this unforgettable evening as we celebrate Canadian artistry, and join us to wish the NAC Orchestra and Alexander Shelley a warm bon voyage!