Beau Dommage celebrates its 50th anniversary next year. To mark the occasion, a symphony show by the Orchester Métropolitain with ten performers will be presented in summer 2024. “Beau Dommage was important in Quebec history on a musical and social level. If we present this 50 years later, it is because there is still an audience that wants to hear it again,” says producer Martin Leclerc.
Two years ago, in the middle of creative work on the piece Symphorien, Martin Leclerc said to his colleague Pierre Huet, who happens to be one of Beau Dommage’s lyricists, that it would be interesting to do a symphonic show to mark the group’s 50th anniversary Anniversary. The other members of the group were quickly informed and gave the project the green light.
The Orchester Métropolitain under the direction of Adam Johnson plunged into the adventure with enthusiasm. “Their approach was extremely well received,” says the producer. The Orchester Métropolitain is Montreal, the urban side and the fame of the orchestra. That motivated the members of the group.”
In the production of “It’s been 50 years since we knew each other” we will find Michel Poirier. “He did the shows of Pour une histoire d’un soir, Luce Dufault, Daniel Lavoie and Guylaine Tremblay with us,” says Martin Leclerc. Michel has this sensitivity when it comes to lyrics and artists.”
Antoine Gratton takes care of the arrangements and musical direction. “When we met him, we realized that he knew the five Beau Dommage records perfectly,” mentions Réal Desrosiers, one of the two members of Beau Dommage who served as artistic advisors for this show, along with Pierre Huet. It was very reassuring to see that he knew our material. He didn’t start from scratch.”
In addition to the orchestra, ten performers will lend their voices to Beau Dommage’s pieces: Alexandre Désilets, Allyson Pétrin, Audrey-Louise Beauséjour, Audrey-Michèle, Coral Egan, David Latulippe, Franck Julien, Jules, Krystel Mongeau and Lyxé.
“We wanted different people to sing vocal harmonies, duets and trios,” says Martin Leclerc. The creative work will begin soon.”
Essentials
The members of Beau Dommage were all asked to choose songs for the show. At the moment, before the symphonic arrangements, the selection lasts 90 minutes and includes “An Incident in Bois-des-Filion” and its 20 minutes.
“There should be around twenty songs,” says Réal Desrosiers. There will be essential elements and also songs that can be more easily adapted for the symphonic mode. It will be a mix of both. But it is certain that great successes like Le Phoque [La complainte du phoque en Alaska], Ginette, December 23rd, The Blues of the Metropolis and An Incident…, that’s all. There are also songs from all five albums.”
“We’re not going on tour”
In addition to this symphonic show, according to Réal Desrosiers, “two or three projects” will be carried out next year, on the 50th anniversary of Beau Dommage. But we shouldn’t expect the group to return to the spotlight. “We’re not going on tour, we’re not making a new record.
“Beau Dommage still lives on for many people,” he continues. The songs are still playing on the radio. It’s not a dead group. The work and songs still exist. […] We hoped to sell 10,000 copies of the first album and continue doing shows in small venues. Of course, we didn’t think that the songs would still be around 50 years later and that there would be a symphony orchestra playing a version of them.
For producer Martin Leclerc, this new show on Beau Dommage shows once again that nostalgia delights audiences. “We performed the Led Zeppelin Symphony in September. We filled cinemas in Montreal, Quebec and Trois-Rivières without advertising. I think people want that. Nostalgia affects everyone. The Rolling Stones are still alive. Metallica fills the Olympic Stadium for two nights. It’s comforting, it’s calming. And we know them, the songs.”
The symphonic show tribute to Beau Dommage, We have known each other for 50 years, with the Orchester Métropolitain, will take place on August 31 (Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, Montreal), September 5 (Amphithéâtre Cogeco, Trois-Rivières), September 12 (Salle Maurice O’Bready, Sherbrooke) and September 14 (Grand Theater de Quebec). For information: Productionsmartinleclerc.com.