PRESS RELEASE

Montreal, February 18, 2009 - Pointe-à-Callière, the Montréal Museum of Archaeology and History, presents the 15th edition of its Port Symphonies on March 1st and 8, at 1:30 p.m. For this open-air concert, the sounds of boats, locomotives, and other urban instruments, including the bells of Notre-Dame Basilica, will join forces for a most unusual, original work.

The Museum will liven up Old Montréal's winter landscape with this family activity that has become a real tradition. This year, seven boats will take part in the symphony. Crowds can attend this concert free of charge in the area in front of the Museum.

"This is the 15th edition of the Port Symphonies and I am very happy to see that, over the years, the event has continued to evolve and enjoy ever-increasing popularity," stated Francine Lelièvre, Executive Director of Pointe-à-Callière.

For this concert, the Museum is proposing an original composition inspired by the pirates, privateers, and freebooters who criss-crossed the waters of the St. Lawrence and the Maritimes in the 17th and 18th centuries. Bernard Falaise, a true musical renaissance man well known on the Canadian musique actuelle scene, will present his new work The Spicy Sounds of a Privateer's Horn, an imaginary episode in the life of Captain Bartholomew, the commander of a privateer ship. The group Les Murènes will perform sea chanteys in Place Royale as a prelude before the start of the Symphony.

Bernard Falaise, composer of the 15th edition of the Port Symphonies
Bernard Falaise composes, plays guitar, and improvises as part of several groups. He has, among other activities, produced the albums Vent fou by Jorane and La Maline by Marie-Jo Thério, and has worked with people as varied as André Duchesne and Urbain Desbois, in addition to producing several soundtracks for theatre, dance, film, and television. This past January 25, the Conseil québécois de la musique awarded him with the Opus Prize (Year 12, 2007-2008) for record of the year in the musique actuelle / electroacoustic category for his album Clic on the DAME / Ambiances Magnétiques label.

Drop in to the Museum
After the Symphonies, visitors can take the opportunity to warm up in the Museum and see the permanent exhibition Where Montréal Was Born and the multimedia presentation Montréal, Tales of a City. They can also spend a little time in the Central American sunshine while visiting the temporary exhibition Costa Rica, Land of Wonders, presented until April 19, 2009. Beginning on May 20, 2009, the Museum's temporary exhibition hall will be taken by storm by Pirates, Privateers, and Freebooters, an exhibition on the history of piracy.

Pointe-à-Callière's Port Symphonies receive financial support under the Agreement on the cultural development of Montréal between the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Québec and the City of Montréal. The Quays of the Old Port of Montréal Corporation and the Old Montréal Business Development Corporation also contribute to the funding of this activity. The Museum wishes to thank the MONTREAL HIGH LIGHTS Festival for its promotional support of the activity.

The All-Nighter - A Night at Sea
Also of note, on the night of Saturday, February 28 to Sunday, March 1st, from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m., is the Montréal All-Nighter, organized by the MONTRÉAL HIGH LIGHTS Festival. For the occasion, the city's night owls young and old, as well as fans of storytelling, are invited to spend a night at the Museum! Come hear storytellers Louis-Philippe Métail and Steve Bernier who will be on hand in the archaeological remains to share tales of the sea, sailors, pirates, privateers, and freebooters. Take advantage of this magical night to visit the permanent exhibition Where Montréal Was Born and the multimedia show Montréal, Tales of a City free of charge.

The Museum is subsidized by the city of Montréal.

Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal Museum of Archaeology and History
350 Place Royale
Old Montréal, Quebec
H2Y 3Y5
Tel.: (514) 872-9150
Website: www.pacmuseum.qc.ca

Photographic material available from croberge@pacmusee.qc.ca