OSM: Unveiling of Fall concerts (2020-2021)

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As gatherings of up to 250 people are now permitted, the OSM is delighted to be gradually reconnecting with its audience at the Maison symphonique, beginning in September

Montreal, August 20, 2020 — The Orchestre symphonique de Montréal is excited to unveil its fall programming, a blend of serenity, transcendence, and poignant emotion. Despite the events of the last few months and the necessity to adapt to new circumstances, the entire OSM family has been hard at work to offer concerts beginning on September 11, many of which will be available in digital format. The pace of the Orchestra’s activity will begin to pick up again as all OSM musicians kick off a 10th season at the Maison symphonique and prepare to share the stage with soloists from here! It’s a season opening as never seen before.

In accordance with Public Health directives, we can accommodate up to 250 live spectators per concert

Tickets available now for OSM subscribers

Tickets go on sale for credit holders and other donors as of September 3

The OSM fervently hopes that it will be able to welcome more live spectators in due course

“As this abruptly interrupted season reaches what would have been its conclusion, we realize all the more concretely the essential role music plays in our lives. Despite the enormous challenges we face, we are unwaveringly determined to find creative solutions that enable us to gather together—even if this means virtually—to experience the joys of music. For all these reasons, this upcoming season will be absolutely unlike any other.”

– Lucien Bouchard, president of the OSM Board of Directors

“In a general climate of uncertainty in which we live, to finally launch our 2020-2021 season with daring artistic vision, as if to foresee the light at the end of a long tunnel, gives us pride. Our offer for the fall of 2020 testifies to our faith in our collective resilience and expresses, once again, our sincere desire to forge and maintain strong ties with our most cherished and loyal public.”
– Madeleine Careau, chef de la direction de l’OSM

Webcasts of concerts

Two world-class orchestral conductors will lead these concerts: from Quebec Bernard Labadie and from Finland Susanna Mälkki! Thanks to a collaboration with well-known Quebec artist Brigitte Poupart, and developed specifically for the occasion, these concerts offer an enhanced experience, re-conceptualized staging, and exclusive content for live audience as well as for those joining from the comfort of their home.

Of the 7 concerts mentioned above, 5 will be viewable directly via the osm.ca website. The public is invited to sign up here. A donation is required (minimum of $10 per concert). Once you have made your donation, you will be sent a link via email to view the concert. This link is redeemable for a period of 7 days following the broadcast.

All donations collected will enable the OSM to pursue its mission of education and accessibility, and moreover, in this time of global health crisis, to develop initiatives for maintaining its vital connection to the community.

In addition to concerts viewable at osm.ca, 2 concerts will be broadcast on our partner platforms Medici.tv and Mezzo.

The season opening concert webcasted by Medici.tv will also be available free of charge on the OSM’s Facebook page and website. All details here.

Spotlight on Beethoven: featuring local artists!

The season kicks off in grand style as the OSM welcomes great Canadian artists in connection with the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth, with events that will highlight this composer’s musical affiliation with another Viennese genius: Mozart! This major celebration spans four programmes conducted by Bernard Labadie and encompassing symphonies, concertos, chamber music and vocal music. For this special occasion, the OSM is proud and happy to welcome Canadian soloists Marie-Nicole Lemieux (Artist-in-Residence), Karina Gauvin, James Ehnes and Charles Richard-Hamelin, all of whom enjoy a brilliant track record with the Orchestra.

WEBCASTS DATES

OPENING CONCERT: VOCAL MUSIC BY BEETHOVEN, SEPTEMBER 11

BEETHOVEN’S PIANO CONCERTO NO. 4 BY CHARLES RICHARD-HAMELIN, SEPTEMBER 15

LOVE POETRY BY MOZART AND BEETHOVEN, SEPTEMBER 22

MOZART ARIAS AND BEETHOVEN’S “PASTORAL” SYMPHONY, SEPTEMBER 29

Three concerts with finnish conductor Susanna Mälkki

The OSM is thrilled to welcome world-acclaimed Finnish conductor Susanna Mälkki for a three- concert musical itinerary. The first broadcast will notably feature one of the Romantic repertoire’s masterpieces of sensitivity: Schubert’s famous “Unfinished” Symphony. Theatricality is showcased in the second concert, which opens with Mozart’s celebrated Concerto for clarinet, performed by OSM Principal Clarinet Todd Cope. For the third concert in the series, Susanna Mälkki will conduct Gustav Holst’s The Planets, a great classic of symphonic literature that endows each planet with its own musical atmosphere. These concerts cast their vision on the human Spirit. From humankind’s earthly reality to the ideal to which it aspires, as it turns its gaze to the stars.

