Cinq pièces liquides: Quasar pays tribute to Quebec composer Claude Vivier with four works from their repertoire and two original creations

Montreal, November 8, 2023 – After a dazzling success in Paris on October 22, it's now time for Montreal audiences to discover Cinq pièces liquides, a concert created by Quasar and Yassen Vodenitchraov in honor of Quebec composer Claude Vivier, who passed away 40 years ago. The quartet offers a program that blends contemporary music with original works, with six pieces that revolve in one way or another around Vivier's musical universe.

On the one hand, the concert focuses on Vivier's close circles, with works by two of his compositional masters, Gilles Tremblay (Levées) in Montreal and Paul Méfano (Mouvement calme) in Paris. We'll then discover his influence on today's composers with the return of Émilie Girard-Charest's Bestiaire (premiered by Quasar in 2018 during the Territoires sonores concert) as well as two creations: L'instant liquide by Florence M. Tremblay and Cinq pièces liquides by Yassen Vodenitcharov. Quasar opens with Claude Vivier's key work Pulau Dewata, which the quartet has been playing and perfecting for almost 30 years, in an ever-renewed tribute to this great composer. What's more, an XR experience designed around Pulau Dewata will be offered to audiences interested in deepening their experience after the concert.

"A truly magnificent and varied concert [...] Vivier's piece is spectacular [...] Bravo!" 
- José Manuel López López, composer who attended the Paris concert on October 22

Cinq pièces liquides will be presented one night only in Montreal on November 21 at 7:30 p.m. in the Espace Orange of the Wilder Building, in co-production with Le Vivier. A fiery encounter will be held before the concert.

Cinq pièces liquides
Tuesday November 21, 7:30 p.m.
Wilder Building – Espace Orange

Tickets starting at $20 on levivier.ca

PROGRAMME

Claude Vivier
Pulau Dewata (1977)
Transcription by Walter Boudreau

Florence M. Tremblay
L’instant liquide (2023) – Premiere
Commissioned by Quasar

Gilles Tremblay
Levées (2009)
Commissioned by Quasar

Paul Méfano
Mouvement calme (1976)
Transcription by Yassen Vodenitcharov

Émilie Girard-Charest
Bestiaire (2018)
Commissioned by Quasar

Yassen Vodenitcharov
Cinq pièces liquides (2023) – Premiere
Commissioned by Radio France

Quasar saxophone quartet
Marie-Chantal Leclair – artistic director, soprano saxophone
Mathieu Leclair – alto saxophone
André Leroux – tenor saxophone
Jean-Marc Bouchard – baritone saxophone

Known for their energy and bold innovation, the four members of Quasar have been exploring the innumerable facets of musical creation since the group's founding in 1994. The group's ventures include instrumental music, improvisation, and electronics. Whether solo or accompanied by a symphony orchestra, acoustic or plugged-in, Quasar offers its audience a unique and deeply original programming. The ensemble has been awarded 10 OPUS prizes by the Conseil québécois de la musique, including "Artist of the Year".

Quasar presents a series of concerts each season in Montreal while performing extensively across Canada, Mexico, the United States and Europe. It has been invited to international festivals including: Busan Maru (Korea), Ars Musica (Brussels), SALT Festival (Victoria), and Tonlagen (Dresden). Truly a driving force of musical creation, the quartet works closely with composers favouring research, experimentation and the proliferation of unprecedented ideas.

Quasar's aims are to contribute to the enrichment of our musical heritage and to provide a platform for new music experimentation, exploration and production. The quartet has proudly commissioned over 200 works over the course of its twenty-five years of activity.  During that time, it has performed as a solo group with, among others, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and the Hanzhou Philharmonic Orchestra.

Contact
Roxanne Gallant
Communications coordinator – Quasar saxophone quartet
roxanne@quasar4.com | 1.418.732.2413

Quasar's musicians are available for press, radio and TV interviews.