Mahler's Adagietto & How the Gold Was Won.

Gustav Mahler’s gorgeous Adagietto is the fourth movement of his five movement Symphony No. 5 The fourth movement is arguably Mahler's most famous single piece of music, and is the most frequently performed extract from Mahler's works. Mahler was probably right when he wished he could conduct his Fifth Symphony 50 years after his death when it would be more appreciated. For many years only the Adagietto - sans the other four movements of the symphony was performed by orchestras around the world, too afraid that audiences wouldn't take to an entire Mahler Symphonic work. It is written for harp and strings.

Classical Cafe with Megan Jones, violin

Yesterday afternoon, NAO alumni Megan Jones and Katherine Mrmak serenaded an enthusiastic crowd at the Artword Artbar Cafe on Colborne St. just off the James North. The two musicians were lovely Mistresses of Ceremony and had an interactive and lovely interchange with audience members.

From Ottawa: Boris, Eugene Levy & the Case of the Cryptic Autograph

Congratulations to the National Arts Centre in Ottawa on their 40th anniversary – the world class building has housed a world-class theatre, music and dance ensembles since 1969.

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Coincidentally, it is also the 40th anniversary of Boris Brott coming to Hamilton to base his career as a conductor here, while travelling all over the world. Congratulations Boris and thanks for staying! Hamilton and this Festival is blessed to have you if we do say so ourselves… we’ll have to find some ways to celebrate later this year!

Back to Ottawa – Boris was at the helm of a 40th anniversary celebration of the best of Young People’s Programmes at the NAC yesterday with some very special guest stars. Kathy and Karin Kettler stopped by to wow the audience with traditional Inuit throat singing. You’ll remember them from our kids’ concerts at Hamilton Place this past November.

Our Executive Director Ardyth Brott was also in attendance and was thrilled to find Karin`s son Nathan and mother seated next to her at the concert.

Special guest star Eugene Levy also stopped by. He made an appearance at a hugely successful concert two years ago entitled Music & Humour. Here he and Boris have a moment backstage.

All were popular backstage presences and Boris took the time to sign someone's T-shirt -- quite the rockstar!

Letter from Vancouver: Day 5

The Brott Blog is pleased to have a few Vancouverites at our service who have promised to report on their perspectives as residents in our fair Olympic city to the West during these exciting 17 days. We are always thrilled to hear from the always-effervescent and cultured Irene Kavanagh, whose wit and charm will liven up anyone's rainy (or snowy as the case may be) Vancouver day:

Good Tuesday morning, Brott Festival!

What a weekend! I was positively inspired by Alex Bilodeau’s win….. and OMG… who wrote that Tim Hortons commercial!!….. I was completely run over at my own unexpected emotional reaction…..by the time the reunited family emerged from the airport wearing all the newly purchased winter clothes, I was a blubbering mass of confused protoplasm. The finest in manipulative advertising BUT apparently “based on a true story” as the introductory title stated.

Alex Bilodeau….perfection all the way down that run! And now Mike Robertson from Alberta, who won Silver for the Men’s Downhill Cross…a crazed snowboarding event….. these people have knees from the gods…..

From Us To You!

Artist: Jacqui Templeton Muir

Go Canada!

CBC News - Music - Popular music a way to preserve Inuktitut

CBC News - Music - Popular music a way to preserve Inuktitut

Classical Cafe - Finally! An opportunity to enjoy NAO performances in the offseason

Join the fantastic musicians of the National Academy Orchestra for a lovely afternoon of music at the Artword Artbar Cafe the third Sunday of each month.
Upcoming performances of Classical Cafe -- all begin at 2 pm include;

Sunday February 21 - 2 pm

String Extravaganza with Megan Jones, violin

Sunday March 21 - 2 pm

Haut Canada Trio

(Marc Gibbons, oboe;  Spencer de Man, bassoon; Talisa Blackman, piano) 

Boris conducts NAC's Sports Fever: Just in time for the Olympics

Boris recently conducted the National Arts Centre Orchestra’s Sports Fever performance on January 23, 2010, which celebrated music associated with sport, spirit and a certain event coming soon to a Canadian city near us (or not so near).

In addition to the concert, there were activities on the three levels of the NAC. Families could meet Olympians signing autographs, experiment with a musical instrument “petting zoo” and made arts and crafts or try their luck at golf putting.

Said one mother: “The line up of special guests and athletes was outstanding. I was really impressed by the thought and effort that went into organizing the event. Broadcaster Kevin Newman from Global Television hosted, skiing legend Nancy Greene Raine led the warm up exercises and NAC Principal Youth and Family Conductor Boris Brott took it all in stride. Also featured were gymnasts, dancers, cheerleaders and über talented 14-year-old pianist Jan Lisiecki.”

L-R Global News' Kevin Newman, Jan Lisiecki, Senator Nancy Greene-Raine backstage at NAC

NAO Alumni Update: Martin MacDonald (Conductor '06-'09)

We're often asked by patrons how conductor Martin MacDonald is faring in his new post as Resident Conductor of Symphony Nova Scotia. The answer, judging from this picture (taken Jan. 29, 2010 at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium), is he's having a whole lot of fun in his new role.

L-R Scott Long, bagpipes; Ashley MacIsaac, fiddle;

and the kilted Martin MacDonald, conductor

Music & The Inuit Spirit - Nov. 2009

A lovely clip from Cable 14's show called Hamilton Life covering Music & The Inuit Spirit, the Festival's renowned Education Concert. It attracted 6,000 students to Hamilton Place on November 18, 2009. We were especially pleased to welcome Inuit performers Kathy & Karin Kettler, who astonished everyone with their throat singing talents and Karin's son Nathan, who did a great job demonstrating the art of drum dancing. Bravo!