Apr. 18, Toronto: Associate Principal Trumpet Jeffrey Curnow is also a very accomplished cartoonist, often providing them to NPR. He takes advantage of some time at the Toronto Pearson Airport to create a few new cartoons.
Apr. 18, Ottawa: At the National Arts Centre, Orchestra musicians lead a Music Circle program, an adaptive music education workshop and performance for young adults with autism and other exceptionalities: (l to r) violinist Jennifer Haas; Assistant Principal Second Violin Dara Morales, who served as host for the program (in background); violist Meng Wang; violinist Mei Ching Huang; and Principal Cello Hai-Ye Ni. Photo by Catherine Wilkie
Apr. 18, Ottawa: Mei Ching and a program facilitator help a program participant play the violin during an “instrument petting zoo.” Photo by Catherine Wilkie
Apr. 18, Ottawa: A program member gets tremendous pleasure from playing the viola. Photo by Catherine Wilkie
Apr. 18, Ottawa: Meng helps position the bow correctly. Photo by Catherine Wilkie
Apr. 18, Ottawa: A brand new violinist makes some music with the help of Meng. Photo by Catherine Wilkie
Apr. 18, Ottawa: A program participant tries plucking the strings of Mei Ching’s violin. Photo by Catherine Wilkie
Apr. 18, Ottawa: United States Ambassador to Canada David L. Cohen held a reception in the Orchestra’s honor at his official residence, Lornado. Originally built for an American-born, Ottawa-based industrialist, the home became the ambassador’s official residence in 1935. Photo by Curtis Perry
Apr. 18, Ottawa: Ambassador Cohen greets his guests. He remarked that the gathering was admittedly a rather unusual assortment of people from all walks of his life. But he noted “that’s the beautiful thing about music. … It creates bridges that bring people together. Music is a convener, a conversation starter, and an essential component not only of the cultural connections between our two countries, but also as an engine for the equitable economic revitalization and growth of both Canada and the United States.” He went on to say, “Music moves us, inspires us, and heals us” and described his pride for the Orchestra musicians and their talent as well as their outreach on this tour, which focuses “on being inclusive and accessible to audiences that don’t often have the opportunity to meet world-class musicians.” Photo by Curtis Perry
Apr. 18, Ottawa: Philadelphia Orchestra and Ensemble Arts President and CEO Matías Tarnopolsky makes remarks at the reception. He pointed out that this visit is a homecoming of sorts for many in the Orchestra, including Music and Artistic Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin and numerous musicians and staff who have Canadian roots and connections. He also made reference to the fact that the Orchestra’s first trip outside the United States was to Canada, in 1918. Photo by Curtis Perry
Apr. 18, Ottawa: Ambassador Cohen bobblehead meets Yannick bobblehead. Photo by Curtis Perry
Apr. 18, Ottawa: At the reception are (l to r): Gregg Caren, president and CEO of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, one of the Tour sponsors; Richard Lee Snow, United Negro College Fund regional development director for the mid-Atlantic region; Ambassador Cohen; Patrick Oates, senior vice president for business development at EMSCO Scientific Enterprises, Inc.; Matías Tarnopolsky; and Philadelphia Orchestra and Ensemble Arts Board Chair Ralph Muller. Photo by Curtis Perry
Apr. 18, Ottawa: Violinist Philip Kates (left) and bass player Duane Rosengard backstage prior to the concert. Photo by Curtis Perry
Apr. 18, Ottawa: A typical backstage scene on tour. Photo by Curtis Perry
Apr. 18, Ottawa: The concert in Southam Hall at the National Arts Centre opened with Florence Price’s Symphony No. 4. Yannick and the Orchestra have been restoring, performing, and recording the works of Price, winning their first-ever GRAMMY® Award for “Best Orchestral Performance” in 2022 for a recording of her First and Third symphonies. Photo by Curtis Perry
Apr. 18, Ottawa: Yannick during the Price performance. Photo by Curtis Perry
Apr. 18, Ottawa: The cello and bass sections. Photo by Curtis Perry
Apr. 18, Ottawa: Following the Price Symphony, Yannick makes his way through the ensemble giving solo bows to musicians. Photo by Curtis Perry
Apr. 18, Ottawa: The violin sections during the Rachmaninoff Second Symphony in the second half of the concert. Photo by Curtis Perry
Apr. 18, Ottawa: Photo by Curtis Perry
Apr. 18, Ottawa: Yannick and the Orchestra acknowledge the rousing standing ovation given to them by the capacity crowd. The people of Ottawa were especially excited for this performance, with the concert selling out last fall. This was only the second time the Philadelphians had appeared in Ottawa; the first time was in 1945. The ensemble was scheduled to give a concert in the city in 1924 but the train from Montreal stalled in a blizzard and they were not able to arrive in time. Photo by Curtis Perry
Apr. 18, Ottawa: Double bass player David Fay (second from left) was born in England but emigrated to Ottawa in 1968. He still has a lot of family in the area and many of them gathered together at the concert, including his wife, viola substitute Pamela Fay (front, center).
Apr. 18, Ottawa: There was a post-concert reception held at the hall. Ambassador Cohen offers remarks. Photo by Curtis Perry
Apr. 18, Ottawa: Yannick also took the podium to express his heartfelt thanks for such a warm welcome. Photo by Curtis Perry
Apr. 18, Ottawa: Matías, Yannick, and National Arts Centre President and CEO Christopher Deacon pose at the reception. Photo by Curtis Perry