The Laval Symphony Orchestra (OSL) and its director, Alain Trudel, have prepared a diversified and festive program for their 2007 Grand Christmas Concert.
(Photos: Martin Alarie)
A family Christmas at the Laval Symphony Orchestra
For its Grand Christmas Concert, l’Orchestre symphonique de Laval (OSL) this year dives into the universal music of the season, ranging from the popular to the sacred.
“I want the audience to think of nothing but Christmas during the concert, no matter what music we’re playing. I want them to be ready to celebrate a family Christmas as soon as the concert ends and they leave the hall,” confided OSL director Alain Trudel. The Orchestra will pave the way for this family celebration with selections from The Nutcracker, a traditional Ukrainian Dance, familiar classics from down home, courtesy of Claude Champagne and Andre Jutras, as well as classics from other parts of the world, from England’s Greensleeves to America’s world-famous White Christmas.
Music lovers will also be treated, for sure, to such other universally-renowned classics as The Little Drummer Boy, Holy Night, Angels on High and of course, more, many more.
The Laval community
For the occasion, the OSL has invited the community to participate in this grand concert. For several weeks, choir director Frédéricka Petit-Homme has been working with the children’s choir of l’École des Cèdres who’ll be part of the concert. Veronica Martinelli, for her part, is preparing her students to dance to the OSL’s renditions of selections from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker.
“I’ve always wanted to see dance in the concert and involvement from the community. It’s an opportune time to showcase the results of the many hours put in by these teachers and advisors for the benefit of young people. From here on in, members of the community will be welcome to sing certain songs with us,” said Alain Trudel.
Peanut butter
In the spirit of ‘nutcrakin’, those attending the concert are invited to bring jars of peanut butter which will be turned over to the Laval Volunteer Centre’s 2007 Christmas Baskets Campaign. The OSL linked up with this initiative at the request of the Réseau Affaires Plus.
Chirstmas at the Trudels
“At the Trudel household, the kids still open their presents at midnight, except that we do this on December 23. Each year, we collect food for the needy from door to door, greeting friends and neighbours, before engaging in our own celebrations, which in themselves have their own particular themes. I remember one year we and the children decided to pick the scrawniest of scrawny trees, telling ourselves that we would shower it with love! And that way we would make it the most beautiful Christmas tree ever!” recounts a laughing Alain Trudel, who hopes that it’s this kind of spirit that music lovers will bring to the celebration of the season at the concert.
The OSL Grand Christmas Concert of 2007 can be described as the sharing of the spirit of the holiday season and the magic of Christmas at an evening of exciting symphonic music.
The Laval Symphony Orchestra presents its 2007 Grand Christmas Concert on Tuesday, December 12 and Wednesday, December 13, at 8:00 pm, at Salle André-Mathieu (475 de l’Avenir Blvd.). Information: (450) 667-2040.
Photos: OSL, pick-up 6 dec. p. 11
(Photos: Martin Alarie)
The OSL on Radio-Canada
The Laval Symphony Orchestra is proud to announce it has reached an agreement with Radio-Canada (CBC French Radio) to produce a live recording of the orchestra’s final concert of the season, a performance dedicated to the heroes of classical music. The program at the May 6, 2008 concert will feature Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3, Eroica, Ravel’s Tombeau de Couperin, Claude Vivier’s Lonely Child, and other arias for sopranos.
Steven Guilbeault - 
