NACOcast: A Classical Music Podcast

Latest Episodes:

A musical love triangle: Clara Schumann, Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms. May 05, 2020

Show notes

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.

Celebrating the NAC Orchestra’s 50th anniversary season Mar 03, 2020

Show notes

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

Rachel Mercer: NAC Orchestra Principal Cellist Feb 06, 2020

Show notes

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.

Peter Oundjian on his career in music Jan 10, 2020

Show notes

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.

Carrefour Composer Remy Siu Dec 05, 2019

Show notes

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.

Carrefour Composer Ian Cusson Dec 03, 2019

Show notes

Sean Rice, NAC Orchestra 2nd clarinet, talks with Toronto-based Carrefour* Composer Ian Cusson. They talk about R. Murray Schaffer, Bulgarian women’s choirs, and unrelated studies at the University of Toronto before delving into his chosen career. During Ian’s two year Carrefour residency with the NAC Orchestra from 2017-2019, he was commissioned for two works which received premieres at that National Gallery of Canada and in Southam Hall: Where There’s a Wall for mezzo-soprano and sextet, which featured poetry by acclaimed Japanese-Canadian poet, Joy Kogawa, and Le Loup de Lafontaine, an orchestral suite based on a story from his home town. During this time, he was also jointly commissioned by the NAC Orchestra and the Canadian Opera Company for Dodo, mon tout petit, an aria for soprano and orchestra, which will be included as part of Harry Somers and Mavor Moore’s opera, Louis Riel. An Associate Composer of the Canadian Music Centre, Ian is currently the Composer-in-Residence for the Canadian Opera Company.

* The Carrefour Composer Program is made possible by the Canada Council for the Arts.

Paul Wells interviews Howard Shore Nov 15, 2019

Show notes

Journalist and author Paul Wells has a fascinating conversation with composer Howard Shore about his passion for music making and acclaimed career as a composer for film, television and opera. Mr. Shore was at the National Arts Centre for the world premiere of his work The Forest: Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra which was commissioned by NAC Music Director Alexander Shelley with with Miloš Karadaglić playing the guitar.

Timo Andres Aug 02, 2019

Show notes

In this archival episode from 2016, NACOcast host Sean Rice connects with composer and pianist Timo Andres whose works were performed by members of the NAC Orchestra as part the WolfGANG Sessions.
During their conversation Andres discusses the inspiration and structure of his compositions Early to Rise and Safe Travels and describes himself as a very harmonic composer who is obsessed with compositional craft.
Philip Glass selected Timo Andres as the recipient of The City of Toronto Glenn Gould Protégé Prize in 2016 and calls Andres as “a brilliant compositional mind with a wonderful sense of interpretation of music.”

Elim Chan Jul 25, 2019

Show notes

Host Sean Rice speaks with conductor Elim Chan who made her NAC main series debut in the 18-19 season. A past fellow in the NAC Orchestra’s Conductor’s Program, the Hong Kong-born musician has made her mark on the classical music circuit with her thoughtful and dynamic performances, imbued with energy and imagination.

Elim and Sean discuss the experiences that shaped her journey into the world of conducting, their shared love of Mendelssohn and the newly commissioned Cello Concerto by Canadian composer Marjan Mozetich.

Blake Pouliot Jul 05, 2019

Show notes

Sean Rice, NAC Orchestra’s 2nd clarinetist, chats with Canadian violinist Blake Pouliot. At age fourteen Blake attended the NAC’s Young Artist Program and credits that experience for inspiring him to pursue a career in music.
Sean and Blake discuss the pressures of music competitions, his relationship with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal and Blake’s passion for French composers. Pouliot’s debut album for Analekta Records featuring works by Debussy and Ravel received a 2019 JUNO nomination for Best Classical Album.