L’Arsenal
More than just an assemblage of different art forms, l’Arsenal à Musique is a vehicle for production and orchestration where musical creation is always at the crossroads. From the classical to the experimental, this is the merging of possibilities where artistic productions are revitalized through the coming together of disciplines and talents.
History
THE FOUNDERS
Introducing children to the world of music. 1978: this is the plan set in motion by Lorena Corradi and Reggi Ettore, graduates of the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory of Music in Milan. They establish L’Arsenal à musique in Montreal.
KEY DATES
First year. 250 shows performed in English and French schools throughout Quebec.
This success confirms an existing need for quality musical productions and the role that L’Arsenal can play in the creative and research process.
Over the next ten years, six new shows are created. A certified success.
The exploration and research of new avenues. 1989: Lorena Corradi and Reggi Ettore travel to Paris to study with the Baschet brothers. In the mid-50s, these two internationally renowned French artists created sound sculptures that are true instruments of the musical avant-garde. Back in Montreal, our two artistic directors conceive a new show that combines these unconventional instruments with electronic equipment. This is their way of initiating children to contemporary music. They create the works My Diskette and The Invisible Man, two new productions that successfully tour in several Canadian provinces, the United States, Europe, and Asia.
First electro-acoustic multimedia show for children. 1993: Eary Adventures, produced in collaboration with composer Yves Daoust, opens the Festival international de musique actuelle de Victoriaville. This production is performed in Quebec, Canada, and the United States, before making its way to France and Ireland.
The integration of new technologies will continue to remain a constant in L’Arsenal’s repertory.
Collaborations with symphony and chamber orchestras. 1997: L’Arsenal creates Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saëns. The show is performed with the Montreal, Quebec, and Buffalo symphony orchestras, as well as with I Musici de Montréal. Performing in this highly professional context, L’Arsenal offers orchestras the opportunity to expand their artistic activity and broaden their appeal to young audiences and families.
Collaborations and cross-discipline performances become an integral part of L’Arsenal’s mandate.
Musique Canada and the Opus Prize. 2000: the company creates Planet Baobab, a work inspired by Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince. This is the first Canadian multimedia work for orchestra and soloists intended for a young audience. Denis Gougeon and Yves Daoust, two Canadian composers of international renown, compose the score. The piece premieres with the Orchestre symphonique de Québec and soloists Lorena Corradi and Reggi Ettore, before going on to be presented with eight other orchestras. Planet Baobab wins an Opus Prize from the Conseil québecois de la musique (CQM) for “Best Show for a Young Audience,” while Denis Gougeon wins the Opus for “Composer of the Year.”
Continued exploration of the “classics”. 2002: a new production, Goose Bumps, features Bedrich Smetana’s The Moldau, Camille Saint-Saëns’ La danse macabre, and Paul Dukas’ Sorcerer’s Apprentice. Presented with the Montreal and Quebec symphony orchestras and featuring a storyteller, the piece skilfully marries classical music, storytelling, and new technologies.
The inclusion of classical music in the company’s repertory is considered to be an important part of L’Arsenal’s mandate. The discovery of these works is a critical step in a child’s musical development.
25 years. 2003: an anniversary celebrated with a very special event—a new work for symphony orchestra, Alice, inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, set to an original score by Denis Gougeon and Yves Daoust, with stage direction by Antoine Laprise. An actress and two electro-acoustic soloists perform the piece, accompanied by a series of multimedia projections. Presented on tour in Canada and in Italy.
Planet Baobab and Alice are presented free-of-charge to great numbers of children in underprivileged areas of Montreal, showing L’Arsenal’s appreciation of the young people that have brought so much to the company since its foundation.
Revival of the show featuring the Baschet sound sculptures. 2004: Sound Factory is born. Performed by two frenzied percussionists, the show explores wild and innovative musical avenues.
30 years. 2008: an anniversary highlighting L’Arsenal’s evolution. A combination of techniques and initiatives, the advancement of artistic ingenuity, and a response to the audience’s ongoing desire for renewal.
Creation of The Ark, a piece that casts a look at the delicate balance between man and nature. This is an original work with music by Denis Gougeon and Merlin Ettore, stage direction by Julie Lachance, and multimedia concepts by Pier Chartrand and Lucionmédia. This production incorporates music, circus arts, and moving images. The Ark is intended for a general audience.
Creation of The Birds Clan. Co-produced with the Orchestre symphonique de Québec as part of the festivities celebrating the 400th anniversary of Quebec City. The piece is based on the theme of encounter, recalling the first meeting of the First Nations and the new European arrivals some 400 years ago. This production incorporates symphonic music, contemporary dance, and projections.
TODAY
Now, after the creation of 20 original musical productions and 10,000 performances presented on tour to over three million spectators in Quebec, Canada, the United States, Europe, and Asia; the establishment of a good reputation with presenters both locally and abroad; strong leadership in the introduction of youth to concert music and in the creation of shows for a general audience…