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Macleans.ca

Canada’s magazine

Music: Belly of the beast

Every summer for two afternoons, the National Arts Centre Orchestra puts a few rows of chairs at the front of its rehearsal room so spectators can attend its New Music Readings. Last year it was so crowded that this year they’ve moved the whole thing into the big airy main foyer outside Southam Hall. I attended last year and will be sorry to miss it this year. If you’re in Ottawa, have some free time Thursday and Friday from 3:30 p.m., and want to see how an orchestra works, bear it in mind.