Category: Popular Music

Browsing: Popular Music

Carnaval des couleurs – A Multicultural and Inclusive Celebration

By Pierre Perreault on 10 September 2021 Popular Music

The Carnaval des Couleurs de Montréal, a multicultural and LGBTQ arts festival, has taken place annually in October since 2018. It is a response by the BBCM Foundation to the wishes expressed by many communities to see the organization reach a wider public and contribute to the multicultural and multi-ethnic life of Montreal. Ainsi, en 2021, le Carnaval des Couleurs de la Fondation BBCM propose les 9 et 10 octobre un festival éclaté en diffusant des spectacles dans trois sites distincts du centre-ville : le Complexe Desjardins, la place Émilie-Gamelin et la rue Sainte-Catherine piétonnière dans le Village gai. On…

Catherine Major at the inauguration of the Maison de la culture Claude-Léveillé (2018)

Catherine Major: from chanson québécoise to opera arias

By Justin Bernard on 15 July 2021 Interviews, Opera, Popular Music, Quebec Music

Albertine, en cinq temps is getting a makeover. For the first time, this play by Michel Tremblay, premiered in 1984, will be adapted as an opera. A few arias have already been composed by singer-songwriter Catherine Major. These will be featured in a pair of concerts. For Nathalie Deschamps, the artistic director of Productions du 10 avril, the choice of Major was obvious. “Michel Tremblay’s words express the heart of who we are, in our Quebec roots,” Deschamps explains. “I wanted to find a woman who shares those roots, who composes music that can be hummed easily and that would…

CD Review: Carte mère by Catherine Major (Audiogram, 2020)

By Justin Bernard on 15 July 2021 CD and Book Reviews, Popular Music

Composer of Albertine en cinq temps – L’opéra, Catherine Major is first and foremost a singer and pianist in Quebec popular music. Her latest album, released at the start of the pandemic, is the fifth of her career, following Par-dessus bord (2004), Rose Sang (2008), Le Désert des solitudes (2011) and La Maison du monde (2015). As in her previous recordings, we find rich textures and an interest in orchestration, both of which add value to the songs. We also find very poetic lyrics, which the author co-wrote with Jeff Moran. And as one expects in poetry, the meaning of…

Montreal Jazz Fest and Francos scheduled for September

By Newswire on 21 April 2021 Arts Industry, Popular Music, Scena Jazz

COVID-19 restrictions permitting, the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal will take place from September 15 to 19. The 32nd edition of the Francos de Montréal will be held from September 9 to 12 at the Place des Festivals as is customary. The vast majority of concerts scheduled for this year have been postponed to next summer and ticket holders are advised to keep their tickets as they will be valid for the 2022 editions. For more information, visit www.francosmontreal.com and www.montrealjazzfest.com

OSM POP: three webcasts announced

By Newswire on 16 March 2021 Orchestral, Popular Music

Montreal, March 16,2021 –The Orchestre symphonique de Montréal is pleased to present three original events for spectators to revisit pop music hits in their orchestral versions. A myriad of Quebec artists take to the stage of the Maison symphonique once again for OSM POP: GREAT MOMENTS. Charismatic tenor and versatile artist Marc Hervieux will perform in MARC HERVIEUX’S CARTE BLANCHE, and at long last, get ready for LES COWBOYS FRINGANTS’ ROARING OSM RETURN! Simon Leclerc, creator of the featured symphonic arrangements, will conduct all three concerts.Three unique, sometimes surprising, but always exciting musical encounters! DATES OF NEW WEBCAST CONCERTS March 23 – OSM Pop: Great Moments…

Photo: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Journeys to Mars Composers in Outer Space

By Justin Bernard on 10 March 2021 Movie soundtrack music, Orchestral, Popular Music, Scena Jazz

On Feb. 18, after a seven-month trek, Perseverance landed on Mars. Costing more than $2 billion, this is the fifth rover NASA has sent to the Red Planet. Of its predecessors, only Curiosity, launched in 2011, remains operational. As images poured in, the very first sound recordings were being transmitted to mission control. Perseverance captured its landing as well, thanks to a breathtaking high-definition video that gives an eyewitness account of its slow and cautious descent. Needless to say, astrophysicists were elated, and many others, science buffs and laymen alike. Long before Mars was the subject of media hype, it…

Rafael Payare. Photo: Antoine Saito

Industry News

By Arthur Kaptainis on 27 January 2021 Arts Industry, Movie soundtrack music, Orchestral, Popular Music, Vocal

Battleground: Brahms For 10 days in March home viewers will be able to compare the old upstart, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, with the new kid on the block, Rafael Payare, in the same piece of music, on the same day if desired, as performed on the same stage. YNS launches a Brahms cycle with the Orchestre Métropolitain on March 12 (available online through March 21) with that composer’s First Symphony. This was the score with which Payare, Montreal Symphony Orchestra music director designate, chose to introduce himself online on Jan. 10 in the Maison symphonique. MSO replays are available on www.medici.tv through April 11.…

La Scena/CORONA Serenades Father’s Day Concert Available Online

By La Scena Musicale Team on 24 June 2020 Art Song, Folk, Opera, Popular Music, Vocal

Last Sunday, La Scena Musicale and CORONA Serenades celebrated Father’s Day with a special virtual broadcast through Facebook Live and YouTube Live. Unfortunately, due to technical difficulties, a couple of songs were not included. We have therefore recompiled all the songs into a Father’s Day Concert featuring only the performances (duration: 30 mins). Here is the link to the concert. Repertoire: — Hugo Laporte, baryton/baritone, La mort de l’ours, Félix Leclerc — Valérie Poisson, soprano, Tu che di gel sei cinta (de l’opéra Turandot), Giacomo Puccini — Anne-Marine Suire, soprano, Cheek to Cheek, Irving Berlin — Yara Zeitoun, soprano,…

CORONA Serenades Concert Week 1

By La Scena Musicale Team on 21 April 2020 Art Song, Arts Industry, Classical Music, Employment, Musical Theatre, Opera, Popular Music

CORONA Serenades by La Scena Musicale La Scena Musicale is proud release CORONA Serenades Concert Week 1, a 30-minute compilation of the best performances after the service’s first full week. Click on the image to view the video on YouTube. SONG LIST / RÉPERTOIRE: La vie en rose (Édith Piaf, Louiguy) – Yara Zeitoun, soprano Lamma Bada Yatathanna (traditional Andalusian song) – Yara Zeitoun, soprano Près des ramparts Séville (Carmen / Georges Bizet) – Anne Marie Sheridan, mezzo-soprano Alma Mía (Bola de Nieve) – Marie-Annick Béliveau, mezzo-soprano Di provenza il mar il suol (La Traviata / Giuseppe Verdi) – Christopher…

Giorgia Fumanti joins La Scena Musicale as a spokesperson for CORONA Serenades

By La Scena Musicale Team on 17 April 2020 Art Song, Arts Industry, Classical Music, Employment, Musical Theatre, Opera, Popular Music

Giorgia Fumanti, one of the top classical crossover artists in the world, will join the roster of singers participating in CORONA Serenades, an initiative of La Scena Musicale designed to bring the joy of music to people in a time of adversity. The service is free for front-line care workers and those infected by the Coronavirus. ABOUT GIORGIA | ORDER | MEDIA “This is a pivotal moment for people all over the world,” the Quebec-based soprano said. “The challenges are immense and we are all only human. And as humans we need music.” GIORGIA FUMANTI A native of Tuscany, Giorgia Fumanti discovered her…