Bourgie Hall: Music at Heart
22 BOURGIE HALL Founding Figures: Bernard Lamarre and Pierre Bourgie Bernard Lamarre, Chairman of the Board of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, appreciated the solidity of the former church’s architecture, its sumptuous stained-glass windows and its grandiose nave. Having immediately understood the possibilities of the site, he had wished to acquire it for several years. As early as 1991, when digging for a tunnel linking the two MMFA pavilions on either side of Sherbrooke Street was underway, Mr. Lamarre requested that the plans include a possible link with the church. The MMFA, wishing to preserve its vocation as a public space, seemed best placed to preserve and enhance the building. At about the same time, Pierre Bourgie, a Quebec benefactor and art collector who was highly involved in Montreal’s cultural scene, dreamt of a new concert hall for the city. He was eager to endow a disused church with a new musical vocation, and learned of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts’ plan to integrate the former Erskine and American Church in a Canadian art pavilion. Mr. Lamarre and Mr. Bourgie would soon discover that their dreams created a perfect match. The project of a new pavilion including the concert hall totalling an investment of more than 42 million dollars, obtained thanks to contributions from the Government of Quebec, the Government of Canada and several private donors, enhances this architectural and heritage site. It provides an opportunity to carry out a truly original project unique in Canada: a Canadian art pavilion and a concert hall combined in the same location. This corresponded to a real need: there was no medium-sized hall in Montreal ideally suited for chamber orchestra performances and for those of similar ensembles.
Music At Heart 23 This architectural and heritage site provides an opportunity to carry out a truly original project unique in Canada: a Canadian art pavilion and a concert hall combined in the same location. Thus, the two men conceived the project for the new pavilion together. The exhibition rooms would be housed in a new section at the back of the church (the nave did not meet international standards for museum institutions and could not be used as an exhibition space). Mr. Bourgie suggested that it be converted into a concert hall. The project immediately appealed to Nathalie Bondil, the MMFA’s executive director at the time, and Paul Lavallée, the Museum’s administrative director responsible, among other things, for the construction of the Claire and Marc Bourgie Pavilion. A page of history was turned in 2008, when the MMFA officially acquired the site. A year earlier, in 2007, the Arte Musica Foundation was created by Mr. Bourgie. This non-profit organization’s objective is to implement and financially support the musical programming of the new concert hall and the artists who perform there. Arte Musica, which guarantees the operating capital and is responsible for the management of the venue, is an organization in residence at the MMFA. From the outset, Pierre Bourgie entrusted the general and artistic direction of Arte Musica to Isolde Lagacé, then director of the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal, highly esteemed for her skills, experience and thorough knowledge of the musical milieu. It is thanks to her vision, foresight and dynamism that Bourgie Hall has become one of Canada’s most sought-after venues for concert music. Arte Musica has recognized her exceptional contribution by naming her General and Artistic Director Emeritus following her retirement in November 2022.
- Page 1 and 2: BOURGIE HALL MUSIC AT HEART
- Page 3 and 4: SUMMARY 4. BOURGIE HALL AT A GLANCE
- Page 5 and 6: Music At Heart 5 Inaugurated in Sep
- Page 7 and 8: Music At Heart 7 “When Bourgie Ha
- Page 9 and 10: 9
- Page 11 and 12: Music At Heart 11 Musical Creation
- Page 13 and 14: 13 Bourgie Hall has attracted some
- Page 15 and 16: Music At Heart 15 2. The Érard Pia
- Page 17 and 18: Music At Heart 17 6. The Clavicythe
- Page 19 and 20: Music At Heart 19 EXCEPTIONAL TIFFA
- Page 21: Une histoire à partager
- Page 25 and 26: Music At Heart 25 The facade of the
- Page 27 and 28: Music At Heart 27 Bourgie Hall, int
- Page 30 and 31: 30 BOURGIE HALL SEATING PLAN Balcon
<strong>Music</strong> At <strong>Heart</strong><br />
23<br />
This architectural and heritage site<br />
provides an opportunity to carry out<br />
a truly original project unique in Canada:<br />
a Canadian art pavilion and a concert hall<br />
combined in the same loc<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
Thus, the two men conceived the project for the new pavilion together. The<br />
exhibition rooms would be housed in a new section <strong>at</strong> the back of the church (the<br />
nave did not meet intern<strong>at</strong>ional standards for museum institutions and could not<br />
be used as an exhibition space). Mr. <strong>Bourgie</strong> suggested th<strong>at</strong> it be converted into<br />
a concert hall. The project immedi<strong>at</strong>ely appealed to N<strong>at</strong>halie Bondil, the MMFA’s<br />
executive director <strong>at</strong> the time, and Paul Lavallée, the Museum’s administr<strong>at</strong>ive<br />
director responsible, among other things, for the construction of the Claire and<br />
Marc <strong>Bourgie</strong> Pavilion.<br />
A page of history was turned in 2008, when the MMFA officially acquired the site.<br />
A year earlier, in 2007, the Arte <strong>Music</strong>a Found<strong>at</strong>ion was cre<strong>at</strong>ed by Mr. <strong>Bourgie</strong>.<br />
This non-profit organiz<strong>at</strong>ion’s objective is to implement and financially support<br />
the musical programming of the new concert hall and the artists who perform<br />
there. Arte <strong>Music</strong>a, which guarantees the oper<strong>at</strong>ing capital and is responsible<br />
for the management of the venue, is an organiz<strong>at</strong>ion in residence <strong>at</strong> the MMFA.<br />
From the outset, Pierre <strong>Bourgie</strong> entrusted the general and artistic direction of<br />
Arte <strong>Music</strong>a to Isolde Lagacé, then director of the Conserv<strong>at</strong>oire de musique<br />
de Montréal, highly esteemed for her skills, experience and thorough knowledge<br />
of the musical milieu. It is thanks to her vision, foresight and dynamism th<strong>at</strong> <strong>Bourgie</strong><br />
<strong>Hall</strong> has become one of Canada’s most sought-after venues for concert music.<br />
Arte <strong>Music</strong>a has recognized her exceptional contribution by naming her General<br />
and Artistic Director Emeritus following her retirement in November 2022.
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