Here is a report from the GMO: Quebec Tour, April 24 - May 18, the GMO was based in the city of Montreal traveling out to performance venues throughout the province of Quebec. This provided a rare opportunity to live in one place while performing; it is almost like being a resident, returning to the same apartment, having a kitchen, becoming familiar with local restaurants, grocery stores and other amenities when living in a vibrant city. As with life anywhere there are challenges and Montreal is no different in this regard.
May 2nd, 2012 found the Glenn Miller Orchestra continuing the 2012 Quebec tour with a performance in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada at the Grand Theatre de Quebec another magnificent concert venue. May 3, Salle Jean-Grimaldi in LaSalle; May 4, Theatre Hector-Charland, in L'Assomption.
May 5 and 6 the GMO left Montreal for Drummondville and La Baie, the distance to these venues being too great for round trip travel; May 5 at the Maison des Arts Desjardins in Drummondville a beautiful fine arts performance center; May 6 in the magnificent region of Quebec on La Baie (the Bay), in La Baie the performance was at Theatre du Palais Municipal La Baie. There is too much to explain about the activities in the theatre in La Baie, QC. There is a spectacular that has been running here every summer since 1988 that includes 250 local volunteer actors. The set for the show remains in place and there was as much stage behind us as there was audience in front.
The body of water known as La Baie is the only fjord on the East coast of North America. La Baie; the Bay. This body of water has 90 feet of fresh water covering salt water at the bottom. In the winter this makes for great ice fishing as the bay freezes over with 2-4 feet of ice. Ice fishing brings in halibut, flounder, cod and other salt water fish as they fish deep into the salt water. There is aluminum produced here which is shipped all over the world; La Baie is also a cruise ship destination. We had dinner with the promoter and crew in La Baie, very nice.
Returning to Montreal there was Salle Rolland-Brunelle in Joliette on the 8th, Theatre du Vieux in Terrebonne on the 9th, Centre des Arts Juliette Lassonde in St-Hyacinthe on the 10th, Centre Culturel de Beloeil in Beloeil on the 11th, Maison de la Culture de Gatineain u Gatineau on the 12th, and Theatre des deux Rives in Jean sur Richelieu on the 13th. In the 30 days between coming off break in Patchogue, NY on April 14 to the concert on May 13th the GMO performed 25 concerts with four travel days and one day off making this a very busy period of the tour schedule.
On May 11th many of the GMO were delighted with a guided tour of the Montreal Jazz Festival museum by one of the co-founders of the annual event, Andre Menard. Informative and a lot of fun to have an insider view of the largest Jazz/Musical Festival in the world. www.montrealjazzfest.com
Before leaving Quebec on May 17 there were 13 more concerts. The audiences throughout the Quebec tour were very astute to the music; they were universally warm and welcoming as well as very appreciative of the performances. We feel it was a very successful tour. We appreciate the audiences of Quebec.
Returning to the USA on May 18 the month was completed with concerts in Norway, MI; shows on consecutive days at Drury Lane Oakbrook Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace, IL; two shows on the 26th in Franklin, TN; a matinee at Ole Miss on the 27th, and to finish the month concerts in Lucas and Hays, KS on the 30th and 31st.
If you have been following The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestraon Facebook you have seen the photos of all of the venues in Quebec and comments made by audience members. The Facebook page is kept up to date for you, the GMO fans, as we want to take you along with us everywhere we go. There 4193 fans on this page as of today. If you are not using Facebook, you can use the website www.glennmillerorchestra.com and this news letter to follow the GMO. However if you are on Facebook and have not yet stopped by to "Like" the World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra please come by. We feel you will truly Like this page as the content is for you.
YouTube clip "Oklahoma Medley" performed by the Glenn Miller Orchestra from current Oklahoma tour.
