Classical music and opera lovers were swept away, like a pair of romantics on a gondola ride down a moonlit canal, at this year’s Venetian-themed Italian garden party for Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra.
Ambassador Gian Lorenzo Cornado and his wife, Martine, greeted some 300 guests to their official residence in Gatineau on Tuesday. It was an exquisite evening for cocktails in a spacious backyard surrounded by stunning flowers, towering mature trees and an elegant mansion. Guests were gracefully summoned to their outdoor concert seats by a surprise flash mob of singers.
The $90 to $100-a-ticket party raised funds in support of the Friends’ efforts to award bursaries and scholarships to gifted young musicians.
“Through events such as this, we (ambassadors) are able to show our gratitude and our support to the community that welcomes us and to the wonderful country that hosts us — Canada,” said Cornado in his brief welcoming remarks.
The concert featured music inspired by Italy or written by Italian composers.
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![From left, Justice Michael Moldaver from the Supreme Court of Canada with Frank McArdle, executive director of the Canadian Superior Courts Judges Association, Supreme Court Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin and Riky Moldaver at the official residence of the Italian ambassador on Tuesday, July 5, 2016, for a garden party and concert held in support of Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra.]()
From left, Justice Michael Moldaver from the Supreme Court of Canada with Frank McArdle, executive director of the Canadian Superior Courts Judges Association, Supreme Court Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin and Riky Moldaver at the official residence of the Italian ambassador on Tuesday, July 5, 2016, for a garden party and concert held in support of Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra.
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![From left, Bill Pugsley with fellow organizing committee members Melina Vacca-Pugsley, Gerard Lavelle and Kym Ashton at the Venice-themed garden party and concert hosted by the Italian ambassador at his official residence in Gatineau on Tuesday, July 5, 2016, in support of Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra.]()
From left, Bill Pugsley with fellow organizing committee members Melina Vacca-Pugsley, Gerard Lavelle and Kym Ashton at the Venice-themed garden party and concert hosted by the Italian ambassador at his official residence in Gatineau on Tuesday, July 5, 2016, in support of Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra.
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![Dr. Gordon Watt and Joanne Watt with Pamela Robinson at the official residence of the Italian ambassador on Tuesday, July 5, 2016, for a garden party and concert held in support of Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra.]()
Dr. Gordon Watt and Joanne Watt with Pamela Robinson at the official residence of the Italian ambassador on Tuesday, July 5, 2016, for a garden party and concert held in support of Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra.
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![Carmen Perlain, from Global Affairs Canada, and her daughter, Ariane, attended a garden party and concert hosted by the Italian ambassador at his official residence in Gatineau on Tuesday, July 5, 2016, in support of Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra.]()
Carmen Perlain, from Global Affairs Canada, and her daughter, Ariane, attended a garden party and concert hosted by the Italian ambassador at his official residence in Gatineau on Tuesday, July 5, 2016, in support of Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra.
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![From left, Albert Benoit with fellow organizing committee members Nijole Kazlauskas-Deskin and Gerard Lavelle at the Venice-themed garden party held Tuesday, July 5, 2016, in Gatineau, at the official residence of the Italian ambassador, in support of Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra.]()
From left, Albert Benoit with fellow organizing committee members Nijole Kazlauskas-Deskin and Gerard Lavelle at the Venice-themed garden party held Tuesday, July 5, 2016, in Gatineau, at the official residence of the Italian ambassador, in support of Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra.
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![From left, Lisa Courtney Lloyd with sponsors Jane Forsyth and her husband Rob Marland, from Royal LePage Performance Realty, at a garden party for Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra, held at the official residence of the Italian ambassador on Tuesday, July 5, 2016.]()
From left, Lisa Courtney Lloyd with sponsors Jane Forsyth and her husband Rob Marland, from Royal LePage Performance Realty, at a garden party for Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra, held at the official residence of the Italian ambassador on Tuesday, July 5, 2016.
