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Presented by
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Elementary Schools
2017-2018 Season
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THE YOUTH CONCERTS
ARE PRESENTED BY
Fondation J.A. DeSève
THE CONCERT
DON QUIXOTE’S A troupe of traveling performers turns up at Maison symphonique de
Montréal to relate a tale in which dream and reality intermingle, where glory
SPANISH is a reward, and love is an absolute. Inspired by the story of Don Quixote de
ADVENTURE la Mancha, by Miguel de Cervantes, the artists take up the tale of the
would-be knight and his faithful squire, Sancho. On their way, the duo do
battle with giants, villains and other unscrupulous powers. As they overcome
these obstacles, real or imaginary, will our hero become a true knight?
Follow along with them to the sounds of 20th century works that will take
you straight to the heart of Spain – with Albéniz, Bizet, Debussy, De Falla,
Ravel, and many others!
THE ARTISTS
Adam Johnson Maxime Denommée Sébastien Gauthier
OSM assistant conductor actor (Don Quixote) actor (Sancho)
Born in Alberta, Adam Johnson holds a doctorate A graduate of the Conservatoire d’art dramatique Cofounder of the Petit Théâtre du Nord,
in (piano) performance from Université de de Montréal in 1998, Maxime Denommée has Sébastien Gauthier has acted in over 50 theatre
Montréal and won a conducting prize at the since made a name for himself in the theatre, on productions, including In extremis, En cas de
Conservatoire de musique de Montréal. He television and in the movies. On the stage, he pluie aucun remboursement and La grande sortie.
also studied at the Pierre Monteux School in has been seen notably in L’Avare, Au cœur de la He has also directed some 15 stage works. On
Maine. After three seasons with the Calgary rose, Howie le Rookie and more recently in the television he has performed in Le Négociateur,
Philharmonic Orchestra, where he was succes- production L’Avalée des avalées. His portrayal Les Étoiles filantes, Les Invincibles II and III, C.A,
sively conductor in residence and associate of The Rookie Lee earned him the 2003 Masque Toute la Vérité, Tranche de vie, 30 vies and Ni plus
conductor, he has occupied since September for best performance by an actor. In the cinema ni moi. He was also part of the team of Arrange-toi
2016 the position of assistant conductor with he has featured in the cast of among other films avec ça presented on Vrak TV. On the big screen,
the OSM. In 2015, Adam Johnson received the La vie secrète des gens heureux, Cheech and you may have seen him in Liverpool, Les maîtres
Jean-Marie Beaudet Award in orchestra Omertà, while for television he has appeared in du suspense and Mirage.
conducting from the Canada Council for the Arts. a number of successful series, including Rumeurs,
Grande Ourse, Virginie, Au Secours de Béatrice,
Rupture, O’ and District 31.
1
Félix Monette-Dubeau Myriam Leblanc Myriam Allard
actor (Knight of the White Moon) soprano (Dulcinea) dancer
A National Theatre School graduate in 2009, McGill University graduate in voice performance, Sensitive to the world of music and dance
Félix Monette-Dubeau is the founder of Théâtre Myriam Leblanc won first prize, in addition to the from very early childhood, Myriam Allard’s life
LA45, created in 2007, where he has produced, audience award, at the Orchestre symphonique changed when she discovered flamenco. She
directed and performed in a number of shows, de Trois-Rivières Competition in 2014. Named left Québec to travel to Spain, where she lived
among them Phare Away and En conserve. In the “Young Lyric Ambassador” the same year, she for six years. She began dancing professionally
fall of 2010, he was in the cast of Bertolt Brecht’s was also the recipient of an excellence grant at the traditional tablaos flamencos in Spain,
L’Opéra de quat’sous (Threepenny Opera) at from the Atelier lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal. then in various ensembles in Japan, France and
Théâtre du Nouveau Monde. The same year he Last season she made her debut with Opéra de Germany. With these international encounters
could be seen in the opera Les Feluettes (Lilies), Montréal in Verdi’s Aida (in the role of the High now part of her background, Allard returned to
in a staging by Serge Denoncourt. On television, Priestess), besides playing the role of Micaela in Québec to found, with Hedi Graja, the company
he has appeared in Les Boys and Les hauts et Bizet’s Carmen with the Orchestre Symphonique La Otra Orilla. Breaking free of traditional esthetic
les bas de Sophie Paquin, while in the movies de Longueuil and that of Donna Anna in Mozart’s boundaries, she has developed an idiom that
he appeared in Émile Gaudreault’s latest feature Don Giovanni at the Saskatoon Opera. combines the instinctive and the impulsive with
film, Le vrai du faux. great sensitivity and refinement, and in which a
latent force can be felt.
