By Adam Brazeau
CORNWALL, Ontario – Standing in the roofless St. Raphael’s Ruins, maestro Paul André Boivin can already hear the open-air concert echo off the historic site’s vast bare stone walls.
The Montreal-born, Florida-based conductor is leading the inaugural TrilliArts Festival taking place over four days in Cornwall and the former Catholic church in South Glengarry this Thursday, August 6 to Sunday, August 9.
“From a musical perspective, we decided to use the themes within the music to highlight the venues themselves,” said Boivin.
“The centrepiece of that is St. Raphael’s, which will be a program on myths and legends and heroes that marries the psychological and mythological aspect of the music itself. There’s something about this location that can reverberate.”
Boivin has most recently been seen conducting Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring with members of the Montreal Symphony, I Musici, and the Sarasota Orchestra.
“What’s going to be special about this is that we have international artists like Paul André but we’re also using the stars that come from this area, like vocalist Jimmy Malyon and violinist Veronika Cherniak,” said Louise-Andrée Baril, TrilliArt general and artistic director.
The bilingual festival’s three other locations: the Cornwall Bandshell at Lamoureux Park, Nativity Parish, and St. Columban’s Church.
“I’ve been wanting to do this forever,” said Baril. “I was raised here and was part of the Kinsmen Music Festival and won those awards for years. Then I moved away and had an international career for many years. Now I’m at a point in my life where it’s very important to bring it all back to my hometown and expose people to classical music in a fun way.”
The event’s title and logo blends a trillium, Ontario’s official flower, and a musical notation. TrilliArts also coincides with the 400th anniversary of Francophone presence in the province.
From a 13-instrument set on Thursday, to a symphony of 32 players and soloists on Friday and Saturday, and a Mozart Coronation Mass on Sunday with a variety of accompaniment through a choir of 40 and roughly 20 musicians, the concerts will introduce locals to the depth and variation that classical music offers.
The festival will also feature a Celtic twist with bagpipers leading people into each venue, and Highland dancers will make an appearance.
Baril hopes that after bringing classical music back to the community through the TrilliArts Festival, they can eventually bring it into schools.
“In a child’s development, if you don’t expose them to music that is interesting and fun and accessible to them, it will never be a part of their fabric,” said Baril.
Ticket prices range from $15 to $30. Complimentary passes for select dates are also available. For more information, visit www.trilliartsfestival.com.
