Portland Symphony Presents Le Vent Du Nord

Guest conductor Daniel Meyer will lead the Portland Symphony Orchestra in "Celtic Color and Canadian Clippers," an irresistible program rooted in European tradition, but with a whimsical New World flair. Special guest ensemble Le Vent du Nord will join the PSO at Merrill Auditorium on Saturday, March 24 at 8:00pm and Sunday, March 25 at 2:30 pm, for the final performances of PSO's 2006-2007 Pops series.

The concert will feature the PSO in the first half performing delightful Irish medleys and Scottish tunes. Le Vent du Nord will join the symphony for the second half, playing traditional Quebecois songs and dances with foot-stomping rhythms.

Guest conductor Daniel Meyer is Music Director of the Asheville Symphony Orchestra and Resident Conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony. He opened the PSO 2006-07 season in October 2006. This will be his second visit to the PSO podium.

Le Vent du Nord is an award-winning Quebecois folk ensemble of four musicians focused on bringing traditional music to a modern audience. The group combines eight musical instruments, four voices in harmony, two generations of musicians and a master of step dance to create a show comprised of joyous Celtic-inflected tunes. These concerts with the PSO mark lead singer Benoit Bourque's final performances with the band.

Adding to the Canadian flavor of the evening, ticket holders for each Le Vent du Nord performance will be entered to win a 3-night stay in Quebec City with free access to museums and a transportation allowance in honor of the 400th anniversary of Quebec City to be celebrated in 2008. The raffle will be held courtesy of the Four Points by Sheraton Quebec, the Quebec City Tourism Office and the Societe du 400eme anniversaire de Quebec.

This concert is sponsored by the Canadian Consulate General, with additional support from the National Endowment for the Arts. -- www.portlandsymphony.com