Starting October 1st, an MP3 recording of a complete Beethoven symphony
will be downloadable for free from the National Arts Centre Orchestra's
Web site (http://www.nac-cna.ca).  This is the first time a major North
American ensemble will offer a complete symphony recording for free in
this format.

The work in question is Beethoven's Symphony No. 1, which is featured on
a new CBC Records disc that will appear in stores tomorrow.  The disc also
includes the Symphony No. 2 and Beethoven's Romance No. 2, with the NAC's
conductor, Pinchas Zukerman, as soloist.

Zukerman and orchestra officials see this technology as a way to reach
young people who haven't grown up with CM and would be unlikely to purchase
a classical CD.  Visitors to the web site who might enjoy the recording may
be willing to attend a concert or buy a CD.

To download the recordings, click on the Web site's NAC Orchestra Tour
section, and follow insturctions.  It takes about 30 minutes to download
with a slow modem; those with high-speed technology could do it in as
little as 5 minutes.

The disc will be available for purchase on the Web site, along with the
recording of Vivaldi's Four Seasons which the orchestra made with Zukerman
last year.  A CBC Records manager does not expect sales of the recording to
be hurt.

There is some eagerness to learn how many people will take advantage of
this offer.  Other Canadian and US orchestras will also be watching.

12,500 elementary schools across Canada will also be receiving the
Beethoven CD as part of a Teachers Resource Kit prepared to help teachers
introduce children to CM.  Teachers gave rave reviews about a similar kit
on Vivaldi that was given out during the orchestra's cross-Canada tour last
year.  Zukerman and orchestra musicians also gave classes and special
concerts for students during that tour; the same is planned for their
coming European tour.

(Paraphrased from an article in The Ottawa Citizen, Saturday 23rd
September, 2000:  page J-1to J2)

Stephen Mazey, this article's author, reported to me that an additional,
as yet unconfirmed plan is to offer for downloading Beethoven's Romance
No. 1, which did not fit on the CD.  It is currently being mixed.

Bert Bailey, in Ottawa