VALÉRIE MILOT
Solo Harp
Harp at The Barn
premiered August 15, 2020
What better way to bring a summer breeze to life than through the sound of a harp? Quebec harpist Valérie Milot shares an array of beautiful music ranging from Debussy’s Clair de lune to Elgar’s Nimrod theme. Winner of the coveted Prix d’Europe, Valérie plays an “Apollonia” harp, one of only thirteen in existence worldwide, crafted by the Italian luthier Salvi. Exceptional beauty in the meadow!
Choose how you experience the music!
The NEW Westben Digital Venue - This venue is an interactive map of the Westben Farm where you can let your curiosity roam free! You can even visit The Milk Shed to be refreshed by the latest Dare to Share cooking videos by local Chefs.
On the Westben YouTube channel – Choose to simply enjoy the concert directly on YouTube
Music for a While podcast featuring Valérie Milot!
Music has started to fill The Barn once more, all be it without a true audience, in the form of recording sessions for our Digital Concert at The Barn series. In this episode of the podcast, Valerie has a lovely and very open discussion with Brian Finley about the impact that the pandemic has had on her personal & professional life as well as a look at how she felt recording this concert at Westben. Enjoy!
Biography
Valérie Milot, a harpist with the soul of a rebel, devotes herself with equal passion to her roles as a concertist, producer, professor and mother. Whether it is in the pure tradition of classical music or through her innovative productions like Orbis, Valérie knows how to make her art accessible.
A sought-after soloist, Valérie performs in numerous concerts with prestigious orchestras across Canada and abroad, among them the Orchestre métropolitain de Montréal (Yannick Nézet-Séguin and Julian Kuerti), Les Violons du Roy (Bernard Labadie and Mathieu Lussier) and Montreal Symphony Orchestra (Bernard Labadie).
In addition to recording nine albums so far, Valérie has also built a solid reputation on the Internet. Active on various media, she stands out through her performances, such as her interpretation of The Moldau by Bedrich Smetana, which has received more than one million views on YouTube. She can also be seen on the electric harp in an adaptation of Discipline, by the legendary progressive rock group King Crimson.
As a harp and chamber music teacher at the Montreal Conservatory, Valérie enjoys her special relationship with her students, who are the focus of her attention.
Recognized by her peers and by the public, Valérie has a string of awards to her name: Prix d’Europe 2008, Radio-Canada's Revelation of the Year and the Young Soloist Prize of the Radios Francophones Publiques, to name a few.
Valérie now plays one of only thirteen Salvi "Apollonia" harps in existence worldwide, graciously on loan to her from the Canimex company of Drummondville (Quebec / Canada), and belonging to the patron of the arts Roger Dubois.
© Élise Rivard / Joan McCordick 2020
Digital Concerts are premiered monthly on Westben’s NEW Digital Venue . Explore the Map (an interactive representation of the Westben farm) where you can let your curiosity roam free! You can even visit The Milk Shed to be refreshed by the latest Dare to Share cooking videos by local Chefs, or explore Westben To Go with ideas to enhance your experience with scrumptious food from your favourite Trent Hills chefs to pick up before the show.
To round your visit off with a personal touch, check for the live Zoom Talk-Backs with the Artists presented at selected premieres. A great way to connect before or after watching the 12 noon premiere together. And don’t miss all the pre-performance excitement including behind-the-scenes photos and stories, and podcasts with Westben’s Artistic Director Brian Finley in conversation with the artists.
Afterward, tell us all about your Experience at westben@westben.ca, or connect with us on social media. We love to hear from you!
