The project is five years after it began Symphonic harmonium will end this fall. For producer Nicolas Lemieux, this adventure is nothing short of magical. “We did it with a lot of love.”
Last month, the High Mass version of the show Histoires sans mots – Harmonium symphonique was performed at the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré. “It was very emotional to play in such an iconic venue,” says Nicolas Lemieux. It was really a high mass, a meditation. It was really special.”
In a few days, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra will do it again, this time at Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church in Montreal. In addition to the musicians and choirs, we find Kim Richardson and Luce Dufault at the microphones.
Archive photo of Luce Dufault and Kim Richardson
“There must be almost 20 performances that we do with the OSM, the best symphony orchestra in Canada,” says the producer. They are still difficult concerts that last 140 minutes. But it’s an honor for the musicians to play it. You can feel that too.”
It has been five years since Nicolas Lemieux had the idea of making a symphonic version with the work of Harmonium. And from the beginning it was determined that the show “Histoires sans mots” would be presented in three parts: the original creation, the pure symphony and the high mass.
“When we made the symphonic album, I really had the feeling that there was something very spiritual about this work,” says Nicolas Lemieux. I really wanted to take it to different places, democratize the orchestra and do different things.”
To date, the Harmonium symphonique has been performed in its three parts almost 40 times. And according to Nicolas Lemieux, the performance could have continued because demand is not letting up.
“But at some point, like everything, it comes to an end,” he said. We sold almost 70,000 tickets for this show. It’s still huge for our market in Quebec.”
Although the final performances of Harmonium Symphonique are announced for December, the project may not be completely dead after that. Nicolas Lemieux mentions that he filmed the symphony-only version of the show and is considering how to broadcast it. “I’m working for something, for 2024, so that as many people as possible can see this show,” he says.
When asked about his fondest memories of this adventure, the producer replies to the evening when Serge Fiori spontaneously went on stage during the original creation in Montreal and sang “A Musician” with the audience, among many others. “That was not planned. Serge went upstairs of his own free will. And he came to sing. He was also very emotional. It was definitely a very powerful moment.”
The premiere in Trois-Rivières, “after almost three years of work on the compilation,” was also a magical moment, said the producer. “And I personally earned the most money from the premiere of a pure symphony at the Maison symphonique. The acoustics were perfect. It was a big wow.”
√ The high mass of the show Story without Words – Symphonic Harmonium will take place November 16-18 at Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church in Montreal. For information: harmoniumsymphonique.com.