David Ratelle Charles Dauphinais
guitarist director
A native of Montreal, David Ratelle received his A graduate in performance of the National
musical training at Conservatoire de musique de Theatre School, Charles Dauphinais has, in
Montréal in the class of Jean Vallières, where he addition to participating in various premieres
was awarded a prize with honours in solo guitar at Théâtre Sans Domicile Fixe, directed four
and in chamber music. He continued his studies editions of Théâtre d’Aujourd’hui benefit
at Université de Montréal with Peter McCutcheon. evenings, along with the tales Hansel and Gretel
Winner of first prize at the Grand Prix de Guitare and Jack and the Beanstalk for Théâtre de la
de Montréal in 2012, he was invited the next year Roulotte in Montréal. He has collaborated with
to perform in France. A soloist with the OSM under the OSM previously, directing the 2016 and 2017
Kent Nagano in 2016, he is also a member of the editions of the Bal des enfants as well as the
guitar ensemble Forestare in addition to being a “Galaxy of Heroes” concert. Charles has also
composer, arranger and high-school music teacher. directed the new Pierre Hébert show, Le goût
du risque, and Emmanuel Reichenbach’s Molière,
Shakespeare et moi.
2
To listen to excerpts from
the works presented during
The concert Don Quixote’s Spanish this concert, consult the
Adventure is a version in six scenes by online resources on our website
author Simon-Pierre Lambert inspired at osm.ca under the section
“Education”.
by Cervantes’ novel. This version
of the work was commissioned by the
OSM for its 2016 Bal des enfants.
Don Quixote, The story Don Quixote de la WHERE DOES FLAMENCO COME
FROM, AND WHO DANCES IT?
SPANISH MUSIC: TRADITIONAL
OR CLASSICAL?
Mancha by the Spanish writer
a medieval Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616)
Surely you’ve seen Spanish In the West we sometimes describe
romance… but not is a parody of the chivalric
dancing where a woman (but classical music as “serious music” or
like the others! romances of the Middle Ages.
This novel, written in two
sometimes a man too) taps her “art music.” It is based on codified
feet noisily on the ground while rules that have existed for several
volumes in 1605 and 1615, is today considered one of the masterworks
moving her arms through the air or hundred years and is passed down in
of literature. It’s also one of the most widely read books in the world! playing the castanets. That dance, writing. Traditional music, meanwhile,
based on a highly rhythmic and is associated with a country or
Sung by troubadours (musicians and poets that traveled from one castle
dramatically accented music, is geographic region. It is passed down
to the next), tales of chivalry were intended for the lords and ladies of the
extremely intense and is called orally from generation to generation
time. They told of the loves and exploits of brave knights driven by
“flamenco.” Born of the popular and is made up of melodies, songs or
the search for an ideal. Those knights sometimes had to fight supernatural
culture of Andalusia, a region instrumental pieces that are part of a
creatures such as giants or dragons. in southern Spain, flamenco is society’s popular culture. In Spain we
associated with the Gypsies, and find both pieces of traditional music
In his novel, Cervantes makes fun of that knightly world by creating a
expresses all the suffering and all and pieces of classical music. In either
character who, driven completely mad by tales of chivalry, decides to
the hopes of a nomadic people case, the guitar is probably one of the
become a knight errant named Don Quixote who travels through Spain to
who have often been excluded most representative instruments of
make sure that good triumphs over evil and to win the heart of Dulcinea, his
from society. The origin of the the music of this country.
imaginary love. But, the giants that Don Quixote believes he is confronting term “flamenco” is uncertain,
are in fact nothing more than windmills, and the armies of soldiers, harmless but some musicologists believe
flocks of sheep. it comes from a Germanic word
meaning flamboyant.
