Ottawa Report

Performing Arts & Entertainment in Canada, Wntr, 1999 by Terri Revie

CMC Ottawa has had a very active fall and winter program, consisting of a fine selection of embassy recitals. The embassies are an important aspect of cultural Life in Ottawa, hosting recitals and complementing the music with Lovely receptions afterwards. The receptions are always a highlight because each embassy serves specialties from its own cuisine.

Just as the food is distinctive at the different embassies, so is the music. During the current season, recitals have been held at the Polish, Moroccan and Indonesian Embassies and at the British High Commission. At the PoLish Embassy, for example, the program featured predominantly Polish music, such as Chopin.

Later in the spring the French and Russian Embassies hosted recitals featuring French music and Russian concertos, respectively. These recitals gave excellent opportunities for the top young musicians to perform before very appreciative audiences in an atmosphere of distinctive ambience.

This year CMC is especially privileged to be participating with the CBC in the Thursday noon-hour concerts at the National Art Gallery. The concerts are dedicated to the memory of the late Professor Douglas Voice and are broadcast on Sundays on Artscape with Gary Hayes.

An exceptional CMC Ottawa benefit event will take place on December 2, 1999, just days before the new millennium. An Evening of Music and Poetry in the Chateau Laurier ballroom will feature internationally acclaimed Canadian concert pianist Angela Hewitt in a collaborative program with the well-known CBC host, Eric Friesen, who will read from his newly-published book on music and poetry. Ms. Hewitt's music has been described as "poetry of the piano."

This will be her last Ottawa performance of the 20th century, and the unique program for this special evening will combine music and poetry to provide an outstanding experience for all those who attend.

CMC Ottawa is particularly delighted now that arrangements are being made with Chapters to sponsor the distribution of tickets to this exciting event through the Chapters bookstores in Ottawa.