MONTREAL, July 26, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Thanks to the generosity of Mrs. Jacqueline Desmarais and her great commitment to music, the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM) will inaugurate the Grand Orgue Pierre Béique at the Maison symphonique de Montréal on May 28, 2014. This outstanding gesture, through which the OSM will own an instrument whose calibre equals the excellence of the Orchestra, will perpetuate the memory of Pierre Béique, founder and first general manager of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (1939-1970).
This donation of five million dollars will be dedicated to the purchase, installation, operation and prestige of the Grand Orgue Pierre Béique. The organ will bear the signature of Casavant Frères, this internationally renowned Quebec organ builder.
Mr. Lucien Bouchard, Chair of the OSM Board of directors, stated: "The Grand Orgue Pierre Béique should act as a catalyst not only to the Orchestra and the Maison symphonique de Montréal, but also to the entire musical community in Montreal and Quebec. We are indebted to the generosity of Mrs. Jacqueline Desmarais, who wanted to pay tribute to Pierre Béique, whose name the organ will bear in perpetuity. On behalf of the OSM, we wish to express our most sincere thanks and our profound gratitude to Mrs. Desmarais."
On her part, Mrs. Desmarais said : "I am very proud to contribute to the permanence of Mr. Pierre Béique's name and work, as he was a great music lover, a mentor and a friend." She added, " I wish with all my heart that people of all generations know and understand the irreplaceable contribution of this wonderful figure of classical music and opera. This visionary man worked relentlessly to help the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal soar. He made the Orchestra into a reputable and renowned ensemble throughout the world and an ambassador of culture."
The Grand Orgue Pierre Béique will appear in the Saint-Hyacinthe builder's registers as Opus 3,900. The organ is made of four keyboards, 109 registers, 83 stops, 116 ranks and 6,489 pipes, in addition to comprising two consoles - one of which is moveable - thus constituting an instrument perfectly integrated to the Maison symphonique and in complete osmosis with the orchestra.
It has been agreed with the Place des Arts, which is the second user of the Maison symphonique de Montréal, that the Grand Orgue Pierre Béique will be accessible to other ensembles to be determined by Place des Arts, in conformity to the conditions prevailing in the agreement entered into with the OSM.
Image with caption: "Mr. Lucien Bouchard, Chair of the OSM Board of directors, and Mrs. Jacqueline Desmarais, on the occasion of the signing of the agreement, on July 25. (CNW Group/ORCHESTRE SYMPHONIQUE DE MONTREAL)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120726_C2904_PHOTO_EN_16459.jpg
Image with caption: "Mr. and Mrs. Desmarais with Pierre Béique taken on the occasion of the launch of his book, "Ils ont été la musique du siècle", in 2001. (CNW Group/ORCHESTRE SYMPHONIQUE DE MONTREAL)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120726_C2904_PHOTO_EN_16465.jpg
Image with caption: "Visual design of the OSM's organ by Casavant Frères in collaboration with Diamond-Schmitt + ÆDIFICA (CNW Group/ORCHESTRE SYMPHONIQUE DE MONTREAL)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120726_C2904_PHOTO_EN_16460.jpg
SOURCE: ORCHESTRE SYMPHONIQUE DE MONTREAL
Source:
Orchestre symphonique de Montréal
Information:
Céline Choiselat
Head of Media Relations
(514) 840-7414
[email protected]
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