A «classical» music album’s life spans is long. And it is why the critics are also picking up along.
Here is the most recent critic about the album Dimensions on which two of my string orchestra pieces can be heard : Couleurs and Suite du promeneur.
Gapplegate Classical-Modern Music Review
I had the opportunity to present some of my composition’s technics elements at the Congrès International de la Fédération des Festivals Eurochestries held in Lencloître in France from January 25th to the 27th.
The congress brought together representatives from China, Russia, Spain, Brasil and England. All playing a great role into the making of Eurochestries Festival around Europe and South America.
During my half hour presentation, I exposed some of my creative persepectives which concludes in the composition of the commisionned orchestral work by the Festival Eurochestries in Charente-Maritime : Saint-Exupéry : de cœur, de sable et d’étoiles.
Here is the document distributed to the congress’s participants (in French) :
Themes and Insight in Saint-Exupéry (in French)
The congress gave also the opportunity to meet new and already known people of the federation toghether with the president Mr Claude Révolte.
I am really proud to be part of the first edition of the Concours de musiques québécoises CMC Québec presented by Québecor.
My piano piece Allez, viens! is going to be published alongside the winning piece Presso composed by my colleague Denis Dion whom I congratulate.
This is the first association between Québecor and the Canadian Music Center in Quebec. I hope this is the begining of a long and fruitfull colaboration.
Press release
Laval, August 30, 2012 – For twelve magical days and nights, August 2 – 14, audiences attending Festival Eurochestries Charente Maritime (in French) concerts in southwest France warmly applauded Laval composer Louis Babin and the Laval Youth String Orchestra (OCJL) directed by Manon Reddy. This summer the Eurochestries festival series took place in four countries – a remarkable cultural and musical exchange that brought together more than 300 young musicians, ages 15 to 25, from several European nations and Quebec. The Festival Eurochestries Charente Maritime shone the spotlight on the creativity and professionalism of our talented Laval musicians.
At performances August 12 and 13, more than 1,300 music lovers offered up standing ovations for the world premiere of a symphonic work entitled Saint-Exupery: de cœur, de sable et d’étoiles composed and directed by Louis Babin. An article (in French) in the regional newspaper Sud-Ouest describes the welcome the public accorded this work and lauds “…a moment of emotion, tenderness, a superb creation in three movements – Vol de vie, Les Adieux au Petit Prince and La Marche des Hommes.” A video on the composing of the work is also available on the internet.
The Laval Youth String Orchestra delighted the public during several concerts performed across the Charente Maritime region. A glimpse of their universally enthusiastic reception is reported in this review of their performance at Aunis on August 4. Directed by Manon Reddy, the OCJL presented a program of various works, including Les Beautés du diable by François Dompierre, Les Quatre Saisons by Piazzolla, Concerto en ré mineur by Vivaldi, and Les Variations rococo by Tchaïkovski. The young musicians and their leader came home enchanted by the experience. They are all hoping for an encore appearance at the next Festival Eurochestries.
Louis Babin acknowledge the financial support of the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec for the traveling fees.
Here is the video of the World Premiere of my piece for orchestra given at the Saint-Gervais Chuch in Jonzac, August 12th 2012 : Saint-Exupéry : de cœur, de sable et d’étoiles.
It was a commissioned by the Festival des Eurochestries en Charente-Maritime. The Festival theme was : Saint-Exupéry : Homage to his works.
The orchestra was filled with members of the following ensembles : Youth Orchestra of Turkey (Orhun Orhon, music director), Youth Orchestra of Soria (Borja Quintas, music director) (Spain), Youth String Orchestra of Laval (Manon Reddy, music director) (Quebec), Youth String Orchestra of Moscow (Vasili Valitov, music director), Clarinets Quartet Ômega (Brasil), Violins Ensemble VIVAlini of Krasnoyarsk (Elena Voytina, music director) (Russia) together with Andrei and Igor members of Young Men Choir Ladya from Togliatti (Galina Devyatkina, music director) (Russia).
My thanks to Claude Révolte, president 0f Eurochestries.
My thanks to Éric Moreau who introduced me to Mr Philippe de Saint-Exupéry from the Fondation Antoine de Saint-Exupéry pour la Jeunesse.
I wish to thank as well the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec for supporting me by taking care of the travel fees.