Louise Bessette

Press release
For immediate distribution

Les oiseaux exotiques

In Montreal and Toronto

Montreal, February 23, 2005 - On March 7, 2005, at 7 pm, at Pierre-Mercure Hall of the Centre Pierre-Péladeau, the Ensemble contemporain de Montréal (ECM), conducted by Véronique Lacroix, the Evergreen Club Contemporary Gamelan, Louise Bessette (piano), Éric Lagacé (double bass) and Bill Parsons (guitar) will be presenting a concert within the framework of Montréal/New Music Festival. This concert, entitled Les oiseaux exotiques will, of course feature composer Olivier Messiaen's work of the same name, in addition to works by other composers paraphrasing Messiaen's endearing bird theme: L'échappée d'ailes by Linda Bouchard, Éveil aux oiseaux by Chan Ka Nin, Projet by André Ristic, as well as 3 Thoughts and For There and Then by Bill Parsons.

Dedicated to Yvonne Loriod, Les Oiseaux exotiques was composed at the request of Pierre Boulez for his Domaine Musical concerts at the Petit Théâtre Marigny, and premiered in Paris on March 10th, 1956. Messiaen wrote a considerably important part for the solo piano, performed here by Louise Bessette. In fact, this work could almost be considered a piano concerto, replete with three short, and two longer cadenzas.

This concert is a production of the ECM in collaboration with MNM. It will be recorded by the radio of Radio-Canada and will air on Espace musique (100,7 FM in Montréal) on Mario Paquet's program on Sundays at 10 pm.

Monday, March 7, 2005, 7 pm
Pierre-Mercure hall, Centre Pierre-Péladeau
Regular $25.00
50 YO + $12.50
Student $10.00
www.festivalmnm.ca

This concert will also be presented on Saturday, March 13, 2005, at 8:00 pm, at Toronto's Glenn Gould Studio.

Glenn Gould Studio
250 Front Street West, Toronto
Phone (416) 205-5555
http://glenngouldstudio.cbc.ca
Admission: $20, $10 seniors & students

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