Montreal plans concert in empty airport
mainThe Orchestre symphonique de Montréal is planning an outdoors benefit concert on August 5 at YUL Montreal-Trudeau Airport’s vacant P5 parking lot. There is room for 550 vehicles and the audience will not be allowed to get out.
Programme:
Jacques Lacombe, conductor
Hélène Guilmette, soprano
Jean-François Lapointe, baritone
Ravel: Le tombeau de Couperin
Mozart: Die Zauberflöte [The Magic Flute], Don Giovanni, (excerpts)
Beethoven: Symphony no. 5 in C minor, op. 67
Not exactly a stellar choice of music, now is it?
Exciting venue, tedious program. Hopefully they’ll bring their octobasses (if I’m thinking of the right orchestra)
I think the word “tedious” is a little strong. I suspect they have chosen popular stuff to get people out who might not be regular concert-goers but are music- and entertainment-starved.
Benefits often go for popular choices as they are raising money — this time probably for their own selves.
They now have three octobasses. I’m waiting for someone to write and octobass concerto.
Interesting idea, but not the most compelling program. Nice to see Jacques Lacombe getting work, though.
I was sorta hoping they’d perform Blitzstein’s ‘Airborne Symphony’. That would’ve been ‘site appropriate’, no?