A Puppet Parade
“I loved A Puppet Parade because I was able to imagine the puppets and their story while the orchestra and its conductor were playing. The movement that I liked the most is “the wolf” because I find it fast and exciting. Did you know that Maxime Goulet composed this piece when he was still a student at the University? He’s really good, isn’t he?”
– Éléna Dostie (10 years old)
A Puppet Parade is an orchestral suite inspired by a selection of marionettes made by Micheline Legendre. Each movement evokes a specific puppet created by the artist.
I – The Master of Ceremonies: In one energetic whiplash, he opens the march in great pomp.
II – Wang-Fô: An old Chinese painter who shines of wisdom and serenity.
III – Harlequin and Punchinello: Two tricksters, straight from the commedia dell’arte who won’t stop interrupting and taunting each other.
IV – Lolita: A small ballerina who evokes the circus’ magic and beauty.
V – The Wolf: A ferocious beast on the hunt.
Instrumentation: 2*.2.2.2 (fl2 dbl picc) / 2.2.0.0 / timp+1 / strings
Duration: 18 minutes
Commissioned by the Ensemble Euterpe and their artistic director Geneviève Leclair.
Dedicated to Micheline Legendre.
Premiere: February 24th, 2007, by the Ensemble Euterpe and the conductor Geneviève Leclair, at the Marie-Stéphane Hall, in Montréal.
2020, Oct. 25 to Nov. 14 | Orchestre Symphonique de Laval, Alain Trudel | Online concert
2018, Sept. 28 | Orchestre symphonique de Sherbrooke, Stephane Laforest | Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
2010, July 11 | National Academy Orchestra of Canada, Geneviève Leclair | Brott Music festival, Hamilton, Canada
2008, Feb. 17 | Ensemble Euterpe, Geneviève Leclair | Église St-Jean Baptiste, Montreal, Canada
2007, Feb. 24 | Ensemble Euterpe, Geneviève Leclair | Hall Marie-Stéphane, Montreal, Canada (premiere)