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.
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!
Huh? let's get a closeup of that.
Looks like something to do with a Bflat and a fermata, but we'll have to get the details from the Maestro himself as to the translation of this most creative autograph!
And Jessica Linnebach, who has appeared as concertmaster and soloist with our Festival many times performed the last movement of Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto to the delight of the young families in the audience.She plays for the NAC now and tours with the extraordinary Zukerman Players. She is a passionate player who adds something special to any performance.
She first performed with an orchestra when she was seven (Boris was conductor, of course!)