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![Ken McKinlay and his sister, Alain Tilgner, at the official residence of the Italian ambassador on Tuesday, July 5, 2016, for a garden party and outdoor concert held in support of Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra.]()
Ken McKinlay and his sister, Alain Tilgner, at the official residence of the Italian ambassador on Tuesday, July 5, 2016, for a garden party and outdoor concert held in support of Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra.
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![Jim Nininger and Patti Blute were out to support the Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra at a garden party hosted by the Italian ambassador at his official residence in Gatineau on Tuesday, July 5, 2016.]()
Jim Nininger and Patti Blute were out to support the Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra at a garden party hosted by the Italian ambassador at his official residence in Gatineau on Tuesday, July 5, 2016.
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![Marc Stevens, general manager of the National Arts Centre Orchestra, with pianist Silvie Cheng and her brother, cellist Bryan Cheng, both of whom performed as the Cheng Duo at a garden party in support of the Friends of the NAC Orchestra, hosted by the Italian ambassador at his official residence in Gatineau on Tuesday, July 5, 2016.]()
Marc Stevens, general manager of the National Arts Centre Orchestra, with pianist Silvie Cheng and her brother, cellist Bryan Cheng, both of whom performed as the Cheng Duo at a garden party in support of the Friends of the NAC Orchestra, hosted by the Italian ambassador at his official residence in Gatineau on Tuesday, July 5, 2016.
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![Cellist Bryan Cheng performed with National Arts Centre Orchestra concertmaster Yosuke Kawasaki at an outdoor concert held at the Italian ambassador's residence on Tuesday, July 5, 2016, as part of a fundraiser for the Friends of the NAC Orchestra.]()
Cellist Bryan Cheng performed with National Arts Centre Orchestra concertmaster Yosuke Kawasaki at an outdoor concert held at the Italian ambassador's residence on Tuesday, July 5, 2016, as part of a fundraiser for the Friends of the NAC Orchestra.
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![As the sun slowly set, baritone Gary Dahl opened with an old Italian love song, Venezia la luna e tu, at the Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra garden party and concert held at the official residence of the Italian ambassador on Tuesday, July 5, 2016.]()
As the sun slowly set, baritone Gary Dahl opened with an old Italian love song, Venezia la luna e tu, at the Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra garden party and concert held at the official residence of the Italian ambassador on Tuesday, July 5, 2016.
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![Not only does Dr. Fraser Rubens save lives but the cardiac surgeon can also sing, as demonstrated from his performance at a garden party and outdoor concert held at the official residence of the Italian ambassador in Gatineau on Tuesday, July 5, 2016, in support of Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra.]()
Not only does Dr. Fraser Rubens save lives but the cardiac surgeon can also sing, as demonstrated from his performance at a garden party and outdoor concert held at the official residence of the Italian ambassador in Gatineau on Tuesday, July 5, 2016, in support of Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra.
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![Italian Ambassador Gian Lorenzo Cornado welcomed 300 guests to his official residence in Gatineau on Tuesday, July 5, 2016 for a garden party and outdoor concert held in support of Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra.]()
Italian Ambassador Gian Lorenzo Cornado welcomed 300 guests to his official residence in Gatineau on Tuesday, July 5, 2016 for a garden party and outdoor concert held in support of Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra.
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![Martine Cornado and her husband, Italian Ambassador Gian Lorenzo Cornado, are seen greeting guests at a garden party they hosted at their official residence in Gatineau on Tuesday, July 5, 2016, in support of Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra.]()
Martine Cornado and her husband, Italian Ambassador Gian Lorenzo Cornado, are seen greeting guests at a garden party they hosted at their official residence in Gatineau on Tuesday, July 5, 2016, in support of Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra.
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![Violinist Jessica Linnebach, associate concertmaster with the National Arts Centre Orchestra -- nine-months pregnant with her second child -- was in safe hands with her physician, Dr. David Finestone, also present at the Italian garden party held Tuesday, July 5, 2016, for supporters of Friends of the NAC Orchestra.]()
Violinist Jessica Linnebach, associate concertmaster with the National Arts Centre Orchestra -- nine-months pregnant with her second child -- was in safe hands with her physician, Dr. David Finestone, also present at the Italian garden party held Tuesday, July 5, 2016, for supporters of Friends of the NAC Orchestra.
