This past summer, in the three months after July 1, about 235,000 people visited the Canada History Hall. The numbers confirmed something that Mark O'Neill holds to be true: that given the opportunity, Canadians will seize the chance to learn about their history. The president and CEO
When Mr. Shi and His Lover opens at the National Arts Centre next week, its Canadian composer Njo Kong Kie will be cocking a keen ear for the reaction from one particular segment of the audience. What all members of the audience will see and hear
Kevin Loring, who this summer was appointed artistic director of the new Indigenous Theatre at the National Arts Centre, assumed his official duties in October. The Governor General Award-winning playwright, actor and teacher is a member of the N’lakap’amux People from Lytton First Nation in
When Dr. Roseann O'Reilly Runte took up the job as president and vice-rector of Carleton University in 2008, one of the first jobs on her to do list was a strategic plan to guide the development of the institution. To that end she began a series
The rejuvenated National Arts Centre likes to speak about its new atrium space as a living room where everyone is welcome. Well, to continue the metaphor, the Kipnes Lantern, is the living room's home theatre. But it's like no home theatre you've ever seen. While there
When the headlines are dominated by stories of legendary classical stars engaging in the worst behaviour imaginable, it helps to just focus on the life-affirming power of the music itself. Friday night I broke my own rule of never reviewing Handel’s Messiah for Alexander Shelley’s first
By Ruth Tecle A group of Ottawa-based stand-up comedians is trying to grow the local comedy scene by hearing from underrepresented members of their community. To that end, they have created the Ottawa Comedy Community Facebook group. It began in May, started by comics who decided performers need
The #metoo movement is sweeping through the international arts world and now a legendary conductor has been accused of sexual harassment. In an Associated Press story out of San Francisco, three opera singers and a musician have accused Charles Dutoit, who led the Orchestre Symphonique de
The No. 2 person at the National Gallery of Canada is packing his bags and returning to his European home. Paul Lang, the gallery’s deputy director and chief curator since 2011, will leave Ottawa March 16 to fill a position in Strasbourg, France. As of April
Old chestnuts, new creations, sleigh bells and choirs, an international virtuoso, even a carol singalong to two — NACO’s sold-out Christmas concert on Wednesday had something for every music lover on Santa’s Nice list. The biggest gift under the tree was the Canadian premiere of