3
ON THE ROAD WITH
DON QUIXOTE!
OV E R T U R E S C E NE 5
Debussy, Images pour orchestre: “Ibéria” The delirium of Don Quixote
(Through the streets and the paths) After trying to attack Sancho, Don Quixote is gripped by visions
and madness – at which point Dulcinea appears, to calm him down and
restore his confidence. Don Quixote comes to his senses and is ready
SC E N E 1 to carry on with the adventure.
How does the story go? Ravel, Vocalise-étude en forme de habanera
Alonso Quiana, who becomes literally possessed by the character (arr. for voice and orchestra)
of Don Quixote, launches himself, along with his comrades, into the
famous narrative of the knight errant and his faithful squire, Sancho. His
goal: freeing the land of monsters and wrongdoers, and doing so in the S C E NE 6
name of Dulcinea, the lady of his heart.
The final duel
José Evangelista, Airs d’Espagne: “La alegría” and “Calle de la botica” He is now face to face with the Great Enchanter. It’s the final battle – the
De Falla, La vida breve, Act 2: “Danza” one where imagination and honour perhaps will triumph! But unfortunately,
Don Quixote is fatally wounded. The story cannot go on – unless…
Revueltas, Redes: “The Fight” (excerpt)
SC E N E 2 Arvo Pärt, Fratres (version for strings and percussion) (excerpt)
Bizet, Carmen, Suite no. 1: “Aragonaise”
The clash with the windmills
The companions set off on their adventure! On their way they must
confront terrible giants…unless they’re only windmills, or maybe the rest
of the troupe?
Albéniz, Asturias
(arr. for guitar and string orchestra by F. Moreno-Torroba)
SC E N E 3
Meanwhile, back at Alonso Quiana’s DO YOU RECOGNIZE THE SOUND
Sancho locates the other members of the troupe with the aim of OF THESE PERCUSSIONS?
finding a solution that will make Alonso see reason. Their idea: bring him
face to face with the Great Enchanter!
Prokofiev, Symphony no. 5, op. 100: “Allegro marcato” (excerpts)
The tambourine is
SC E N E 4 Castagnets are made up
composed of a membrane
of two hardwood shells
Don Quixote’s New Adventure stretched over a circular
that are held in the hands
Sancho returns to Don Quixote, who announces that a new threat frame in which little bells or
and whose hollow faces
is advancing towards them. Is it a witch? A dragon? A ferocious beast? leather pieces in the shape
are struck together to
A fresh confrontation is brewing. of very small cymbals are
produce sounds.
inserted.
Takemitsu, Dreamtime (excerpt)
4
A habanera is a dance
with a characteristic
rhythm that was very
Spain in the heart much in fashion in late
of French composers 19th century France.
One of the most famous
Don’t you find it strange that one of the French operas most performed in the French habaneras is
world takes place in Spain and has musical themes with Spanish coloring? In the without a doubt “L’amour
19th and 20th centuries, a number of Spanish composers – Isaac Albéniz, Enrique est un oiseau rebelle,”
Granados and Manuel de Falla being the best-known – went to study in Paris and an aria found in Bizet’s
formed friendships with, among others, Paul Dukas, Claude Debussy and Maurice Carmen.
Ravel. Those friendships among Spanish and French musicians left their mark on
several early 20th century works, with the Spaniards drawing inspiration from the
musical language of the French and the French providing some of their pieces with CAN YOU PLAY THIS RHYTHM
an exotic coloring inspired by traditional Spanish music. For example, the titles of OF THE HABANERA?
several works correspond to specific dances of Spain, such as the seguidilla and
the habanera, while the use of certain percussion instruments like the castanets,
the tambourine and the triangle evoke Spanish sounds.
