OSM Couche-Tard Classical Spree to Launch This Month in Montreal

The OSM Couche-Tard Classical Spree, which will run from August 10 to 13, is just around the corner.

The launch will take place on August 10 at 8 p.m., with a big free outdoor concert surrounding the celebrations of the 40th anniversary of the Olympic Games and the Olympic Park in Montréal.

Three other free open-air musical events will follow at the Quartier des spectacles, a flurry of 30 indoor concerts at Place des Arts and a host of activities for the entire family.

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Grand kickoff on the Esplanade Financière Sun Life at the Olympic Park

Galaxy of Heroes - Wednesday, August 10 - 8 p.m.

A not-to-be-missed orchestral event on a grand scale! The OSM and Kent Nagano will be celebrating in music the 40th anniversary of the Olympic Games held in Montréal in 1976. Hosted by France Beaudoin, the concert will bring together a number of Olympians, including Philippe Beaudry (fencing), Guylaine Bernier (rowing), Émilie Heymans (diving) and Benoît Huot (swimming), close to 100 young athletes from the rising Québec generation and the circus company Throw2catch. On the program, excerpts from Holst's sublime The Planets, "The Great Gate of Kiev" from Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, and Wagner's rousing "Ride of the Valkyries."

Free outdoor program on the parterre of Quartier des spectacles

Organ and the Silver Screen...Under the Stars - Thursday, August 11 - 6:30 p.m.

To celebrate the 50 years of the Montréal Métro, the STM and the OSM invite you to discover, in a world premiere, an electroacoustic composition by Robert Normandeau. Then, at 7 p.m., see the animated Walt Disney short Music Land with the original soundtrack, followed by one of the biggest hits from the silent-movie era, For Heaven's Sake starring Harold Lloyd. That film will be projected on a giant open-air screen, as Philippe Bélanger improvises a soundtrack on the Grand Orgue Pierre-Béique* that will be retransmitted live from Maison symphonique de Montréal. During the evening, France Beaudoin will interview composer Robert Normandeau on the subject of his new work, and discuss the art of musical improvisation in the cinema with organist Philippe Bélanger.

*The Grand Orgue Pierre-Béique was generously offered to the OSM by Mrs. Jacqueline Desmarais.

© Disney•Pixar. All rights reserved

Mozart's Magic Flute in the open air - Friday, August 12

Enter the universe of one of the best-loved operas in the repertoire, Mozart's The Magic Flute, in a remarkable production by the Metropolitan Opera that will be screened under the stars.

Spotlight on youth - Saturday, August 13 - Starting at 10:30 a.m.

Four young-artist orchestras will contribute their passion for music to live Radio-Classique programming from the parterre of Quartier des spectacles. Discover the wind orchestra from Collège Notre-Dame and chamber-music ensembles from the National Youth Orchestra of Canada along with the Ensemble à vents de Sherbrooke and the Orchestre symphonique des jeunes de la Montérégie.

A flurry of 30 concerts at Place des Arts

Friday, August 12 - Starting at 7 p.m. | Saturday, August 13 - Starting at 10:30 a.m.

The OSM Classical Spree presents a marathon of 30 45-minute concerts starting at $10 and accessible to all. Over 200 musicians will be performing in four halls at Place des Arts. Kent Nagano will conduct a total of seven concerts, including Beethoven's Ninth Symphony twice and programs devoted to Mozart, Vivaldi and Ravel. The maestro will also conduct the Saint?Saëns "Organ" Symphony, which recently earned the OSM a Juno Award. And what could be better than Chariots of Fire and Bruch's First Violin Concerto performed by Pinchas Zukerman to launch this concert marathon in heroic fashion? Featuring young artists seen on ICI Radio-Canada, the Gregory Charles show Virtusose will inspire kids and adults alike.

Free entertainment for the whole family at Place des Arts

Throughout the OSM Couche-Tard Classical Spree, free events for all will be taking place inside Place des Arts. Musical performances by young artists on the Stingray Brava stage, the Conducting 101 workshop presented by OSM assistant conductor Dina Gilbert and a number of other activities will be available to the whole family, including a special edition of the TV show Dis-moi tout devoted to classical music and hosted by France Beaudoin.

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Tickets for the OSM Couche-Tard Classical Spree are on sale at osm.ca or by getting in touch with OSM customer service at 842-9951, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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For the complete programming, click here.