The Unbelievable Soldier’s Tale – August 18, 2023 LiveEvents August 9, 2023 1179 Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM) presents The Unbelievable Soldier’s Tale by Stravinsky As part of La Virée classique 2023 The myth of Faust inspired many musicians: Stravinsky’s highly original version depicts a deserting soldier in the grip of the Devil. To illustrate this phantasmal tale, the composer ventured into jazz and popular styles, which lend this iconic work an often unexpected and fiendishly alluring quality. Artists Todd Cope, clarinet Todd Cope was appointed Principal Clarinet of the OSM in 2013. He was previously a member of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and a member of the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, Florida. In addition, he has performed with the Sun Valley Summer Symphony and Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and has held fellowships at the Aspen and Eastern music festivals, the National Repertory Orchestra, the Music Academy of the West, and the American Institute of Music Studies in Graz, Austria. He graduated from the College-Conservatory of Music of the University of Cincinnati where he studied with Richie Hawley. Todd Cope also completed a professional studies certificate at the Colburn School, where he was a student of Yehuda Gilad. He is currently on the faculty at the Schulich School of Music of McGill University, and is an exclusive performing artist for Buffet Crampon. Olivier Thouin, violin Olivier Thouin dreamed of becoming a violinist for as long as he can remember. At age 8 or 9, he began practising tirelessly to fulfill his dream. He studied in Joliette with Hratchia Sevadjian from 1981 to 1987, then in Montreal with Raymond Dessaints and Sonia Jelinkova from 1987 to 1995. He pursued his training with Ivan Straus in Prague and Igor Ozim in Bern. His fondest musical memories date back to his years as a student, when he played Schumann’s Quintet with Isidore Cohen, and to his performance of Brahms’ First Symphony as Concertmaster with the Jeunesses Musicales World Orchestra at the Berliner Philharmonie. His first time playing with the OSM musicians was in 1997 and a few years later, in 2001 and 2004, he performed with the Orchestra as a soloist. He officially joined the Orchestra in 2008. That same year, during the highly acclaimed Automne Messiaen in Montreal, he was deeply moved by the intensity with which Maestro Nagano directed Messiaen’s epic opera Saint François d’Assise, a work whose total performance time stands at more than 5 hours! François Zeitouni, piano The titular organist at the Church of the Gesù since 2005, François Zeitouni leads a distinguished career as an organist and pianist. A passionate chamber musician, he has performed with several renowned artists including contralto Marie-Nicole Lemieux, violinist Olivier Thouin, clarinetist Stéphane Fontaine, pianists Olivier Godin and Julien LeBlanc, and cellist Benoit Loiselle. As an orchestral musician (piano, celesta, and organ), François Zeitouni has played with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Les Violons du Roy, I Musici, and the Festival de Lanaudière Orchestra. He has also performed as an organist twice with the OSM Chorus at the Maison symphonique. François Zeitouni’s recordings include, on the XXI Productions label, Louis-Claude d’Aquin’s Noëls pour orgue and Gabriel Fauré’s works for violin and piano with violinist Olivier Thouin. The latter recording garnered critical praise in the Americas and in Europe, including in the prestigious Strad Magazine, which named the album its Recording of the Month in July 2010. Program MILHAUD, Suite, op. 157b (11 min.) Srul Irving GLICK, The Klezmer’s Wedding (12 min.) STRAVINSKY, The Soldier’s Tale Suite (20 min.) Piano Nobile de la Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier Friday, August 18, 2023 at 6:30pm To purchase your tickets visit: www.placedesarts.com VIRÉE CLASSIQUE 2023 August 16th to 20th La Virée classique 2023 celebrates its 10th anniversary. Since its creation, the Virée has become an unmissable summer event. The mission of the Virée classique is to promote the discovery of music in all its forms, to strengthen social ties in the community, to contribute to the development of the sensitivity and curiosity of music lovers, and to encourage amateur musicians and young emerging artists. This mission has been fulfilled successfully year after year. For this 10th edition, 26 indoor concerts and a hundred or so free activities for the whole family will allow you to explore a multitude of musical universes, from the great classical works to Balinese music, as well as jazz, film music, music from the Balkans or the Middle East. From different cultures, this music will evoke memories of travel that will lead you into the fantastic world of tales.