Montréal Symphonique – An awe-inspiring concert at the foot of Mount Royal for Montréal’s 375th anniversary

Montréal Symphonique

MONTRÉAL, Sept. 19, 2016 Montréal’s 375th Anniversary is proud to present Montréal Symphonique, one of the must-see events of summer 2017. Presented next August at the foot of Mount Royal, this free performance will bring together major artists and Montréal’s three great orchestras, under the direction ofSimon Leclerc.

Created and produced by GSI Musique, this concept show will bring together the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, the Orchestre Métropolitain as well as the McGill Symphony Orchestra for the very first time ever. They will be joined by a prestigious array of popular artists to celebrate the city at the foot of the mountain. This grandiose concert will feature over 300 musicians, pop artists and choral singers who promise to dazzle our eyes and ears and make our spirits soar.

This one-of-a-kind evening is an invitation to people of all backgrounds who love Montréal to come soak up songs about our city, accompanied by the beautiful sounds of a symphony orchestra and performed by artists we love. With seasons as the theme, a series of tableaux will evoke the city, its inhabitants, its history, its landmarks and its vibrant personality. Special projections will create an intimate ambiance as we move through the four seasons that set the city tempo, with an imaginary fifth as the finale: an invitation to dream about the future of Montréal together.

Quotes

“With this brand-new concept show, Montréal Symphonique will not only be making music, but making history. For the very first time on the same stage, our three major orchestras will be putting their talents together in celebration of our city. And there’s no place quite like Mount Royal to pay tribute to Montréal’s creativity, uniqueness and dynamism through the sound of our orchestras. Over the course of the evening, Montréal will move to the music, because Montréal is vibrant, Montréal breathes, Montréal… is a symphony of people,” said Serge Postigo, Assistant Commissioner for Montréal’s 375th celebrations.

“We are very proud of Montréal’s reputation for classical music on the international stage. Our artists are wonderful ambassadors for our city and their creativity is recognized around the globe. Next August 19, 2017, Montréal’s prestigious symphony orchestras—the OSM, the Orchestre Métropolitain and the McGill Symphony Orchestra—will come together for this exceptional music premiere. More than 300 musicians will share the stage for Montréal’s 375th anniversary. It’s an absolute first! It will be a memorable evening, and I invite all Montrealers to come celebrate the dynamism of our city life together!” said Denis Coderre, Mayor of Montréal.

“The government of Québec is proud to support this great musical gathering. That Montréal’s three major orchestras will be teaming up to offer a free concert to the public is absolutely remarkable, and proof of our citizens’ motivation and solidarity. In doing so, our cultural ambassadors and our artists will continue to strengthen Montréal’s reputation on the international scene as a cultural innovator,” said Martin Coiteux, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy, Minister of Public Security and Minister responsible for the Montréal region.

“There is no place more symbolic in Montréal than Mount Royal,” added Nicolas Lemieux, President of GSI Musique. “I am pleased to be able to create and produce this grand show, which will bring together the city’s great symphony orchestras as well as artists of all ages and backgrounds in a concert that will be at once unique and accessible to everyone. Thanks to the 375th celebrations, this free performance offered to all Montrealers will highlight our music and cultural diversity.”

About GSI Musique

Established in 1983 and now directed by Nicolas Lemieux, GSI Musique is the doyenne of Québec record companies. The company has marketed over 250 music CDs and DVDs and produced numerous television specials in addition to having produced many major shows. GSI Musique also coordinates show tours, manages artists’ careers and edits a vast music catalogue that includes an impressive number of classic songs from Québec. On the strength of this success, GSI Musique continues to contribute to enhancing Québec’s musical heritage.

About the Society for the Celebration of Montréal’s 375th Anniversary
The Society for the Celebration of Montréal’s 375th Anniversary is a non-profit organization whose mission is to organize the celebrations and socioeconomic contributions that will highlight Montréal’s 375th anniversary in 2017.  With a focus on promoting Montréal expertise, it acts as a catalyst for local forces to carry out its mandate: mobilize the community, implement a funding strategy, rigorously manage funding, develop quality programming and ensure the visibility of the celebrations.

The Society benefits from the support of the Ville de Montréal, the Gouvernement du Québec and private funding from 11 Great Montrealers. For more information: www.375mtl.com