On June 16 and 17 in Ottawa, and June 20 in Montréal, the National Arts Centre Orchestra and the Orchestre Métropolitain will join forces – along with eight soloists and a 296-voice mass choir – under the leadership of OM music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin, for Gustav Mahler‘s Symphony No. 8. The Ottawa performances mark the first-ever performance of the work by the National Arts Centre Orchestra and all three concerts are now completely sold out. The cast of soloists includes Erin Wall, Joni Henson, and Nathalie Paulin, sopranos; Susan Platts and Anita Krause, mezzo-sopranos, John MacMaster, tenor; Alexander Dobson, baritone; and Robert Pomakov, bass – and a chorus of 296 comprised of the Ottawa Choral Society (Matthew Larkin, Director), Cantata Singers of Ottawa (Michael Zaugg, Director), Ottawa Festival Chorus (Laurence Ewashko, Director), The Ewashko Singers (Laurence Ewashko, Director), Choeur de l’Orchestre Métropolitain (Alain Cazes and Pierre Tourville, Directors), and the Boys and Girls Choirs from Christ Church Cathedral, Ottawa (Matthew Larkin and Timothy Piper, Directors) – all under the direction of Duain Wolfe, Chorusmaster.

The performance on June 16 will also feature a very special presentation: her Excellency Michaëlle Jean will present a Governor General’s Performing Arts Award to Maestro Nézet-Séguin. Although the awards were “officially” presented in Ottawa on May 1, Maestro Nézet-Séguin was not able to attend, due to a previous conducting commitment – so a short on-stage ceremony (including a short film, produced by the National Film Board of Canada) will take place prior to the opening of the concert on June 16. For additional information, you can visit the NAC website here.