Music of grand piano, harpsichord enchanting Montrealers once again after Bon-Pasteur fire
Posted September 20, 2023 1:55 pm.
Last Updated September 20, 2023 7:23 pm.
The beguiling sound of a 1772 Kirckman harpsichord filled the theatre room of the Centre for Canadian architecture Wednesday, four months after a fire devastated its old home and damaged the instrument itself.
The music of Montreal’s historic Chapel of Bon-Pasteur – the Kirckman harpsichord and Fazioli concert grand piano – encapsulated the restoration efforts following the May 25 fire at the heritage site.
#WATCH: The historic Chapel of Bon-Pasteur now has a new home at the Canadian Centre for Architecture, after a damaging fire in May. A pair of valuable musical instruments were saved from the blaze and restored.
READ: https://t.co/q6FuAsAcOH pic.twitter.com/bAnKd6AzoM
— CityNews Montreal (@CityNewsMTL) September 20, 2023
Bon-Pasteur, the 19th century former monastery, was closed indefinitely following the five-alarm blaze that burned for more than 24 hours and required the intervention of 150 firefighters.
After the blaze, the Centre for Canadian Architecture opened its theatre to the musicians of the historic chapel.
On Wednesday they unveiled their programming for the fall: 25 free concerts dubbed “Outside the Walls at the CCA.”
“It’s important for the music community and for the public to continue our concert series,” said Simon Blanchet, the cultural agent for Chapelle historique du Bon-Pasteur.
“The citizens have the right to have access to the music. The power of art, music,” said Ericka Alneus, responsible for culture and heritage at the city of Montreal. “But also for the musical community that needed this: a space, a place they could play.
“I think that for our city, being a cultural metropolis, it is just the right thing to do to make sure the spirit of the Chapelle du Bon-Pasteur can continue.”
BACKGROUND:
- ‘Precious’ musical instruments removed from Monastère du Bon-Pasteur after fire
- Firefighters put out Monastère du Bon-Pasteur fire more than 24 hours after it ignited
- ‘I lost everything’: Major fire at Montreal heritage building
Both instruments were saved from destruction but sustained moisture damage. The damage was limited as they were both protected by covers.
Oliver Esmonde-White helped restore the Fazioli at his Mile End workshop. Yves and Benoît Beaupré restored the harpsichord.
Oliver Esmonde-White, president of Piano Esmonde-White, at the Centre for Canadian Architecture Sept. 20, 2023. (Alyssia Rubertucci, CityNews)
“We worked so hard, the team of 12 technicians from Toronto, Quebec City and Montreal,” said Esmonde-White. “We gave ourselves the challenge of improving the piano to what it was before the fire.”
“It’s taking a top-level athlete and putting them on a podium of the Olympics is how it feels as the trainer.”
The grand piano was in rough shape when it was removed from the chapel – its legs were soaked, damaging the body.
Damaged Fazioli grand piano in the aftermath of the Chapelle Bon-Pasteur fire May 29, 2023. (Submitted by: Oliver Esmonde-White)
“We decided after the restoration to keep it as is, so the fire is now part of the history of the instrument and of the piano,” said Blanchet. “But it doesn’t affect the sound, so it’s wonderful.”
“It came out of a historic building, it is now part of that history,” said Esmonde-White. “To leave the scars from the damage, at least a little bit of the damage, I think it adds to its worth as an interesting historical musical object.”
(Alyssia Rubertucci, CityNews)
The heritage building is now being prepped for winter. It’s not yet certain when they’d be able to reopen their doors.
Until then, a symbol of the instruments’ original home, the Bon-Pasteur chapel, is on display at the foot of the piano.
(Alyssia Rubertucci, CityNews)
“It sounds wonderful in the acoustics of this theatre,” said Blanchet. “So we are really happy to continue our mission for the musicians and for the public.”