C O M P O S E R S A N D T H E I R WO R K S
Georges Bizet Isaac Albéniz Claude Debussy
(1838-1875), France (1860-1909), Spain (1862-1918), France
An extremely talented composer, Georges Classical music composers are not always Claude Debussy is one of the most prominent
Bizet suffered however from an oversized well-behaved! Isaac Albéniz was known for composers of the turn of the 20th century. He is
perfectionism. As a result he left a number of his undisciplined and extravagant side. Highly recognized for his incredible talent for “painting”
his works unfinished or even threw them out gifted at the piano, he gave his first concert in music, using the different palettes of orchestral
because he was not entirely satisfied with them. at the age of four! colours. His most famous works for orchestra
Fortunately the opera Carmen, his greatest are Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, Jeux
Among his best-known works is the Suite
masterpiece, did not suffer that fate. The action and La Mer.
española composed for solo piano in 1887.
unfolds in Seville, in southern Spain, and features
Each movement bears the title of a region of In Ibéria, the second part of Images pour
Don José, a young soldier who lets himself be
Spain. Asturias therefore refers to the region orchestre, Debussy depicts an imagined Spain.
seduced by the wiles of the Gypsy Carmen, who
of that name, despite the fact that its rhythms Premiered in Paris in 1910, Ibéria is divided
ends up rejecting him in favour of a new lover,
are more evocative of the flamenco of into three movements. In the first, “Through the
the matador Escamillo. The opera ends tragically,
Andalusia! The piece was later transcribed for streets and the paths,” Debussy plunges the
with the murder of Carmen, stabbed by Don
guitar and would become a key work in the listener into the atmosphere of a town in Spain
José in a fit of jealousy.
repertoire of an instrument that is emblematic by using among other things the castanets and
Two orchestral suites were taken from Carmen. of Spain. the tambourine.
The first revisits the moments when the orchestra
plays alone at the start of each part of the opera.
The “Aragonaise,” a dance from a region of Spain
called Aragon, corresponds to the entr’acte to
Act 4. Castanets and tambourine can be heard TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE
in it. by downloading our Classroom
activities in the Education section
on our website osm.ca.
5
Maurice Ravel Sergueï Prokofiev Tōru Takemitsu
(1875-1937), France (1891-1953), Russia (1930-1996), Japan
Also considered one of the most important Highly gifted on the piano, Sergei Prokofiev Influenced both by Western music – espe-
composers of French music at the turn of the 20th entered the Moscow Conservatory at the age cially by the music of Debussy, Messiaen and
century, Maurice Ravel is known for his constant of 14. His teachers called him the “enfant ter- John Cage – and traditional Japanese music,
search for perfection and his prodigious talent rible” because he resisted taking advice and Tōru Takemitsu is often regarded as a bridge
for orchestration. Influenced by Spain and the wanted to do things his own way. His earliest between the two cultures. Author of close to
Far East, Ravel was also inspired by fantastic compositions are indeed quite original, with 100 scores for films, he was a master in the art of
universes, the world of childhood and even jazz their dissonant, harsh sounds. Prokofiev wrote creating ambiences in sound.
in writing some of his masterpieces. extremely varied works: symphonies, concertos,
In Dreamtime, composed in 1982 for Neder-
film music, ballets and operas. Maybe you’re
Ravel’s fascination for Spain can possibly lands Dans Theater, Takemitsu was seeking to
familiar with Peter and the Wolf? It is one of
be explained by his Basque origins – Basque translate into music the state we find ourselves
Prokofiev’s best-known pieces, along with his
Country is a region that straddles Spain and in when we dream. The work is therefore made
ballet Romeo and Juliet.
southern France. A number of Ravel’s works are up of successive impressions, little musical
therefore coloured with Spanish rhythms, When Prokofiev composed his Symphony no. 5 details and brief luminous traits linked together
including Rhapsodie espagnole, Don Quichotte in 1944, the Second World War was almost in a murky atmosphere.
