Montréal, Septembre 20, 2017 – Société de musique contemporaine du Québec (SMCQ) begins its Homage Series with six concerts plus three “special” events focussing on José Evangelista, a composer on a remarkable path. Evangelista has marked the recent evolution of music through a singular and coherent creative approach, with a greater openness to the world.
Since 2007, alternating with the the Montreal New Music festival, the Homage Series allows for the discovery the body of work of a notable Canadian composer, with the cooperation of the cultural and educational milieu who are invited to include their works in their respective programs.
“As in the previous Homage Series featuring John Rea, Denis Gougeon, Ana Sokolovic, Gilles Tremblay and Claude Vivier, the musical and cultural milieu enthusiastically participates in amplifying the brilliance of José Evangelista’s works.”, notes Walter Boudreau, SMCQ Artistic Director.
SMCQ Homage Series concerts
- Monodías españolas: The SMCQ Ensemble under the direction of Walter Boudreau, and pianist Louise Bessette will perform this beautiful melodious work inspired by the Spanish folklore from the composer’s childhood, as well as Clos de vie, dedicated in memory of Claude Vivier. Also on the program, works by Jean Lesage and Sky Macklay (New York). On September 29, 2017 at 7 pm (Salle Pierre-Mercure). As with each year for the opening of its season, the SMCQ presents this concert free of charge to the entire community within the framework of the “Journées de la culture”.
- Ô Bali – Ô Java: Gamelan for Westernerw! Mesmerizing evening featuring Indonesian music and dance from Bali Island! Gamelan Giri Kedaton de l’Université de Montréal (founded by Evangelista) and the SMCQ Ensemble unite in a musical exchange betweenEast and West. December 7 at 8 pm (Salle Pierre-Mercure).
- Aux abords d’Evangelista: about sixty chorus-singers from various backgrounds, gathered by André Pappathomas from the Ensemble Mruta Mertsi, become enmeshed in an exceptional intercultural and contemporary concert. January 21, 2018 at 3 pm (Salle Pierre-Mercure).
- La Porte: Evangalista’s monodrama for soprano (Virginie Mongeau) and percussion (João Catalão) inspired by Indian, Persian and Arabic traditional fables woven around one of Kafka’s narratives. A new work for percussion and the electronic music of Dominic Thibault. Le 20 April 20, 2018 at 7:30 pm (Chapelle historique du Bon-Pasteur)
- Par cinq chemins…: Audacious talents to be discovered from five young composers (Charles-Antoine Fréchette, Simon Henry, Cristina García Islas (Mexico), Gabriel Ledoux and Simon Martin) who, inspired by Evangelista, explore the extraordinary possibilities of the accordion and electronic music. along with Joseph Petric (Toronto), one of the accordian’s most illustrious virtuosos! March 23, 2018 at 8 pm (Studio-Théâtre Alfred-Laliberté).
- Manuscrit trouvé à Saragosse:Fantastical opera that’s a real blast for 9 singers, 10 musicians and 35 characters based on the eponomous novel by Jan Potocki. {resented in its new concert version directed by Lorraine Pintal. June 7, 2018 at 7:30 pm (Studio-Théâtre Alfred-Laliberté).
Special concerts
Furthermore, the Season’s programming includes three series of special concerts: the Série nouvelles générations.orgue, Viva la musica! and Les Planètes.
Presented at St-Joseph’s Oratory every Sunday from January 7 until February 18, 2018, the Série nouvelles générations.orgue proposes seven organ recitals featuring the most beautiful works from the contemporary repertoire, such as Evangelista’s Ecos, Walter Boudreau’s Robes de guerre, plus other creations for this rich and powerful instrument.
During three recitals on March 17 and 18, 2018 the Choeur des jeunes de l’Université de Montréal will perform Viva la musica! at the Chapelle historique du Bon-Pasteur. Original works by six Canadian composers, including four of Evangelista’s short, playful pieces, especially created for this occasion. The program’s works were commissioned by the SMCQ and published in 2017 in the collection Chantons nos compositeurs for schools.
Come Winter, Walter Boudreau’s Les Planètes proposes a “satospheric” journey through the solar system through music and digital images. Louise Bessette’s “live” piano will be connected to an immersive visual device realized by visual artist Yan Breuleux who will stress the “cosmic” experience of the work under the Satosphere’s dome at the Society for Arts and Technology (SAT).
“From Spain to Bali by way of Montreal’s diversity, we invite youto come along on a fascinating and enriching musical journey. The spirited artists (singers and musicians) will perform the works of approximately twenty composers from various generations, inspiring as well as innovative. Among them, at the heart of this 52nd season, José Evangelista, one of the most remarkable current composers.” – Walter Boudreau, SMCQ Artistic Director.
The season’s composers and collaborators
José Evangelista, Jean Lesage, Sky Macklay (New York), I Wayan Beratha, I Nyoman Windha, André Pappathomas, Éric Champagne, Charles-Antoine Fréchette, Simon Henry, Cristina García Islas (Mexico), Gabriel Ledoux, Simon Martin, Yves Daoust, Dominic Thibault, Walter Boudreau, Bengt Hambraeus, Jacques Hétu, Serge Arcuri, André Prévost, Denis Gougeon, François-Hugues Leclair, John Rea and Ana Sokolovic.
Walter Boudreau (conductor), Ensemble de la SMCQ), Louise Bessette (piano), I Dewa Made Suparta (conductor, Gamelan Giri Kedaton de l’Université de Montréal), Louise-Andrée Baril (piano), Geneviève Grenier (Ondes Martenot), André Pappathomas (conductor, Ensemble Mruta Mertsi), Joseph Petric (accordion), Marie-Annick Béliveau (mezzo), Chloé Dominguez (cello), Lynne Kuo (violin), Virginia Mongeau (soprano), João Catalão (percussion), Tiphaine Legrand (conductor, Choeur des jeunes de l’Université de Montréal), Alexis Nouss (librettos), Yan Breuleux (digital arts) and Lorraine Pintal (direction).
Flexible subscription plan
This season, the SMCQ offers the public a flexible subscription plan where they can benefit from a 25% with the purchase of tickets for three or more concerts or more. www.smcq.qc.ca/abonnement
La Société de musique contemporaine du Québec
At the heart of musical creation for more than 50 years, the SMCQ dedicates itself to the appreciation of the work of our composers. Over the years, it has stood out on the cultural scene for the quality and scale of its concerts and activities, distinguished by their unifying aspect.
Details of the Season: www.smcq.qc.ca/smcq/fr/montreal/52/
