The diversity of Canadian talent, and international stars, make for a winning combination that The National Arts Centre is aiming to repeat for its 2024-25 season. The lineup was recently announced for all disciplines housed at the NAC, including NAC Dance, the NAC Orchestra and conductor Alexander Shelley, NAC Indigenous, English and French Theatre sections, Popular Music and Variety, and 1 Elgin Culinary Arts.
“The performing arts are essential to the human experience, inviting us to connect with beauty and wonder, laughter and tears,” says NAC President and CEO Christopher Deacon. “Through performance and story, the arts bring us together and enable us to learn from one another. We invite everyone to come and experience our extraordinary 2024-2025 season, featuring wonderful performances and brilliant artists from across Canada and around the world. We greatly look forward to welcoming you to the NAC.”
New works and traditional favourites are juxtaposed and blended into the new season, which kicks off in September 2024 with a multi-disciplinary festival.
SPHERE | September 1 – 20
All of the NAC disciplines, including dance, theatre, and music in all configurations, as well as culinary arts, participate in the festival that launches the new season. This year, the festival expands on the environmental themes first explored in the inaugural SPHERE festival in 2022, including humanity’ relationship to Earth, and a spotlight on water, watersheds, and rivers.
Produced by the NAC Orchestra and curated by festival Artistic Director Alexander Shelley, highlights include the premiere of a dance commission, choreographed by Andrea Peña with images by photographs of Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky, along with a variety of orchestral concerts, including performances by Jeremy Dutcher and soprano Renée Fleming.
NAC Orchestra
“As we continue to explore new horizons and push the boundaries of the symphonic experience, I invite audiences to join us for what promises to be an unforgettable season of music and inspiration. This season marks a special milestone for me as I celebrate my tenth anniversary with my beloved NAC Orchestra and our wonderful audience. Whether you are a seasoned concertgoer or attending your very first performance, thank you for your continued support, and I look forward to sharing these remarkable programs. Our upcoming season is brimming with opportunities for connection,” comments Alexander Shelley, Music Director, NAC Orchestra.
This season will see Maesto Shelley premiere works by composers Ian Cusson, Alexina Louie, and John Escatio. The three pieces will be included in a new recording project alongside the music of Richard Strauss.
Guest soloists include Jeremy Dutcher, violin virtuoso Hilary Hahn, Branford Marsalis, Renée Fleming, pianists Angela Hewitt, Gabriela Montero, Yeol Eum Son, Jonathan Biss, and Marc-André Hamelin, and Broadway star Norm Lewis.
Concert Highlights
- Principal Guest Conductor John Storgårds’s interpretation of Carl Nielsen and Kaija Saariaho;
- A cornucopia of Beethoven, including the Fifth and Seventh Symphonies and two piano concertos;
- Baroque specialist Trevor Pinnock, former Music Director of the NAC Orchestra (1991-1997), returns to lead the Orchestra in performances of Handel’s Messiah;
- Barbara Hannigan and NOBU (a.k.a. Nobuyuki Tsujii) lead the list of recitalists in Southam Hall.
Japanese composer Nobuo Uematsu’s music for the FINAL FANTASY games will be featured in the NAC Orchestra’s first video game soundtrack concert. Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser curates a night of Calypso music featuring a steelpan soloist in Steelpan Symphony, and continues to lead the Orchestra’s highly popular Family Adventures series for all ages.
Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly curates a series of concerts showcasing the best of Broadway, jazz, and cinema, with the NAC Orchestra performing live soundtracks to Spielberg’s E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Will Ferrell’s Christmas comedy, Elf. Jazz trumpeter and conductor Byron Stripling presents Harlem Nights: From Ella to Ellington.
NAC DANCE
“Dance is essential to everyone. From ballet to contemporary, and everything in between, our 2024-2025 season is filled with thought-provoking pieces that explore themes anchored in our time and offer reflections on societal issues while bringing light and beauty,” says Caroline Ohrt, Executive Producer, NAC Dance.
In the Dance program, visiting companies offer a range of ballet performances, including:
- Ballet BC with their spectacular Bolero X, featuring 50 dancers on stage, in a mixed program;
- The National Ballet of Canada and Giselle;
- The Royal Winnipeg Ballet performs Jekyll & Hyde, a new story ballet based on the novella;
- Les Grands Ballets Canadiens returns for the holiday favourite The Nutcracker.
International companies:
- Far From The Norm (UK);
- Peeping Tom (Belgium);
- Maud Le Pladec (France);
- Serge Aimé Coulibaly with his company Faso Dance Theatre (Burkina Faso)’
- MOMIX (USA).
Four co-productions between NAC DANCE and Canadian artists:
- Compagnie Catherine Gaudet’s Les jolies choses;
- Compagnie Virginie Brunelle’s Fables;
- Le Patin Libre’s Murmuration;
- Dancers of Damelahamid’s Raven Mother, co-presented with Indigenous Theatre.
NAC Presents
“We believe that Our Stories Are Medicine. We continue to share Indigenous stories because they are the stories of this land. And they are our stories told in our voices. They are a celebration of our ancestors, our communities, and future generations. We are so excited to share these moments with you,” says Kevin Loring, Artistic Director, NAC Indigenous Theatre.
In addition to dance and orchestral music, NAC presents works under several other umbrellas:
- NAC INDIGENOUS THEATRE returns for a fifth season under Artistic Director Kevin Loring.
- NAC ENGLISH THEATRE is led by Artistic Director Nina Lee Aquino, fresh off the success of Aquino’s inaugural season in 2023-24;
- NAC FRENCH THEATRE led by Mani Soleymanlou in his third season as Artistic Director
- NAC POPULAR MUSIC AND VARIETY programming includes Canadian R&B sensation Jully Black, Japanese taiko drum group Kodo, Graham Nash, Susan Aglukark, and many more.
Renewing season subscribers can book as of May 10; new subscribers and individual show tickets on sale June 18. More information and tickets [HERE].
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