“It’s a labor of love” (a labor of love) says Gino Vannelli about the show Symphony by Gino Vannelli which will be presented next Sunday at the Maison symphonique de Montréal; The artist will be accompanied by the Quebec Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Alexandre Da Costa.
Gino Vannelli and Maestro Alexandre Da Costa Photo Agency QMI, JOËL LEMAY Photo Agency QMI, JOËL LEMAY
71-year-old Gino Vannelli had not set foot in his native Montreal since 2018. Although the singer-songwriter was often approached by orchestras throughout his long career, he only agreed to “work with a handful of them; those led by a maestro who shares an artistic vision similar to his own. This is the case of the Quebec conductor Alexandre Da Costa, with whom he will be on stage next Sunday, for a unique show that is different from anything he has done before.
“Orchestras often snub pop music. I had a very strict ethical rule: I wanted an orchestrated concert, halfway between pop and classical, and I wanted to work with Alexandre, who thinks modern,” explains the singer behind the hits I Just Wanna Stop, People Gotta Move and Living Inside myself.
The artist himself has rearranged and re-orchestrated a dozen of his tunes: his essential titles, some beautiful songs in French and Italian and some newer pieces, including Stormy River, which will appear on the album The life I Got, his new work , which will be released next February.
“This concert will be an exchange between the pianist, Maestro Alexandre and me. I wanted a conductor who could predict what I was going to do and motivate the ensemble in that direction. It will be a somewhat experimental and fun evening that we will film and maybe rehearse, who knows? » adds the winner of five Juno Awards, for whom this return to Montreal is also very emotional.
Gino Vannelli’s mother died of Alzheimer’s disease in the middle of a pandemic and was unable to receive visits from her sons before her death. This week in Montreal is therefore the time for the two brothers (Ross Vannelli, who is also the sound engineer for the symphony concert) to pay their respects for the first time at their mother’s grave and to raise money for the good cause of an auction and the symphony concert.
Photo agency QMI, JOEL LEMAY
A mural with his image
To reinforce the nostalgia that grips him every time he returns to Montreal, a mural depicting Gino Vannelli now stands in front of the HOTEL 10 on Rue Sherbrooke, where the singer has his routine. We see him next to the late Dédé Fortin, another musician of proud Quebec origins, who lived for a long time in the building that now houses the hotel.
Silver and gold records, souvenir photos and stained glass windows depicting Gino Vannelli and his musical exploits also adorn the walls of the hotel’s first floor hallway. “I learned music in Montreal. “A mural is wonderful, but also a bit embarrassing (laughs),” he admits shyly.
As for the secret to a career like his that has spanned sixty years (he started singing at age 10)? “It is a mixture of patience, curiosity, vigilance, persistence, openness, spirituality and humility,” believes the artist, who finds balance in meditation.
Gino and his brother Ross Vannelli. Photo agency QMI, JOEL LEMAY Photo agency QMI, JOËL LEMAY
– The concert Symphony by Gino Vannelli conducted by Alexandre Da Costa will be presented on November 5th at 3 p.m. at the Maison symphonique de Montréal.