Greater than 100 artists will collect Might 24 in an amphitheater in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, to carry out orchestral reinterpretations of the groundbreaking Seventies songs of Serge Fiori and his former Canadian progressive-rock group Harmonium. It’s fairly a tribute to Fiori who resides about 240 miles north of the live performance venue, has an endearing love for his residence province and shares suggestions for guests.
Fiori lives in Saint-Henri-De-Taillon, adjoining to Lac Saint-Jean, a big lake a couple of 5 1/2-hour drive north of Montreal. He wrote or co-wrote practically all Harmonium’s songs, together with all 5 on the 1975 album Si On Avait Besoin D’Une Cinquieme, which Rolling Stone placed on its checklist of the 50 Best Prog-Rock Albums of All Time.
GSI Music President Nicolas Lemieux (left) proposed the concept of symphonic reinterpretations of the … [+]
Albert Zablit
“I am proper on the seaside of the lake,” says Fiori, who celebrated his eightieth birthday final month. “Think about a powerful, stunning seaside — it seems loads like Maine. The primary time I got here right here I mentioned, ‘Okay, if I’ve to go away Montreal, I’ve to be in an area the place it’s completely stunning. Looking the window now, I do not consider how stunning that is. It’s simply paradise.”
Montreal, the place Fiori grew up, stays near his coronary heart.
“There’s one thing about it,” he says. “Everyone says it is a combination of Paris and New York, and it’s. After which there are the individuals. They’re so receptive to music — it is insane.”
In the course of the pandemic in summer time 2020, 68 musicians in Montreal’s symphony orchestra recorded Histoires sans paroles – Harmonium symphonique, a symphonic reinterpretation of Harmonium’s music for a two-CD set that was launched in 2020 and a four-vinyl, two-CD field set that was launched final yr.
“We needed to respect the space between the musicians due to COVID,” Fiori recollects in regards to the recording classes that had been held at Montreal’s 1,900-seat Maison Symphonique. “To take care of social distancing between all of the gamers, we needed to construct and add a further 20 toes in entrance of the unique stage. It was a tremendous effort.”
Fiori says he’s in love with Previous Montreal, an space to not be missed by American vacationers. Previous Montreal, situated between the St. Lawrence River and downtown Montreal, seems European with cobblestone streets and Seventeenth- and 18th- Century structure.
“Saint-Laurent and Saint-Denis are streets which are so numerous and so intriguing, and Sainte-Catherine’s jazz competition is the perfect on this planet,” Fiori says.
It’s troublesome to determine excellent eating places in Montreal, he says, as a result of there are such a lot of good ones. One favourite, although, is Le Café du Nouveau Monde, a French bistro on the Theatre du Nouveau Monde.
“It is situated in the course of the jazz competition,” Fiori says. “You eat meals, you could have the best wines on this planet and you’ve got a crowd that’s so glad to listen to music and be in that surroundings. You may have reside bands exterior. A meal, some wine and a few nice music — that is very Montreal.”
Quebec Metropolis can be a particular place for Fiori.
“Quebec Metropolis is Previous Montreal in all places,” he says. “It is Quebec, it is Paris, it’s little Paris. It is simply so stunning, heat and wealthy, with little boutiques and little bistros. It is so French, so Latin. People and different individuals I do know who go to Quebec Metropolis guide it for 3 days, and after being there, do not wish to go residence. Each nook in that metropolis is totally stunning.”
Fiori has seen many particular locations throughout his lifetime, and he presents a particular message to the world.
“Everyone must consider in themselves, since you by no means know what can presumably occur,” he says. “Have a look at what occurred to me. I wrote Harmonium’s music after I was 21 to 25 years outdated, and, now, years later, it’s arduous to consider that my music would grow to be symphonic. It’s a dream come true. So, consider in your self and be grateful.”