WEBCAST DATES

SUSANNA MÄLKKI AND SCHUBERT’S “UNFINISHED” SYMPHONY, OCTOBER 2

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE BOURGEOIS GENTILHOMME, OCTOBER 6

SUSANNA MÄLKKI AND THE PLANETS BY HOLST, OCTOBER 13

Other concerts this fall

This fall, the OSM also welcomes Finnish conductor John Storgårds, who will direct four programmes featuring symphonies by German composers. 250 spectators will have the opportunity to enjoy arrangements of Bruckner’s Symphony no. 7 and Mahler’s Symphony no. 10. These concerts will also shine the spotlight on OSM musicians Andrew Wan, Marianne Dugal and André Moisan. Additionally, we are delighted to welcome back to the stage Spanish conductor Pablo Heras-Casado for three concerts, including one with Artist-in-Residence Marie-Nicole Lemieux performing Chausson’s Poème de l’amour et de la mer. Under the direction of finish conductor Dalia Stasevska, the OSM will perform Sibelius’ Symphony no. 3, as well as Artist-in-Residence Ana Sokolovic’s Concerto for Orchestra. Finally, the OSM welcomes for the first time to its stage American conductor Jeannette Sorrell for a Christmas concert of Baroque music, her area of expertise. An opportunity to be transported by emotionally supercharged music combining excitement and serenity!

Two artists-in-residence

All season long, our Artists-in-Residence programme will offer audiences the opportunity to become better acquainted with two of today’s great musical figures: Quebec mezzo-soprano Marie-Nicole Lemieux and Serbian-born Canadian composer Ana Sokolović whose internationally acclaimed works will be performed over the OSM’s next three seasons.

Health and safety first

For the OSM, the health and safety of its audiences, musicians and staff is its highest priority. Concerts will be given under the strictest sanitary conditions, in adherence with Public Health directives. A health protocol for the Maison symphonique has been designed in collaboration with the venue’s resident staff and administration, the OSM and Place des Arts. Several special measures will consequently be implemented. We invite you to consult osm.ca to learn about these measures in greater detail.

“We’re delighted to continue our partnership as presenting sponsor of the OSM. A leading cultural ambassador, the OSM continues its tradition of excellence while constantly reinventing itself and innovating to find ways to stay in touch with its audience. We are proud to be associated with such a dynamic, forward-looking organization.”
– Pierre Gagnon, Executive Vice President—Corporate and Legal Affairs and Chief Governance Officer

“In this time of pandemic that has strained our society, resilience and ingenuity still prevail against threats to our existence and our love of culture. More than ever, it is with great pleasure that BMO is taking part in the launch of the 2020 fall programming, a programme that, despite certain confinement limits, will undoubtedly move us, touch us and thrill us thanks to the orchestra’s magnificent music and the quality of its programming. The OSM doesn’t simply make its home in Montréal, it is fully involved in Montréal city life. Through its many initiatives, the orchestra continues to spread its love of symphonic music. After 39 years, BMO is proud to continue its partnership with the OSM and to contribute to this 2020 fall programming, which promises to be as exceptional as it will be unforgettable.”
– Claude Gagnon, President, BMO Financial Group, Quebec

The OSM wishes to thank its partners, subscribers and audiences

Contributions from the Orchestra’s public partners are essential to its operations. The OSM wishes to acknowledge its main public partner, the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, as well as the Canada Council for the Arts, the Government of Quebec and the Conseil des arts de Montréal.

The OSM is proud to have the support of its loyal sponsors and gratefully acknowledges its Presenting Sponsor, Hydro-Québec, its Season and Digital Concerts Partner, BMO Financial Group, as well as its Major Series Sponsor, Power Corporation of Canada.

We also wish to express our gratitude to the OSM Foundation, Sélection Retraite, Yimby, Air Canada, Fondation J. A. DeSève, Le Groupe Maurice, Spinelli, Canada Life, National Bank, BBA, Cogeco, Estiatorio Milos, Volvo Car Canada, Charton-Hobbs, Doubletree by Hilton Montreal, ESKA, IRIS, Ritz- Carlton Montreal and Solotech.

The OSM is likewise grateful to its other donors and partners, as well its subscribers and audiences, who in different ways provide essential support for its activities. The Artists-in-Residence programme is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Rossy Foundation. The Grand Orgue Pierre- Béique has been generously gifted to the OSM by Ms. Jacqueline Desmarais.

This page is also available in / Cette page est également disponible en: Francais (French)