By Sherry Steinberg
Yesterday evening (May 31, 2025) I attended “Hymne a La Joie”, an outstanding concert by the Orchestre Classique de Montreal and the St. Lawrence Choir at La Maison Symphonique.
The first piece on the program was “Joy”, composed by K. Lau. It is a violin solo, accompanied by a string orchestra. The solo part was played beautifully by concertmaster Marc Djokic. The piece expresses joy and also has some contemplative parts that show that in life, we have much joy, but also some sadness. This contrast enhances the joyful parts of life. The soloist and the orchestra brought this out very nicely.
The second work, by Montreal composer Pierre Mercure, was “Cantate pour une Joie”. Mercure set to music the poems written by Gabriel Charpentier. The cantata has seven verses, and the first six describe catastrophes of war, fire, and rat infestations, and the fear and misery they cause. But in the last verse, there are cries of joy, and the people are dancing. They have managed to come through the misery and see the light. The narrator resolves to follow the joy!
The vocal soloists are soprano Elizabeth Polese, mezzo-soprano Florence Bourget, tenor Eric Laporte, and baritone-bass David John Pike. They and the St. Lawrence Choir bring out the desperate and the joyful emotions expressed in the music wonderfully!
After the intermission, we heard Ludwig van Beethoven’s masterpiece, Symphony No. 9, opus 125. Orchestra, choir, and soloists all worked together to bring out the magnificence of this Symphony! I know from being a violinist in the Montreal Symphony that this piece is physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausting to play, but it’s worth every minute of it!
The Symphony has four movements. The first one begins quietly, with hints of what will unfold. In contrast, the second movement is a lively scherzo. The third is a meditative and peaceful movement, gradually gaining energy. The last movement is what makes this Symphony innovative! The human voice is used for the first time in a classical symphony, with the choir and soloists. The lyrics are Friedrich Schiller’s poem “Ode to Joy”. It calls for getting rid of negativity like fear and hate and joining together in brotherhood! It even advocates not laying waste to the planet.
I had not heard a live performance of this Symphony for a while, and I came away feeling refreshed and invigorated. Kudos to the Orchestre Classique de Montreal, St, Lawrence Choir, soloists, and conductor Philippe Bourque, for putting together such a fine concert!
The OCM, formerly the McGill Chamber Orchestra, was formed in 1939. This concert was its last of the 2024-25 season. The OCM has an eclectic repertoire and promotes Quebecois and Canadian music and soloists. It is welcoming its new conductor, Andrew Feher, who will take over for the 2025-26 season. The first concert of the new season is “Mosaique Autochtone” on October 5, 2025. The OCM is located at:
LA MAISON SYMPHONIQUE / PLACE DES ARTS
1600 Rue Saint-Urbain, Montréal, QC H2X 0S1
Phone: 514.842.2112
www.orchestre.ca
