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
Jan Lisiecki is no stranger to BMF audiences and has been wowing us in Hamilton and Burlington performances for three years now. At the Sports Fever concert, he deconstructed the final movement of Chopin's Second Piano Concerto for the audience, demonstrating how he had to practise both technically and emotionally to prepare the piece, just as an athlete would practice his/her sport technique and hone his/her competitive drive for an optimum performance.
Calgary's Jan Lisiecki backstage at the NAC with the
Ottawa 67s mascot, Riley Raccoon
Of course the upcoming Vancouver Olympics were on the tips of everyone’s tongue and what better guest than Nancy Greene Raine, Canada’s Female athlete of the 20th century and now a Senator.
Senator Nancy Greene-Raine, former Skiing Champion and Boris Brott backstage at NAC
It was definitely a meeting of Canadian Who's Who as the Orchestra performed works such as David Foster's Olympic Fanfare (1988 Calgary Olympic Games) John Williams Olympic Fanfare (1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games), Peter Schikele's Beethoven 5 (read out in play by play fashion by Boris and Jacques Bergeron, and Khatchaturian Sabre Dance to name a few.
Boris made sure to practise his play-by-play commentary before the concert and here's a sampling of his behind the scenes preparation.
Also on the program was a piece Festival patrons will remember from this past summer. Composer Maxime Goulet's rousing and stately Citius Altius Fortius was composed for a Vancouver 2010 Olympic fanfare competition. The five minute work was conducted at the 2009 Brott Music Festival on July 4 by NAO apprentice conductor Genevieve Leclair. Listen to the work here http://www.maximegoulet.com/fr/mus_concert.htm
Here's CTV's official theme for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. I Believe, composed by Stephan Moccio of Toronto and sung by Nikki Yanovsky.
One more week and the world comes to Vancouver!