helloman

Some free outdoor concerts at Place des Arts.

Place des Arts celebrates the return of
warm weather with Les Midis du monde. This series of concerts by artists from
all over the world is a definite crowd-pleaser, judging by the number of
picnickers who flock to the Esplanade to enjoy a midday break in the sun. This
year, two cocktail-hour concerts have been added to the series, on Thursdays,
June 9 and June 16, from 5 to 7 p.m. What better way to end the workday than
with a good shot of rhythm?

    Les Midis du monde
    On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from late May to mid-June, performers
from Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas will tune up their instruments and
put their talents to work to entertain Montréal audiences.

    Monday, May 30
    Philippines Kaibigan Vocal Ensemble
    "Kaibigan" means "friend" in the Philippines. This choir consists of 10
girls aged 16 to 22 from Manila's poorer neighbourhoods. They are ambassadors
for the Kaibigan Foundation, whose mission is rehabilitation and therapy
through the arts, and have travelled the world on the strength of their lovely
voices.

    Wednesday, June 1
    Moldavia Moldomania
    Moldavian accordionist Sergiu Popa, Bosnian percussionist Anes
Beglerbegovic and Yugoslavian guitarist Predrag Manov make up Moldomania.
These three Eastern Europeans draw on their musical roots for a gypsy-
flavoured concert infused with all the emotion of the Slavic soul.

    Friday, June 3
    Cuba Oscar Fuentes
    A regular at the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal and
FrancoFolies, Oscar Fuentes serves up seductive vocal improvisations and
explosive rhythms. He combines the sounds of his native Cuba with jazz, funk
and groove, and the result is irresistible.

    Monday, June 6
    India Aditya Verma
    A virtuoso of the sarod, a traditional stringed instrument, Aditya Verma
breathes new life into classical Indian music, whose Vedic and Hindu origins
date back nearly 2,000 years. With his impeccable technique and charismatic
personality, he's one to watch on the international scene.

    Wednesday, June 8
    Portugal Tri Tonum
    Tri Tonum reveals all the subtleties of fado from Lisbon and Coimbra.
Accompanied by the cittern, the viol and the classical guitar, the voices of
José Joa~o, Luiz Duarte and Filipe Batista evoke all the nostalgia and
melancholy of this soulful song tradition.

    Friday, June 10
    Haiti Toto Laraque
    Toto Laraque has spent a lot of time travelling between Port-au-Prince
and Montréal. He and his guitar have a story to tell, and they do so with
contagious good humour. A true ambassador of Haitian song, Toto Laraque is an
artist at the peak of his game.

    Monday, June 13
    Turkey Ismail Fencioglu
    Ismail Fencioglu is a renowned master of the oud, a traditional Middle
Eastern stringed instrument, as well as a luthier and choir director. He has
become a master of Eastern music, which he performs with great charm and
magnetism.

    Wednesday, June 15
    Argentina Denis Plante and Quatuor Racines
    Although he is a native Quebecer, Denis Plante has a passion for all
things Argentine, especially the bandoneon, the instrument inextricably
associated with the tango. Accompanied by Quatuor Racines, he will take the
audience on a journey of discovery into tango nuevo, a blend of classical and
contemporary music, jazz and Argentine folk fusion.

    Friday, June 17
    Senegal Zale Seck
    An authentic African griot, or storyteller, Zale Seck is a vibrant
exponent of Senegalese song and oral traditions. His unique voice conjures up
African landscapes and evokes images of the Lebou people, and the rhythms and
sounds of instruments such as the kora and the balafon enthrall audiences
wherever he performs.

    New: world music after work

    It's the end of the workday and the mood is relaxed. This year, two
concerts have been added to the Musique du monde series, on Thursdays, June 9
and June 16, from 5 to 7 p.m. Latin flavours will be on the menu.

    Thursday, June 9
    Brazil Marcelo Nascimento
    Brazilian Marcelo Nascimento and his fine performances of Brazilian music
past and present are sure to please. Joie de vivre is the driving force in
this show: its rhythms will make you want to jump up and venture a few steps
of the samba.

    Thursday, June 16
    Argentina La Shunta
    La Shunta ("gang" in the slang of Buenos Aires) takes audiences on a trip
from the traditional to the modern-day. The music of composer Gustavo Cabili,
guitarist Jean Desrochers and percussionist Eric Breton recounts their
eclectic and colourful journey.

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    Les Midis du monde: May 30 to June 17, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
    12:05 to 12:55 p.m.
    In case of rain, the concert will be postponed until the next day (with
    the exception of Friday concerts, which will be cancelled).

    Les 5-à-7 Musique du monde: Thursdays, June 9 and June 16
    5 to 7 p.m.
    In case of rain, Friday, June 10 and June 17.
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