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![A crowd of about 300 gathered at the official residence of the Italian ambassador for a garden party and outdoor concert held Tuesday, July 5, 2016, in support of Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra.]()
A crowd of about 300 gathered at the official residence of the Italian ambassador for a garden party and outdoor concert held Tuesday, July 5, 2016, in support of Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra.
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![Jacques Shore, a law partner at Gowling WLG, with his wife, Dr. Donna Shore, at the official residence of the Italian ambassador on Tuesday, July 5, 2016, for a garden party and outdoor concert held in support of Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra.]()
Jacques Shore, a law partner at Gowling WLG, with his wife, Dr. Donna Shore, at the official residence of the Italian ambassador on Tuesday, July 5, 2016, for a garden party and outdoor concert held in support of Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra.
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![From left, Tony Manera, a former president of the CBC, with John Manley, president and CEO of the Business Council of Canada, and Mayor Jim Watson, at a Venice-themed garden party hosted by the Italian ambassador at his official residence in Gatineau on Tuesday, July 5, 2016, in support of Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra.]()
From left, Tony Manera, a former president of the CBC, with John Manley, president and CEO of the Business Council of Canada, and Mayor Jim Watson, at a Venice-themed garden party hosted by the Italian ambassador at his official residence in Gatineau on Tuesday, July 5, 2016, in support of Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra.
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![From left, Martine Cornado and her husband, Italian Ambassador Gian Lorenzo Cornado, with Supreme Court Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin and her husband, Frank McArdle, at the 'Venezia Mia' garden party held in support of the Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra on Tuesday, July 5, 2016.]()
From left, Martine Cornado and her husband, Italian Ambassador Gian Lorenzo Cornado, with Supreme Court Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin and her husband, Frank McArdle, at the 'Venezia Mia' garden party held in support of the Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra on Tuesday, July 5, 2016.
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![Adam Ashton, dressed as a gondolier, and his sister, Sarah, helped out at the Venice-themed garden party and concert hosted by the Italian ambassador at his official residence in Gatineau on Tuesday, July 5, 2016, in support of the Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra.]()
Adam Ashton, dressed as a gondolier, and his sister, Sarah, helped out at the Venice-themed garden party and concert hosted by the Italian ambassador at his official residence in Gatineau on Tuesday, July 5, 2016, in support of the Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra.
NAC Orchestra concertmaster Yosuke Kawasaki gave an electrifying performance of Vivaldi’s Summer, with fellow violinist Emily Westell, violist David Marks, cellist Thaddeus Morden and double bassist Hilda Cowie.
During a subsequent Vivaldi performance, when trumpet players Karen Donnelly and Steven van Gulik ran into a minor glitch with their sheet music, Kawasaki got the crowd laughing with his unintentional product placement. “This is why I play with an iPad Pro,” he announced, flashing his tablet to the audience.
Kawasaki’s wife, Jessica Linnebach, associate concertmaster with the NACO, was in attendance and nine months’ pregnant with their second child. She was in good hands, though; her physician, Dr. David Finestone, was also at the party.
Concert headliners also included baritone Gary Dahl and Heart Institute cardiac surgeon and trained tenor Fraser Rubens, with accompanist Judith Ginsburg.
Always a breath of fresh air were pianist Silvie Cheng and her younger brother, Bryan Cheng, playing on his rare 1754 Venetian cello. The young cellist, who is a 2016 NAC Orchestra bursary winner, also shared the stage with Kawasaki for a performance together.
Attendees included Supreme Court Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin and her colleague, Justice Michael Moldaver, with their respective spouses, Mayor Jim Watson, and former Olympian-turned-Royal LePage real estate agent Rob Marland and his wife Jane Forsyth as sponsors.
Getting lucky that night was former Liberal deputy prime minister John Manley, now president and CEO of the Business Council of Canada. He won one of the random prizes — a gift certificate to the Italian restaurant Babbos, located in Manotick.
