Press Release

Les 24 heures du banc (2005 Season)

Orgue et couleurs presents
24 hours at the bench
a unique organ marathon — 5th Edition

Friday, June 10 at noon to Saturday, June 11 at noon
Christ Church Cathedral
635 Ste-Catherine St. W., Montréal

Free admission / voluntary contribution
Information: (514) 899-0644 / www.orgueetcouleurs.com

Montréal, Tuesday, May 31, 2005 — Orgue et couleurs, under the artistic direction of Régis Rousseau, is delighted to present its unique organ marathon 24 hours at the bench. For a fifth consecutive year, organists will “compete” with racing-car drivers at this novel event inspired by the 24-hour endurance race held annually in Le Mans, France. The organ marathon, scheduled for the same weekend as the Grand Prix in Montréal, is a way to celebrate the organ in an accessible, downtown location.

From Friday, June 10 at noon to Saturday, June 11 at noon, 22 organists will take over from one another in a continuous, 24-hour concert at the bench of the Wilhelm organ in the Christ Church Cathedral. Two ensembles will join them to lead off and close the marathon in fine form: a brass quintet under the direction of trumpeter Frédéric Gagnon (Friday from noon to 2:00 pm) and the Cathedral Singers under the direction of organist Patrick Wedd (Saturday from 10:00 am to noon).

This year, for the first time, the marathon will host the final match of the 4th season of the Organ Improvisation League (LIO), which got underway in March. The highly anticipated match will take place on Friday evening from 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm. It will pit the Greens (Éric Beaudoin, Jacques Giroux and Dominique Lupien) against the Blues (Marc D’Anjou, Roch Grenier and Dany Wiseman). The audience will play a key role, voting on the winning team. The match will be presented with much brio by master of ceremonies Sébastien Croteau (graduate of the École nationale de l’humour) and the league’s referee-in-chief Raymond Perrin (organist and choirmaster).

During the daytime, to draw the attention of passers-by on Ste-Catherine St., the organ will be amplified to the street outside, and to help spectators see the organists at work, a giant screen will be set up inside the church.

-30-

MEDIA RELATIONS: Marie Marais, press officer
(514) 845-2821 / marais@cam.org

[7216] News posted Tuesday, May 31, 2005.