Montréal AVUDO, a Spectacular Multimedia Show in the Old Port for Montréal's 375th Anniversary

Société des célébrations du 375e anniversaire de Montréal

MONTRÉAL, Sept. 14, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - Montréal's 375th anniversary is proud to present Montréal AVUDO, an exclusive performance created specially for the occasion by the Compagnia Finzi Pasca. The work will be produced and directed by Daniele Finzi Pasca. Some 100 performances of this major production will be offered for free from May 17 to September 2, 2017 in the west section of the Old Port of Montréal, near the Convoyeurs Quay and the Montréal Science Centre.

More than 180,000 spectators will be able to watch this multimedia work next summer. Set on the water, Montréal AVUDO will pay poetic tribute to the St. Lawrence River throughout the years and seasons. The water, omnipresent, will be given a voice through installations and grandiose projections. It will tell the story of those who lived there, who arrived by the St. Lawrence, whose livelihood depended on it, who built, innovated and set off to link Montréal to the rest of the world. In short, memories of the St. Lawrence will come alive through it.

Montréal AVUDO is a non-linear show that evokes the emotional ties between the St. Lawrence River, Montréal, its intertwining histories, its neighbourhoods, its stakeholders and its people. Homage will be paid to a river that has witnessed the rise of the island, from its very beginnings to the Montréal of today, and interspersed with characters that have helped create the city.

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"Daniele Finzi Pasca loves Montréal, and he has dazzled some of the biggest cities in the world with his talent, " said Gilbert Rozon, Commissioner for Montréal's 375th creations. "Now it's our city and river that will be celebrated. We'll be able to watch memories of the St. Lawrence come alive before us."

"We are very proud to present an outdoor show of this magnitude at the heart of the Old Port," said Denis Coderre, Mayor of Montréal. "We will be paying tribute to Montréal and the St. Lawrence River for this special anniversary. I would like to invite everyone who loves Montréal to come and see what promises to be a truly spectacular event, and rediscover our city."

"The Québec government is proud to support Montréal AVUDO, which will highlight the pivotal role the St. Lawrence River has played for the Montréal community. This major work will not only reflect the city's creativity and openness to the world, but contribute to positioning it as a world-class cultural metropolis," added Martin Coiteux, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy, Minister of Public Security and Minister responsible for the Montréal region.

"It will be an immense pleasure for us to create Montréal Avudo. The project, which is dedicated to the St. Lawrence River and which celebrates Montréal's 375th, is filled with rich creative challenges. Montréal's multiculturalism reflects the essence of the Compagnia Finzi Pasca," said Hugo Gargiulo, scenographer and cofounder of the Compagnia Finzi Pasca.

"The Old Port of Montréal is the perfect spot to showcase the ideas and the creative genius of Daniele Finzi Pasca and his team," said Julie Payette, Chief Operating Officer of the Montréal Science Centre. "We are delighted to welcome this show to the basin between the historic Convoyeurs Quay and the quay where the Montréal Science Centre is located, at the very heart of our maritime heritage."

About the Compagnia Finzi Pasca
Founded by Antonio Vergamini, Daniele Finzi Pasca, Hugo Gargiulo, Julie Hamelin Finzi and Maria Bonzanigo, the Compagnia Finzi Pasca is based in Lugano and Montréal. It boasts five international touring shows, including the La Verità, Donka, Bianco su Bianco, Icaro and this coming November, Per Te. In addition to its touring shows, the company's team of artists has produced creative projects in parallel, including the closing ceremonies for the Turin and Sochi Olympic Games and the opening ceremony of the Sochi Paralympic Games, different operas in London, Toronto, Saint Petersburg and Naples (L'Amour de loin, Aïda, Requiem de Verdi, Pagliacci, Carmen), collaborations with the Cirque du Soleil (Corteo, Luzia) or the Cirque Éloize's Sky Trilogy (Nomade, Rain, Nebbia) as well as the Vevey Winegrowers Festival in 2019. The company's unique aesthetic is reflected in a creative approach and style of directing that is born of a desire to develop artistic projects that broaden the "Theatre of the caress", a technique based on the invisible gesture and the state of lightness. It is visible in the particular way the artists conceive a production, the training philosophy for the actor, acrobat, musician, dancer and technician, as well as the way spaces are inhabited and memories accessed, and nostalgia and emotion are triggered.

About the Society for the Celebration of Montréal's 375th Anniversary
The Society for the Celebration of Montréal's 375th Anniversary is a non-profit organization whose mission is to organize the celebrations and socioeconomic contributions that will highlight Montréal's 375th anniversary in 2017.  With a focus on promoting Montréal expertise, it acts as a catalyst for local forces to carry out its mandate: mobilize the community, implement a funding strategy, rigorously manage funding, develop quality programming and ensure the visibility of the celebrations.

The Society benefits from the support of the Ville de Montréal, the Gouvernement du Québec and private funding from 11 Great Montrealers. For more information: www.375mtl.com

To learn more about the Québec government's contribution to Montréal's 375th anniversary celebrations, click here.

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SOURCE Société des célébrations du 375e anniversaire de Montréal

Image with caption: "MONTRÉAL AVUDO (CNW Group/Société des célébrations du 375e anniversaire de Montréal)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160914_C4151_PHOTO_EN_773051.jpg

For Montréal's 375th: Isabelle Pelletier, Press Relations, 514-238-4178, [email protected]