The Orchester symphonique de Longueuil (OSDL), conducted by Alexandre Da Costa, is seriously considering changing its name to give itself national stature. Among other things, it is planned to rename the organization “Orchestre national du Québec”, an ambitious name to say the least, which is not without creating unease in the world of classical music.
“I understand the criticism. Indeed, it may seem pretentious to appropriate the word national. I’m not convinced either. Nothing is done yet. These are things that we still need to discuss,” said Thérèse David, former head of the Bureau de la culture de la Ville de Longueuil, who sits on the OSDL board of directors.
Under the direction of Alexandre Da Costa, one of the most well-known figures of classical music in Quebec, the OSDL has experienced an influence that goes well beyond the simple agglomeration of Longueuil or even Montérégie. The Longueuil musicians even presented five concerts in South America last year.
Above the fight
Still, in private, it is rumored that the OSDL remains an orchestra after all regional compared to the Orchester symphonique de Québec (OSQ), the Orchester métropolitain (OM) and especially the Orchester symphonique de Montréal (OSM). For some, the appropriation of the title “national orchestra” suggests that the current Orchester symphonique de Longueuil stands above the fray. Worse: that the OSDL tries to make believe that he has an official title received from the Quebec government.
The Chairman of the OSDL Board of Directors, Mr.e Jean-Jacques Rainville rejects these criticisms out of hand and sees no problem with the Orchester symphonique de Longueuil becoming the Orchester national du Québec. “As far as I know, the National Bank is called national, and it is not the official bank of the Quebec government,” he points out.
Me Rainville in turn recalls that nothing is set in stone. The OSDL says it has around thirty possible new names in mind. No option would be preferred at this time. The fact remains that the management still saw fit to reserve the names “Orchestre national du Québec”, “Orchestre philharmonique national du Québec” and “Orchestre symphonique national du Québec” in the Register of companies.
Nor is it impossible that the name of the “4e largest symphony orchestra in Quebec”, as can be read on its website, remains as is. The OSDL should announce its decision next May. The board of directors must appoint a firm this week to look into it more closely.
The director general, Jean-Marc Léveillé, maintains that a name with a more national and less regional connotation would attract new sponsors. “When we come to look for sources of funding, the big sponsors are reluctant, because they don’t want to be associated with a regional orchestra. The name we currently have confines us to local production, whereas since the arrival of Alexandre Da Costa, we are aiming more for national or even international production,” he argues.
Before 2003, the OSDL was called the Orchester symphonique de la Montérégie. Even today, it has a regional vocation with regard to the institutions that finance it. The City of Longueuil remains the orchestra’s main public funder.
Joined by The duty During the week, Mayor Catherine Fournier’s office confirmed that it had been made aware of the process initiated by the OSDL to conceal its membership of the Longueuil agglomeration. “We understand their approach,” it was simply said.
The artistic director and conductor of the orchestra, Alexandre Da Costa, did not respond to our interview request.