Role

:

Ensemble

Genre

:

Avant-Garde

 

 

Chamber

 

The Société de musique contemporaine du Québec (SMCQ) Ensemble is a renowned classical music group based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The ensemble was founded in 1966 by composer and conductor Serge Garant, with the aim of promoting contemporary music in Quebec and Canada. The SMCQ Ensemble has grown over the years to become one of the most important contemporary music groups in Canada, with a reputation for innovative programming and high-quality performances. The ensemble has worked with many of the leading composers of our time, including John Cage, Pierre Boulez, and Steve Reich, and has premiered countless new works by Canadian and international composers. One of the highlights of the SMCQ Ensemble's early years was the premiere of Garant's own composition, "Symphonie du millénaire," in 1970. This ambitious work, which featured a large orchestra, choir, and electronic instruments, was a landmark in Canadian music history and helped to establish the SMCQ Ensemble as a major force in contemporary music. Over the years, the SMCQ Ensemble has continued to push the boundaries of contemporary music, exploring new sounds and techniques and collaborating with artists from a wide range of disciplines. In 1988, the ensemble launched the "Homage Series," a biennial festival that celebrates the work of a different composer each year. The series has featured some of the most important composers of the 20th and 21st centuries, including John Cage, Olivier Messiaen, and György Ligeti. In addition to its regular concert series and festival programming, the SMCQ Ensemble has also been recognized for its recordings. The ensemble has released numerous albums over the years, including several that have won awards and critical acclaim. In 1991, the ensemble's recording of Garant's "Symphonie du millénaire" won the Juno Award for Best Classical Composition. One of the SMCQ Ensemble's most memorable performances was the world premiere of John Cage's "Roaratorio" in 1983. This ambitious work, which was based on James Joyce's "Finnegans Wake," featured a large ensemble of musicians, actors, and sound technicians, and was performed in a specially designed space that included multiple stages and a complex sound system. The performance was a huge success, and helped to cement the SMCQ Ensemble's reputation as a leading interpreter of contemporary music. Another highlight of the SMCQ Ensemble's career was the premiere of R. Murray Schafer's "The Children's Crusade" in 2009. This large-scale work, which was commissioned by the SMCQ Ensemble, featured a choir, orchestra, and a cast of actors, and was performed in a specially designed outdoor space in Montreal. The performance was a major event in the city's cultural calendar, and attracted thousands of spectators. Over the years, the SMCQ Ensemble has won numerous awards and accolades for its work. In 2005, the ensemble was awarded the Prix Opus for "Concert of the Year - Modern and Contemporary Music" for its performance of works by Canadian composer Claude Vivier. In 2011, the ensemble was awarded the Prix Opus for "Artistic Direction of the Year" for its programming of the "Homage Series" festival. Today, the SMCQ Ensemble continues to be a leading force in contemporary music, with a commitment to exploring new sounds and techniques and collaborating with artists from a wide range of disciplines.

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