Press Release

Concerts populaires de Montréal (2006 Season)

Orgue et couleurs presents the 42nd season of the Concerts populaires de Montréal

Six concerts at 7:30 pm
On Wednesdays, June 21, June 28, July 5, 12, 19 and 26, 2006

Centre Pierre-Charbonneau
3000 Viau St., Montréal (Viau metro)

Montréal, Monday, May 29, 2006 — ORGUE ET COULEURS, under the direction of Régis Rousseau, presents the 2006 CONCERTS POPULAIRES DE MONTRÉAL. For the past 42 years, every Wednesday evening during the summer, 1,200 people have headed for the east end of Montréal to hear symphonic music in various styles.

The tradition continues with SIX CONCERTS presented on WEDNESDAYS at 7:30 pm—June 21, June 28, July 5, 12, 19 and 26, 2006, at the Centre Pierre-Charbonneau in Montréal. This popular summer series stands out for its unusual choice of venues, which not only gives the concerts a relaxed atmosphere but offers spectators the possibility of having a light meal or drinks before and during the performances.

The Concerts populaires de Montréal are a perfect opportunity to celebrate both summer and music in fine style! We will share our passion for the most beautiful works of the orchestral repertoire.

Yannick Nézet-Séguin

The Orchestre Métropolitain du Grand Montréal—official orchestra of the Concerts populaires since 2001—under conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin, artistic director of the series, will give three concerts:

On JUNE 21, Carmina Burana, the mythical three-act scenic cantata for soloists, choir and full orchestra, composed by Carl Orff (1895-1982) and first staged to great acclaim in Frankfurt in 1933. The implacable Wheel of Fortuna turns again! With soprano Lambroula Maria Pappas, baritone Sébastien Ouellet, tenor Pascal Charbonneau and the Chœur de l’OM;

On JULY 5, In the French Spirit, an evening of humour and elegance with a performance of Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921) interspersed with texts written and performed by comedy host Christopher Hall; also on the program, Symphony in C Major and Petite Suite d’orchestre «Jeux d’enfants» (Children’s Games) Opus 22, by Georges Bizet (1838-1875);

On JULY 26, Carte blanche to Marie-Josée Lord, an evening of lyricism with the young soprano: Antonín Dvoák (1841-1904), Song to the Moon (Rusalka) // Ruggero Leoncavallo (1857-1919), Stridono lassù (Pagliacci) // Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901), Addio del passato (La Traviata) // Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924), O mio babbino caro (Gianni Schicchi), Mi chiamano Mimi and Quando m'en vo (La Bohème) // Charles Gounod (1818-1893), Amour, ranime mon courage (Roméo et Juliette) // George Frideric Handel (1685-1759), Piangero la sorte mia (Giulio Cesare) // George Gershwin (1898-1937), Summertime (Porgy and Bess) // Overtures for orchestra to be confirmed.

To round out the programming of the 42nd season, three guest ensembles will perform:

On JUNE 28, Ensemble Appassionata, a Montréal string orchestra founded in 2000, under the direction of Daniel Myssyk, with guest violinist Darren Lowe, will perform a tribute to Divine Mozart (1756-1791): Divertimento in F Major (K. 138) // Violin Concerto No. 4 (K. 218) // Symphony No. 29 in A Major (K. 201).

On JULY 12, Famous Pictures presented by I Musici de Montréal under conductor Yuli Turovsky, with the suite Pictures at an Exhibition by Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky (1839-1881) in an arrangement by Maestro Turovsky for his orchestra; simultaneous screening of the animated film Tableaux dansants d’une exposition, directed by Gaël Hollard, based on the work of painter Natasha Turovsky. In the first part of the program, W.A. Mozart (1756-1791), Divertimentos in D Major and F Major (K. 136 and K. 138) // Manuel de Falla (1876-1946), Spanish Folksongs (arr. M. Messier).

On JULY 19, a new chamber orchestra that only “sings” in summer, Sinfonietta de l’île, under the direction of Alain Trudel, takes us into the Baroque and Romantic periods of Impetuous Italy with two guest soloists: mezzo-soprano Mariateresa Magisano in the lyrical poem Il tramonto by Ottorino Respighi (1879-1936), and violinist Jonathan Crow in Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741); to round out the program, Four Ancient Airs and Dances for strings by Respighi.

Ticket Prices

$25 (general) and $22 (reduced rate) for the parquet circle
$20 (general) and $17 (reduced rate) for the balcony
Subscriptions available for the series

Drinks (water, juice, beer, wine) and light meals (crudités, sandwiches, deli meats, etc)—additional charge. Service at parquet circle tables only.

The CONCERTS POPULAIRES DE MONTRÉAL were created in 1964 on the initiative of Mayor Jean Drapeau, with the goal of bringing symphonic music to the general public. The tradition has continued every summer and audiences have responded to the quality and diversity of the artistic programming with enthusiasm and commitment; a number of audience members have been loyal subscribers since the very first years. Since 2003, the series has been presented by ORGUE ET COULEURS in partnership with the Mercier—Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough.

BMO Banque de Montréal is the associated sponsor for the 2006 season of the CONCERTS POPULAIRES DE MONTRÉAL.

The CONCERTS POPULAIRES DE MONTRÉAL are presented with the support of the following partners: Caisse d’économie des Pompiers, des Cols bleus et des Cols blancs de Montréal; Orchestre Métropolitain du Grand Montréal; La Presse and CJPX Radio-classique.

Orgue et couleurs has received the following awards:

RIDEAU 2001 Initiative Award for the First Fall Festival
RIDEAU 2003 Initiative Award for the Organ Improvisation League (LIO)
Opus Award 2001-2002 from the CQM — Artistic Director of the Year
Opus Award 2002-2003 from the CQM — Promoter of the Year
Best International Performance award from the OFQJ for its 2003 LIO at Musicora/Paris project.

ORGUE ET COULEURS will present its 8th Fall Festival from SEPTEMBRE 22 to 0CTOBRE 1, 2006

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MEDIA RELATIONS: Marie Marais, press officer
514-845-2821 • marais@cooptel.qc.ca

During the summer, starting June 17, 2006, please contact Jean Belzil-Gascon, head of communications at Orgue et couleurs, for information enquiries or interview requests, at 514-899-0644 • HYPERLINK info@orgueetcouleurs.com

[7217] News posted Monday, May 29, 2006.