The French composer and musical director Thierry Pécou has had many influences on his musical life. And most of them find their way into his work, especially with the group he founded, Ensemble Variances. This Sunday, Ensemble Variances will perform a Chamberfest concert with music by
The name Henriëtte Bosmans isn't well-known today. But in the years before the Second World War, she was a prominent female composer in The Netherlands. As a bisexual woman with a Jewish mother and Catholic father she was under threat during the Nazi occupation of Holland.
Unless it’s a special tribute or anniversary event, it’s unusual to see an entire concert dedicated to the works of a single living composer. But John Armstrong’s output has been prolific and consistent enough to allow for an afternoon program that didn’t lack for variety
The winner of this year's Siminovitch prize in theatre is the author of many scripts that investigate and celebrate difference. Marcus Youssef picked up the award for $75,000 Monday night in Ottawa at a ceremony at the National Arts Centre. The rest of the $100,000 award
Ottawa's Kevin Reeves is a musical and artistic jack of all trades but his main focus is on the performances of his choir Seventeen Voyces. Reeves' concerts are always ambitious and innovative. On Nov. 11, he'll lead the largest concert he has ever attempted with
The pace has been dizzying for Ottawa's School of Photographic Arts over the past 12 months but the stars have aligned and SPAO is ready to officially open its doors on Nov. 10. The school has actually been operating since September, says Jonathan Hobin, who has
The key to life in the big city? Ignore the big and celebrate the everyday. It sounds trite, but Ordinary Days – Adam Gwon’s thoughtfully empathetic chamber musical about four young people adrift in New York City – is just the opposite of pedestrian, as the
Aaron Watkin is a long way from home. The Canadian ex-pat is the artistic director of a major ballet company in Dresden and living and working in one of the famous old centres of culture in central Europe. His company, the Semperoper Ballett will perform
By Maggie Parkhill With the curtain about to come down on Canada 150 celebrations, local artists are beginning to look ahead for fresh opportunities to showcase their work. But in case they need some help, the annual Artpreneur gathering is a ready resource. The annual conference has been
New exhibitions at the National Gallery show how our nation, photography, and the relationship between the two have changed since both were in their infancy. “In the second half of the 19th century, legions of prospectors left everything behind to set off in search of
