OSM / Free concerts in the Parks

THE OSM IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD!

Three OSM / Loto-Qu��bec Concerts in the Parks hosted by Andr�� Robitaille

�� Granby, Parc Daniel-Johnson, July 21

�� Montreal, Ahuntsic Park, July 23

�� Repentigny, Parc de l����le Lebel, July 28

Montreal, July 6, 2009 ��� The summer season of the Orchestre symphonique de Montr��al opens on July 21 with the popular free series OSM / Loto-Qu��bec Concerts in the Parks, hosted for a third straight year by Andr�� Robitaille. The Orchestra, led by first assistant conductor St��phane Laforest, will be visiting Granby, Repentigny and Ahuntsic Park in Montreal to perform some of the works audiences love best. After each of the concerts, representatives of the Montreal Planetarium will be on hand for a stargazing session as part of the International Year of Astronomy.

A program for the entire family

The OSM / Loto-Qu��bec Concerts in the Parks are a unique opportunity to take advantage of beautiful summer evenings while enjoying symphonic repertoire in a family setting. And this summer the program is offering a tour of the world in music. The repertoire includes the ���Farandole��� from Bizet���s L���Arl��sienne, the Radetzky March by Johann Strauss and the famous overture to Rossini���s William Tell. Lovers of movie music have not been forgotten, with a movement from the symphonic suite assembled by John Williams from his Star Wars soundtrack figuring in the programming, as well as the ���Mambo��� from Leonard Bernstein���s West Side Story. St��phane Laforest, first assistant conductor with the OSM, will also conduct Louis Bernier���s Fantaisie sur des airs de F��lix Leclerc.

Three free concerts will be offered to the public. The first will take place on July 21 at 7:30 p.m. at Parc Daniel-Johnson in Granby. The concert will mark the OSM���s first visit to this Eastern Townships municipality. The second will be held at Ahuntsic Park in Montreal on July 23 at 7:30 p.m., while the last concert will take place at Parc de l����le Lebel in Repentigny on July 28 at 7:30 p.m.

The sky���s the show

Four hundred years ago this summer, the Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei pointed his refracting telescope at the starry heavens. To call attention to his discoveries, 2009 has been designated the ���International Year of Astronomy,��� and in association with the Montreal Planetarium each of the three OSM / Loto-Qu��bec Concerts in the Parks will be followed by a free stargazing session. Amateur astronomers will be making a number of telescopes available to the public, allowing them to relive Galileo���s experience when he looked for the first time through his rudimentary apparatus.

A rendezvous not to be missed

Over the years, the OSM / Loto-Qu��bec Concerts in the Parks have become an essential part of the summer season. Begun at the Mount Royal chalet in 1938 by Wilfrid Pelletier, the free open-air concerts remain a wonderful tradition of the OSM���s, faithfully supported by Loto-Qu��bec for a good number of years now. These popular concerts enable our orchestra to forge links with its community. The Orchestre symphonique de Montr��al wishes to thank the cities of Montreal, Repentigny and Granby for their invaluable collaboration.

Detailed program of the OSM / Loto-Qu��bec Concerts in the Parks.

Tchaikovsky Capriccio Italien, Op.45

Bizet Excerpt from Carmen

Rossini William Tell Overture

Mascagni Intermezzo from Cavalleria rusticana

Bizet Farandole from L���Arl��sienne

Toyama Dance of Celestials from the ballet Yugen

St��phane Laforest La f��te celtique

Bernstein Mambo from West Side Story

Leclerc / Bernier Fantaisie sur des airs de F��lix Leclerc

Williams Excerpts from Star Wars

The Orchestre symphonique de Montr��al is presented by Hydro-Qu��bec