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Les Idées heureuses launch their 39th season with invention and panache, and who better to talk about it than Dorothéa Ventura, their artistic director?
Vincent Lauzer
Photo: Beatrice Cadrin
What was your inspiration for the coming season?
Collaboration. Some of the people I wanted to work with are Vincent Lauzer and Hervé Niquet, whom I’ve been musical friends with for a long time.
The first concert of the season is called Bach Suites Reinvented. How did you and Vincent Lauzer reinvent this music?
Because Bach didn’t compose for recorder and continuo, we drew from the repertoire of dance suites for solo instruments—harpsichord, lute, flute and violin—and we rewrote them for two voices: tenor and bass. For the solo harpsichord suites we allotted the flute to the right hand and the continuo to the left. For the violin suites, since both melody and accompaniment are played by the violin, we rewrote a bit more freely and created an idiomatic version for recorder and harpsichord. It’s just the sort of thing Bach would have done.
Hervé Niquet
Photo: Eric Manas
And will we see inventiveness in the show Pâté en croûte et vieux ragots in November with Hervé Niquet?
Oh yes! As I’m quite versatile, I’m always seeking ways for Les Idées heureuses to work with the performing arts. This show will unite music and theatre in a delicious and refreshing concept. There will be 19 performers on stage at Bourgie Hall. This lively evening will launch the festivities for the 300th anniversary of Michel De Lalande.
Will Hervé Niquet be in Montreal for different events?
Hervé is an excellent conductor … and cook! Our fundraising event will benefit from his culinary talents: he will host our guests at a dazzling supper! Known for his outstanding teaching, Hervé will also give a master class for students of ancient music at the Schulich School of Music at McGill University.
What are Idées heureuses preparing for the second half of the season?
The continuation of two series, one of which is the traditional Passion concert, conducted by Geneviève Soly, highlighting the cantatas of Christoph Graupner. Finally, we’ll visit Spain with its warmth and riotous rhythms, for the fifth edition of the series Chaconne et chocolat. I’ve brought together a majority of Spanish-speaking performers from here. It’ll be wonderful!
… In short, an unmissable season!
Find Les Idées Heureuses at www.ideesheureuses.com.
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