Musical Love Stories With the SNJM’s
Love story with the SNJM’s
October 14th, Lorraine Prieur and bass singer and her partner, Luc Saucier, bass singer presented a concert under the theme “Love Story” – appropriately named in honour of the 175th anniversary since the SNJM foundation presented by these two artists who have a deep friendship with the community.
These former students of Srs. Maryse Moisan and Huguette Désourdy Désourdy presented a varied romantic program featuring pieces for solo piano or piano with vocals as well as a bagpipe. The repertoire included pieces by Scarlatti, Chopin, Schubert, Berlioz, Léo Ferré, Lionel Daunais, Gilles Vigneault, Richard Desjardins et Jean-Pierre Ferland.
Passionate about their art, the two artists enriched the concert with introductory comments and even sang a “spiritual” as they paid a loving tribute to the SNJM Congregation in gratitude for its attentive support and quality education leading them on their own journeys in the arts.
Renowned Artists
Lorraine Prieur, a student of Sr. Maryse Moisan remembers, with emotion, her first steps in music. She recalled the importance of the constant support and encouragement of Sister Maryse. Today, this renowned pianist and pedagogue founded the MDA-Quebec Competition, a competition to pay homage to Quebec music, for its composers, publishers and performers. She has written and continues her work writing small piano pieces entitled “Victoria's Little Pieces".
Lorraine Prieur debuted at Carnegie Hall in New York in 1966, has been a soloist on several occasions in various orchestras under the direction of renowned conductors including Maestro Wilfrid Pelletier. She has performed on national stages and has taught at the Montreal Conservatory of Music for over 25 years.
For his part, Luc Saucier has an equally impressive track record. A professional calligrapher for 30 years, he obtained his master's degree in singing from Laval University under the direction of Michel Ducharme. His first lyrical performance in 1991 was followed by many others, notably as the King of Siam in “The King & I”, in 1992. A professional chorister at the Opéra de Montréal, he is also a piper. He was the first to play this instrument on the stage of the Opéra de Montréal as part of Silent Night performances in May 2015.
His passion for history and culture has lead him to present programs on Radio-Canada's cultural channel and concerts of the Orford series on the road. Today, he still directs concerts presented at the Alain Lefèvre Music Fair at La Montée des Arts.
Photos taken by: Sr. Gisèle Lalande
