Classik: August 8-11, 2012 - Classik, or the art of the concert reinvented by the Orchestre symphonique de Quebec

QUEBEC CITY, May 18, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - On August 8 at 8:30 pm, Fabien Gabel, the OSQ's new musical director, will kick off Classik, which will run from August 8-11 on the Loto-Québec stage (National Assembly Plaza). During this one-of-a-kind event, J. S. Bach will be rubbing shoulders with breakdancers as the OSQ performs to the electrifying rhythms of DJ Champion and his G-Strings!

"Since I became the OSQ's musical director last December, I've been listening to what the residents of Quebec City have to say. They wanted us to arrange a huge outdoor party during which we would perform not only some of the classics of the symphonic repertoire, but also some more popular and contemporary pieces. Thanks to its unique blend of forms and genres, this wide-ranging event will transcend generational boundaries in a celebration of great music," said Fabien Gabel, musical director of the OSQ, during a live interview from Paris.

A different performance every night starting at 8:30 pm
National Assembly Plaza

Classik will kick off in fine style on Wednesday, August 8 with the OSQ's inaugural concert with conductor Fabien Gabel. The program will feature works by Berlioz, Tchaikovsky, Bizet, Verdi, Wagner, Massenet, Kurt Weill, Félix Leclerc and John Williams.

On Thursday, August 9, The Child Prodigy (L'enfant prodige), a film by Luc Dionne chronicling the incredible story of pianist André Mathieu, whose music has enchanted audiences around the world thanks to OSQ associate artist Alain Lefèvre, will be shown outdoors on a giant screen at the Loto-Québec stage.

Friday, August 10 features two completely different events! None other than the great American soprano Jessye Norman will be appearing in an intimate concert at the Grand Theâtre de Québec beginning at 7:00 pm, while the Flying Steps, four-time gold medallists in the World Breakdance Championships, will be plying their trade on the outdoor stage at National Assembly Plaza beginning at 8:30 pm in a show paying tribute to J. S. Bach.

DJ Champion and his G-Strings will be capping off Classik on Saturday, August 11 with his very first symphony performance, conducted by Fabien Gabel.

"Over the past few years, Loto-Québec has demonstrated its social commitment, most notably with Les Rendez-Vous Loto-Québec, which facilitate the organization of high-impact events and bring major social and economic benefits to Quebec's regions. In addition to helping to organize more than 120 festivals across the province, Les Rendez-Vous Loto-Québec bring together thousands of festival goers every year in a celebration of local talent," said Lucie Lamoureux, Corporate Director of Sponsorships and Social Commitment at Loto-Québec.

A series of free workshops and family-style entertainment will be offered every day beginning at noon in National Assembly Plaza. "This initiative marks a new milestone in our efforts to offer audiences in Quebec City an annual program that includes a wide variety of musical experiences," said Olga Farman, Chair of the OSQ's Board. "Along with our 50 indoor shows every year, including Gregory Charles's Christmas show, which we will be offering for the second year in a row on December 15, 2012 at the Expo-Cité Youth Pavilion, we feel certain that Classik will become an essential summer event for all music lovers, demonstrating that the OSQ, conducted by Fabien Gabel, is innovative, accessible, excellent and poised for a brilliant future!"

TICKET PRICES

$40 for the four-day passport
or $30 per show
Children 12 years or younger admitted free of charge

Tickets on sale now via www.osq.org/classik

Jessye Norman
Grand Theâtre de Québec (tickets starting at $77)
Tickets on sale now via Billetech billetech.com

Download the program here: http://classik.osq.org/

About the OSQ
As the dean of Canadian symphony orchestras, the OSQ is celebrating its 110^th anniversary in 2012. Now more than ever, the orchestra is making a key contribution to the regional economy, drawing more than 200,000 people to its concerts every year. A cultural powerhouse, the OSQ employs an average of 300 people every year. Its annual budget of more than $7.5 million comes from three sources: operating revenues, fundraising activities and government grants.

Source: Hélène Barbeau, Assistant Director of Communications, OSQ
Media contact: Claudie Lapointe, Mercure Communication, [phone], ext. 58