Musicians from the Orchester symphonique de Montréal (OSM) performed at Sainte-Justine Hospital on Friday, during a first community intervention under the leadership of their new designated conductor, Rafael Payare.
The hissing of wheelchairs, the slamming of crutches, the crackling of loudspeakers, the beeps of medical devices, the scattered tears of children… the sound environment of Sainte-Justine Hospital is made up of rather sickly melodies. Friday, through the corridors of the health facility, other smoother sounds reverberated on these walls. They emanated from the instruments of 15 musicians of the Orchester symphonique de Montréal, scattered in the corridors to play Christmas tunes (Sweet night, holy night, Long live the wind …) and other classic samples, to comfort young patients and the valiant staff.
On the ground floor, the cellist Geneviève Guimond, wearing reindeer antlers, thus drew a few soothing lines from her bow, not only making her strings vibrate, but also the hearts of the children, parents and employees who passed in front of the musician. .
So the crutches stopped clicking, and the wheelchairs stopped squealing, immobilized in front of this fountain of notes, this time musical and not medical.
PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
Cellist Geneviève Guimond drew the attention of curious passers-by in the corridors of the hospital. Fourteen other musicians circulated in the corridors, violin in hand, to brighten up the place.
Éloïse Beaulieu, 9 years old, all ears while observing the performance attentively, hastened to ask her mother, Stéphanie Roberge, permission to sketch a photographic memory. That morning, she had an appointment with a cardiologist from Sainte-Justine, but also, impromptu, with Dr.r Mozart in the corridors. “It puts a beautiful atmosphere … and it brings back memories”, she said, pointing to her mother, who played the cello for 11 years in an orchestra – now it’s the turn of Éloïse to learn about it quietly. Beside them, a young teenager with a plastered leg applauded wildly, while a duo of toddlers had stolen the throne of Santa Claus next to the musician, the better to admire it. Without a doubt, the musical prescription has had its effect.
PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
Éloïse Beaulieu and her mother, Stéphanie Roberge, listened attentively to the musician.
Vivaldi and other treats
Afterwards, a very special aperitif awaited 250 hospital employees, concocted by Kent Nagano’s successor at the OSM’s musical bar, the conductor designate Rafael Payare. It was his first intervention as part of a community concert, performed in the establishment’s amphitheater and broadcast live on screens throughout the building.
The Venezuelan, spontaneous and relaxed, quickly announced his friendly colors – fluorescent sneakers on the feet and shirt tail protruding from the jeans.
But as soon as the program started, nothing overflowed, the small orchestra chaining Winter by Vivaldi, the Serenade op. 22 of Dvorak, the Entertainment Mozart’s K. 136 (“A small glass of champagne”, as the conductor called it), to finish with Long live the wind. A very symbolic progression of the current situation, starting from minor and dramatic tones, to walk towards perky and hopeful melodies.
“These community interventions are absolutely fundamental. It is very important that we connect with people, including healthcare workers, heroes who do phenomenal work. We want to give them a little hope and joy, after nearly two years of turbulence, ”Rafael Payare told Press, just after the concert.
A first foray setting the tone for future engagements with local communities. Next year, the OSM’s designated conductor will take part in concerts with young autistic people, invite apprentice musicians to play with professionals and offer master classes in April to promising students; among others.
PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
Rafael Payare, conductor designate of the OSM
“I’m not yet full-time in Montreal, but we have a lot of ideas and community and educational projects, artistic mixes. Distributing music to as many people as possible is very important to me. I was lucky enough to be exposed to music in Venezuela, and if I hadn’t been unconsciously, I would never have discovered this passion and the place it would occupy in my life. It is essential that we can offer this opportunity to all, ”said Mr. Payare.
In the meantime, the inaugural stroke of the new conductor delighted the employees of the hospital, reveling in this very welcome musical mulled wine just before Christmas. “We love the treats and especially to be able to live them, to feel the vibration of the instruments”, rejoiced Josée Chagnon, nurse clinician at Sainte-Justine for 32 years. The OSM, now the Medical Symphony Orchestra? We should think about it, since music softens manners just as it soothes hearts.
Great classics for little music lovers
Taking advantage of his time at Sainte-Justine, we asked Rafael Payare which classical arias would be able to be appreciated by the youngest. “Children react viscerally to music. Haydn suits them very well, but you can also think of other composers, when they are a little older and you want to tell them stories, like Prokofiev and Pierre and the Wolf, where the harmonies are a little more daring, ”he suggested.