Just-in: Trudeau says Hi to classical music magazine
mainThe Canadian PM salutes a local magazine with which we have longstanding ties:
It is with great pleasure that I extend my warmest greetings to the readers of the magazine La Scena Musicale on its 20th anniversary.
La Scena Musicale is a Canadian classical music and arts reference that promotes culture admirably in both official languages. This publication looks at musical and artistic current affairs through an expert lens, presenting quality articles and analyses for its audience’s reading pleasure. I would like to congratulate all those associated with La Scena Musicale for their remarkable work. With wisdom and precision, you communicate your passion for classical music in all its diversity, thereby contributing to the enrichment of Canada’s cultural scene.
On behalf of the Government of Canada, I offer you my best wishes for a most memorable anniversary and for every success in the future.
We don’t see many UK or European leaders tipping their hat to classical music media, do we?
Very nice indeed!
Congratulations for LSM, it is most unusual that politicians reveal respect for and interest in music magazines. The last time such thing happened, was under pharao Ramses II who commented positively on a mural relief at Luxor where a hymn to Amon was described and analysed.
You may actually have witnessed the Ramses ll visit , but this tipping hat nonsense is
about public relations and future votes .
Unlike the usually superficial and “applicable to all” congratulatory messages from politicians, it was a joy to read Justin Trudeau’s. As a regular reader of LSM, I found his message to reflect the exact merits of the very bilingual cultural magazine…..a work of art in itself, a “mission” put together and still in existence thanks to the extraordinary perseverance of its founder, Wah Keung Chan. His magazine serves “connaisseurs” AND “amateurs” of classical music without the usual discrimination, the whole produced in perfectly written French AND English. In these times of cynicism and grief, in my opinion, our Prime Minister’s salute to excellence just recognized a worthy endeavour.,,,,,,what is so wrong with that ?
Judith Despaties,
…an emotional bilingual French-speaking……and I’m not Wah Keung Chan’s PR, neighbor, friend or aunt…..I’m just a fan of good work done….
But the European leaders, at least in Germany, actually GP to classical performances and opera. The turn out in Bayreuth is tremendous.
But the European leaders, at least in Germany, actually GP to classical performances and opera. The turn out in Bayreuth, just for an example, is tremendous.
I often see MPs and Senators at the National Arts Centre, mostly on their own money though I believe some seats are available on a complimentary basis. The wife of a previous Prime Minister, Joe Clark, commissioned a new piece by Canadian composer John Estacio for a gift to her husband on his 75th birthday. Both they and the composer were present at the unveiling of the piece at the NAC.
AS for Mr, Trudeau, I am not familiar yet with the musical preferences of the relatively new Prime Minister, though I know he was a bit of a rocker when younger (but so was Dmitri Hvorostovsky!). This to me smacks of very good staff work, which in itself I find an encouraging sign, as well of course as the willingness to participate in this message.
It is all the more surprising because, in Canada at least, LSM is a throwaway mag, which you can pick up free outside shop doors in the space set aside for season promotion brochure, flyers of upcoming concerts, and the flyers of rep cinemas.
I’ll have more belief in Mr Trudeau’s classical chops when I see or hear report of him at a concert.
Angela Merkel is a well known aficionado of classical music. She regularly attends Bayreuth and other operatic performances – and not just the “social event” at the premiere, but rather, if her day job keeps her from going when “everyone” does, later performances as well (when the cameras have moved elsewhere).
Under the Harper government, Canadian Heritage, Canada Council and even provincial arts funding (not to mention corporate and probate philanthropy) increased. Liberals pay good lip service, but show me the money Zoolander.