National Arts Centre Orchestra

Brahms’ Symphony No. 4 might well be the perfect expression of German Romanticism in a symphony— passionate, filled with fury, and aimed straight at the heart. Conducted by Alexander Shelley with Canadian baritone Joshua Hopkins making his Isabel debut, Songs for Murdered Sisters is an NAC co-commissioned song cycle for baritone solo and orchestra, based on original poetry by Canadian author Margaret Atwood. Music by Jake Heggie, best known for his contemporary operas It’s a Wonderful Life and Dead Man Walking, embraces and builds on the passion of Atwood’s powerful words.

 Barbara Assiginaak                                concerto grosso (NACO commission)

 Jake Heggie and Margaret Atwood       Songs for Murdered Sisters ( co-commissioned for Joshua Hopkins by the NAC Orchestra and the Houston Grand Opera)

 Brahms                                                  Symphony No. 4 in E Minor, Op. 98