à Dulcinée, the famous Bolero (based on a over. The heroic symphony therefore displays
traditional-dance rhythm of Spain) and the a patriotic feeling. Its Allegro marcato (second
Vocalise-étude en forme d’habanera that you’ll movement), highly dynamic, is built on an Arvo Pärt
hear in the concert. ostinato rhythm reminiscent of a motor. So (né en 1935), Estonia
this style, which is characteristic of Prokofiev,
is known as the motor element. A practitioner of musical minimalism – more
particularly mystical minimalism – Arvo Pärt is
an Estonian composer influenced by Gregorian
chant and Renaissance polyphony. His pieces
WHAT IS A VOCALISE? are characterized by simple harmonies and
WHAT IS AN OSTINATO?
A vocalise, is a melodic line that is sung rhythms, long sustained notes and repetitive
An ostinato is a method of musical patterns.
exclusively with vowels. Most singers
composition that consists in repeating
will use it as an exercise to warm up Composed in 1977, Fratres (Latin for “brothers”)
a motif (possibly rhythmic) or phrase was originally a string quartet, which the composer
and for better control of their voices.
persistently throughout an entire piece. later transcribed for strings and percussion. The
Vocalises are also found as part of
bigger vocal works, where they are piece was written according to what Pärt himself
often virtuoso passages. described as the tintinnabuli style (tintinnabuli
are little bells used in the Catholic liturgy). The
Silvestre Revueltas repetition of a few sequences of notes over which
(1899-1940), Mexico sustained sounds are superimposed evokes the
sound of bells.
Silvestre Revueltas is one of Mexico’s most
Manuel de Falla
important composers of classical music. He
(1876-1946), Spain
began as a violinist, then studied orchestra
Born in Spain, Manuel de Falla was strongly conducting and composition. The majority of José Evangelista
influenced by traditional Spanish music and his works were written during the last ten years (né en 1943), Canada
particularly by Andalusian flamenco. He of his life, and blend elements of classical music
Originally from Spain, José Evangelista has
studied in Paris, where he became friends with with traditional Mexican melodies or rhythms.
lived in Montréal for nearly 40 years. Professor
composers Maurice Ravel and Claude Debussy.
Before becoming an orchestral suite arranged of composition at the Université de Montreal
Apart from his opera La vida breve (The Brief
by the Austrian conductor Erich Kleiber in 1943, Faculty of Music from 1979 to 2009, he has a
Life), his best-known works are the two ballets
Redes (Spanish for “nets”) had originally been keen interest in melody. A number of influences
El amor brujo (Love the Sorcerer) and El sombrero
composed in 1935 for the movie of the same run through his work: his Spanish roots, the
de tres picos (The Three-Cornered Hat).
name, which portrays the lives of fishermen in Indonesian gamelan, the Western avant-garde
La vida breve is a short, one-hour opera that Alvarado, Mexico. The music of the suite’s fourth and modal musics.
was written in 1905. The opera unfolds in Spain movement (entitled “Lucha” in Spanish, or “The
Consisting of a suite of 15 Spanish folk tunes,
and tells a story of tragic love between the fight” in English) accompanies a fight scene in
Airs d’Espagne includes lullabies, work songs,
young Gypsy Salud and the rich Paco. The Danse the film.
festive airs and religious songs hailing from
espagnole opens the second act. This piece,
different regions of the country. This piece
with its typical rhythms, its intense character and
for string orchestra, composed in 1992, was a
the use of castanets, is influenced by Spanish
commission from the CBC (Winnipeg).
folk music.
6
514 840-7400, ext. 7916
jeunesse@osm.ca
1 600 Saint-Urbain Street
Montréal (Québec) H2X 0S1
osm.ca/en/educational
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