Marie-France Bujold - August 1, 2019

LISTENING STATION: A smooth return from vacation

After a few weeks of travelling or lazing around, reality is catching up with us: it’s time to go home and get back to work. Here’s a selection of pieces to end your vacation on an upbeat note and ease back into your routine.

For a calm and harmonious return, why not opt for works from the classical repertoire, with Prokofiev or Berlioz? Or the Latin rhythms of Paco de Lucía and Mark Kingswood, that will help you tackle the return to work energetically in good spirits. To unpack your bags or answer the accumulated emails, here’s a selection of pieces from the repertoire of artists who will perform at Place des Arts during the 2019-2020 season.

Appalachian Spring (Orchestral Suite), d’Aaron Copland

Vibrant and dynamic at times, soft and peaceful at others, this ballet doesn’t fail to leave a smile on the lips of those who listen to it. This work, composed to the glory of America, is perfect for the drive home. The Orchestre symphonique de Montréal will perform Appalachian Spring on March 27, 2020, in an “Éclaté” concert where the world of fashion designer Marie Saint-Pierre will meet Kent Nagano’s world, accompanied by models and dancers.

“Come falda di neve” (Lagrime di San Pietro), by La Capella Ducale Venetia

Perfect for lifting your spirit in the morning when you get back to work, the vocal harmonies of Lagrime di San Pietro can light up the day. The Los Angeles Master Chorale offers a highly touching interpretation of this a capella work dating from the Renaissance. You will be able to hear it next January at the Maison symphonique.

Stand By Me, by The Kingdom Choir

This British gospel choir brilliantly revisits the classic by Ben E. King. The ensemble earned immediate fame after performing it at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Why not let yourself be swept away by this vocal ensemble’s melodious voices and stirring rhythms to take on the day?

Le Carnaval Romain (Roman Carnival), by Hector Berlioz

The flamboyant orchestration of Le Carnaval Romain (Roman Carnival) motivates you to address the most difficult tasks with enthusiasm. Inspired by two themes of the opera Benvenuto Cellini, which he had composed a few years earlier, Berlioz first slowly recapitulates the intimate theme where two characters declare their love for each other. They then allow themselves to be swept up in the carnival festivities, taking the listeners to the heart of a dazzling work. A great way to add colour to the return to work! The Orchestre Métropolitain, under the direction of Yannick Nézet-Séguin, will perform this piece on September 29, 2019 at the Maison symphonique.

Tiergarten, by Andrea Lindsay and Luc De Larochellière

With finely crafted texts and a meeting of the worlds of these two artists, the Lindsay-De Larochellière duo adds a touch of poetry to the day. Coming from their second album, Tiergarten is a piece that relates a broken love story. Andrea Lindsay sings it alone, with great sweetness, alternating the lyrics in French and English.

Symphony no. 5, by Serguei Prokofiev

Before plunging back into very complex tasks that require a high level of concentration, what could be better than listening to a grand symphony? Considered by many as the Russian composer’s masterpiece, this symphony in four movements can be seen as a patriotic work, but Prokofiev said he wanted above all to sing to the glory and grandeur of the human spirit.

Deep River, by Damien Sneed

First soft, then energetic, this reworking of the famous African-American work Deep River transports us to a poignant musical universe. The piece will be performed as part of the show We Shall Overcome, a tribute to the civil rights movement in the United States. Excerpts from Martin Luther King’s speeches will be interwoven with several pieces giving an overview of two centuries of African-American music. A rich and inspiring work!