Evening of August 19, 2017. More than 80,000 people gathered on Mount Royal to attend the concert Symphonic Montreal. While Rufus Wainwright is on stage in the company of three of the most prestigious orchestras in the city, Nicolas Lemieux, creator of the event, is suddenly worried. The silence of the crowd puzzled him. Does the audience like the concert?
“I went in the director’s truck, and the first image I saw were twin babies who were completely absorbed in the music with their eyes wide open,” recalls the producer and president of GSI Music. Nicolas Lemieux is relieved, but above all, a new idea has just emerged. Four years later, he presents Symphonic baby.
To create instrumental pieces for infants, Nicolas Lemieux approached the composer and arranger Simon Leclerc, who was providing musical direction for the concert on Mount Royal. “I told him, ‘I’m giving you carte blanche. I would like to have a work that could really strengthen the relationship and attachment between babies, parents and music. ” ”
PHOTO OLIVIER PONTBRIAND, ARCHIVES THE PRESS
Simon Leclerc conducted the Orchester symphonique de Montréal on the album Symphonic baby.
Simon Leclerc says he tried to see the world through the eyes of a brand new human being in order to create a “musical journey in the minds of toddlers”. “I do not know if I succeeded completely, he confides, humbly. The idea was to say to yourself: “If I have never seen an object that is round or that I have never seen something that rolls on the floor, what does it do to me when I see him ? How do I react to that? ” ”
In their artistic approach, Simon Leclerc and Nicolas Lemieux were guided by various specialists in order to fully understand the effects of music on babies.
Results ? Seven moments in the life of an infant set to music, from Stroller serenade, to Scherzo in high chair through the Newborn lullaby.
But besides the seven magnificent pieces performed by the musicians of the Orchester symphonique de Montréal, there is more, much more. “I really had a 360-degree vision, a complete experience with this project,” says Nicolas Lemieux.
A beautiful book
Symphonic baby, it is therefore also a beautiful book in which there are 83 photos of children from 0 to 18 months (images also offered in the booklet that accompanies the disc). “I gave the photographer Annie Savard-Filion quite a challenge,” acknowledges Nicolas Lemieux. Anyone who’s ever been to a photo op with a baby can only imagine all the work behind the stunningly beautiful photos found in the book.
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, PRESS ARCHIVES
Nicolas Lemieux, producer and president of GSI Musique
“A baby who has a musical instrument in front of him for the first time has questions. He is very curious. It gave extremely strong images, reactions and emotions, ”says the producer, who fervently wished to provide a portrait of the diversity of Quebec through the photos.
But why the number 83? To represent all the instruments of the symphony orchestra, replies Nicolas Lemieux.
The beautiful book also contains information on each instrument, in addition to presenting short sentences written by the host Marie-Claude Barrette, godmother of the project, and her eldest daughter, Angela.
PHOTO PATRICK PÉRIS, FROM THE SYMPHONIC BABY FACEBOOK PAGE
Some of the photo shoots took place at the Maison symphonique.
Curious to discover the images? An exhibition is planned on the Place des Arts site, from April to August 2022. A magazine, also called Symphonic baby, also features some of the photos, in addition to exploring the benefits of music for children.
Immersive show
That’s not all. Symphonic baby is also available as an immersive show, which will be presented under the vault of the Planetarium, from March 13 to May 22, 2022. Conceived by Marcella Grimaux, the multimedia creation intended for toddlers is an “experience for discovering objects, shapes and the luminosity […]. With music, it’s really magic, ”summarizes Nicolas Lemieux, who wants to export the project internationally. An agreement has already been signed in London.
Time flies, finds the producer. With this ambitious project, he wants to offer parents an opportunity to take a break, snuggled up against their baby. “I want people to take the time to check out the album and have a great time with their baby. It was my first motivation. I sincerely think this is the greatest gift you can give to a new mom or dad. ”
A second part of Symphonic baby, based on nursery rhymes from around the world, is already in preparation.
Symphonic baby
GSI Music editions
168 pages
Classical music
Symphonic baby
Orchester symphonique de Montréal, conducted by Simon Leclerc
GSI Music
Visit the project site Symphonic baby