When the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Canada’s small-ish capital signed such a big star as music director, some observers were more than a little puzzled. “Pinchas Zukerman in Ottawa? Had the great violinist lost his bow arm? Were the tax people pursuing him south of the 49th parallel?” William Littler suggests another reason: the band itself. “‘Just wait until you hear them tonight,’ says the maestro. ‘Listen to their Tchaikovsky!'”