Thursday, February 13, 2003

The 2nd Edition of the FESTIVAL VOIX D’AMÉRIQUES kicks off on Thursday, in the company of Patrice DESBIENS, guest of honour of this 2nd Edition. With his inimitable personality — he is at once unflinching, humble, and moving — Patrice DESBIENS has gained a reputation for his impertinence, humour, and implacable lucidity. His poetry is rooted in reality; his razor-sharp writing, powerful sense of imagery, and tortured yet compassionate texts have seduced audiences and inspired other artists — including Richard Desjardins, René Lussier and Chloé Ste-Marie — to work with him. During the entire festival, the public will have opportunities to meet this leading French-Canadian poet.

All the performers in this French-language show are renowned for their strong stage presence. Taking advantage of their boldness and willingness to step off the beaten path, we asked them to go further, transgress norms, take risks. They will be joined onstage by experienced, inspired musicians, always ready to take up the challenge of performing live without a net. Slip-ups and slips of the tongue, lapses and miscues, bad words, abuse of language, incorrectness, barbarisms… Everything will be allowed, everything will be forgiven.

The host will be Alexis O’HARA, a pro at steering through the labyrinthine complexities of language. She will guide us with confidence during this perilous excursion into new territory.

The show will be recorded by Radio-Canada’s Chaîne culturelle and broadcast on Friday, March 14, 2003, at 10:00 pm, during the program Les Décrocheurs d’étoiles, hosted by Michel Garneau and produced by Christine Germain.