The series of events dedicated to Jean Paul Riopelle’s hundredth birthday begins with the release of an original musical work by composer Blair Thomson inspired by seven songs by Serge Fiori. The result of four years of work, the result is finally offered to music lovers and admirers of this artist, who will be entitled to celebrations of a rare magnitude in 2023.
I won’t tell you all the good things I think about this creation (I had the pleasure of discovering the work last April during a private listening session), but I’ll just tell you that it admirably bears witness to certain major stages in the life of the Quebec painter and sculptor who, after a long stay in France, left his mark on L’Isle-aux-Grues and Sainte-Marguerite-du-Lac-Masson.
Like many people, I’m not a fan of projects that carry a “symphonic” seal, especially when the basis is based on popular songs. Arrangements are rarely successful. In this case, it is a question of a work in its own right that emanates from the talent of a visibly inspired composer and that is carried by the Orchester symphonique de Montréal (OSM), conducted by Adam Johnson.
PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
Blair Thomson and Serge Fiori
On Wednesday, during a press conference, producer Nicolas Lemieux was very proud to tell the origin of this gigantic project in which he plunged with great preparation, but also with “a lot of fear”. One does not seize the work of such a sacred monster casually.
For his part, Blair Thomson said that the creation of this work made him see music as “a plastic art”. You should have heard him describe how he “sculpted” this 75-minute score. As for Serge Fiori, he said he found Riopelle’s “sadness, rage and freedom” when listening to this “colossal” work.
As Nicolas Lemieux likes to create projects that have tentacles, this work will be performed next February as part of Montréal en lumière with the OSM, then in September 2023, in Quebec City, with the Orchester symphonique de Québec. In addition to the ears, the eyes of the spectators will then be put to good use.
One cannot present a musical work dedicated to an artist like Riopelle without adding a visual presentation to it. This is where Gabriel Poirier-Galarneau, director of the Champagne Club Sandwich multimedia studio, comes into play. It is up to him to sign the staging and the visual design of this event which promises to be spectacular.
PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
Gabriel Poirier-Galarneau, director of the Champagne Club Sandwich multimedia studio
The one who created the projections of the show Robert en CharleboisScope and symphonic harmonium had a hard time hiding his enthusiasm when I asked him to describe what he’s up to. “I wanted to connect man with an animal, in this case a wild goose. With her, we will travel from one work to another. To enable this, Gabriel Poirier-Galarneau went to shoot images of wild geese at L’Isle-aux-Grues, as well as at MacPherson Manor, where Riopelle lived.
The designer has access to an impressive number of images representing works by Riopelle that the spectators will be able to admire during the concert thanks to several screens. “The musicians will be installed at various heights, he explained to me. Panels will be able to isolate certain sections of the orchestra. Screenings will be ordered live. It will be quite a challenge. »
Gabriel Poirier-Galarneau relies on photogrammetric technology to reproduce Riopelle’s works, meaning that each painting is photographed several times to produce a 3D effect. “I have noticed that in museums, people often look at works, particularly those by Riopelle, from the side, as if trying to see the reliefs. This technique will allow that. »
Rest assured right away, there will be no artificial “construction” or “deconstruction” of Riopelle’s paintings that will take place before the eyes of the spectators. We want to respect the work of the painter, but to magnify his presentation.
Wednesday morning, with colleagues from the arts section of The Press, we discussed everything that was to come as part of this centenary organized by the Jean Paul Riopelle Foundation. We have listed about twenty events. And this list is incomplete, because other organizations, institutions or galleries are added every month.
If the concert Symphonic Riopelle keeps its promises, it will set the bar high for everything that will follow. What a year we are about to live!