Michel Legrand is one of the world’s greatest popular song composers, and his performance with Les Violons du Roy at the beginning of their 2012 season was a huge success. It was a night to remember, and each audience member became an ambassador for any future engagements. Artistic Director Bernard Labadie is an astute businessman as well being a talented conductor, and he has booked Michel Legrand for back-to-back performances at Place des Arts’ Maison Symphonique on December 20 and 21, augmenting the show with French-born soprano Natalie Dessay and Catherine Michel, harpist for L’Opera de Paris. Michel has performed with Legrand as a member of his jazz quartet.

Miss Dessay is one of the principal vocalists with New York’s Metropolitan Opera, and a lifelong fan of Michel Legrand’s music. She first performed with Legrand in 2009, realizing a childhood dream to sing the songs composed by her idol. Not only did she realize a dream, the two artists have developed a musical bond as they rehearse and perform together.

For his part, Legrand has stated; “As I accompanied this angel who has come from the planet ‘Talent’, I was delighted to hear these songs re-invented, to be given a new life by Natalie.”
Michel Legrand’s music has been recorded by Barbra Streisand, Frank Sinatra, Charles Aznavour, Miles Davis, Stéphane Grappelli, Sting, Chris Botti and even Dusty Springfield. He’s won three Oscars for his compositions for Yentl, Summer of 42, and Windmills of My Mind recorded by Barbra Streisand for The Thomas Crown Affair. And who isn’t moved by the bittersweet music and lyrics of The Umbrellas of Cherbourg… “If it takes forever, I will wait for you…” Or Frank Sinatra singing; “What are you doing for the rest of your life… I have only one request of your life; it’s that you spend it with me…” Decades later Legrand recorded that same salute to romance with Sting.

Concert goers will have the opportunity to discover the wonderful voice of The Met’s Natalie Dessay as she performs Legrand’s songs.
Tickets for the December 20 and 21 concerts are available
at the Place des Arts Box Office: 514-842-2112 or www.laplacesdesarts.com

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