Montreal, July 7 – The OSM today announces the details of its summer season. The SUMMER IN THE CITY WITH THE OSM series is back, with small ensembles of musicians from the orchestra bringing communities some 40 surprise outdoor performances. Then, a long-standing tradition continues as the OSM performs a total of five concerts at the Festival de Lanaudière. Finally, the OSM presents its large-scale, free, outdoor concert on the Esplanade at Montreal’s Olympic Park on Sept. 9 with its new music director, Rafael Payare.
CONCERT AT THE ESPLANADE OF THE OLYMPIC PARK: SEPTEMBER 9
On Thursday, Sept. 9 at 7:30 p.m., Rafael Payare and the full orchestra perform a large-scale open-air free concert on the Esplanade at Montreal’s Olympic Park. This first public event since Maestro Payare’s appointment includes Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet, Stravinsky’s Firebird, as well as works by Falla, Ginastera and Lili Boulanger.
What a delight to take up the reins of such a wonderful tradition of large-scale concerts open to the public! I look forward to introducing myself to Montrealers of all ages, from all communities, and to offer them such a joyful musical event in a magnificent setting, along with the Orchestra’s wonderful musicians. Let’s celebrate being reunited. See you soon! — Rafael Payare
This concert will be presented in compliance with sanitary measures in effect on Sept. 9.
SUMMER IN THE CITY WITH THE OSM
Fourteen Montreal boroughs and five cities of the Greater Montreal Area come alive with THE 2021 SUMMER IN THE CITY WITH THE OSM series, with members of the OSM in chamber formation offering passers-by impromptu performances in various parks, nine CHSLDs (long-term care facilities), a few community organizations and two summer day camps. To add to the fun, selected performances will feature The Living History of Music, a concert of emerging artists who highlight key moments in the history of music and of the violin. This cultural mediation event is an original OSM production in collaboration with students in musical mediation at Université de Montréal’s Observatoire interdisciplinaire de création et de recherche en musique and author / stage director Martin Gougeon.
To kick off its new summer season today, the OSM chose Place Sun-Yat-Sen in Chinatown and Montreal’s Chinese community which has been especially hard hit by the pandemic. This gesture of cheer and show of solidarity also aligns with the City of Montreal’s revitalization plan for the neighbourhood.
All such events will comply with physical distancing requirements. Their precise locations will, nevertheless, remain a surprise – to limit the number of people at gatherings
HARMONIOUS COLLABORATIONS
In July, the FESTIVAL DE LANAUDIÈRE once again welcomes the OSM for five distinct performances including three conducted by Jacques Lacombe and one by Kent Nagano. The OSM’s Conductor Emeritus will lead the Festival’s OPENING CONCERT on July 16. The following day, on July 17, Maestro Lacombe conducts THE OSM AND BEETHOVEN’S FIFTH SYMPHONY; on July 30, this Quebec conductor takes to the podium in PASTORAL CLASSICS and again, in ROMANTICISM IN THE FRENCH STYLE, on July 31. It will be an opportunity to hear soloists Hélène Guilmette (soprano), Mélisande McNabney (harpsichord), and Bryan Cheng (cello). Then, on Sunday, July 18, OSM Chorusmaster Andrew Megill conducts the OSM Chorus in SONGS OF LOVE, an afternoon of choral singing spanning centuries of music.
Another high point of the summer will be Week-end classique, in collaboration with QUARTIER DES SPECTACLES PARTNERSHIP and taking place from August 12 to 15. This four-day event is part of Les aventures du cœur de l’île and offers the public the opportunity to choose from a whole range of musical performances occurring simultaneously across the downtown area. The event’s chamber music offering will showcase various formations of OSM musicians. For more information: lecoeurdelile.com
Finally, beginning July 23 at Saint-Paul Park in the Montreal borough of Le Sud-Ouest, the public can enjoy La sentinelle, an interactive participatory installation for the public space produced by HUB STUDIO and LA BOÎTE INTERACTIVE. La sentinelle celebrates the unifying and universal nature of music and its compelling introspective and evocative power. Passers-by are taken by surprise and given the opportunity to discover the living arts, in an open-air performance hall and through the symphonic music of the OSM.
