'Precious' musical instruments removed from Montreal heritage building after fire
A pair of valuable musical instruments have been removed from a Montreal heritage building that caught fire last week, raising hopes that they can be saved to play again.
Simon Blanchet, programming director at the Chapelle du Bon-Pasteur, said Sunday a Fazioli concert grand piano and a 1772 Kirckman harpsichord were both removed from the concert venue inside the chapel of the 19th century former monastery a day earlier.
Blanchet said he became emotional when piano technician Oliver Esmonde White played a few chords on the Fazioli just before it was moved, as the piano notes blended with the sound of the water running down from the ceiling and puddling on the floor.
"At least it sounded, it played," he said in a phone interview. "So that's positive. There's still hope."
He said both instruments -- especially the piano -- sustained some moisture damage and will have to dry out before they can be fully assessed.
But he said both were protected by covers and he's hopeful technicians will be able to restore them.
The Kirckman was also moved to a workshop, where harpsichord specialist Benoit Beaupre is optimistic that it can be returned to its full glory.
While there is moisture in the instrument, Beaupre said he doesn't believe any water penetrated the interior, which could have caused it to warp or rot.
He said there are some spots on the varnish and the decorative marquetry, and the glue holding the instrument together may have weakened. However, he believes most of the damage is cosmetic and the instrument should be "completely fixable," he said Sunday in a phone interview.
"Everything seems to be holding OK, so it's very good news and hopefully in two weeks maybe we can begin the repair," said Beaupre, who has a workshop he runs alongside his father, Yves.
In addition to being one of the oldest harpsichords in Canada, the 250-year-old instrument has some special features that were added at the time of construction which give it a unique sound, he said.
"It's a very special instrument," he said. "We don't have two like it in Quebec or in Canada."
Blanchet said the instruments' survival is a small bright light in a devastating week that has seen Montreal musicians lose one of their most important concert venues.
He said the concert hall in the former chapel offered mostly free concerts, often showcasing emerging musicians that would go on to successful careers.
The scene on Saturday was "apocalyptic," he said.
"Water was running everywhere, from the ceilings, and everything is destroyed, the stage was like a lake."
The blaze broke out Thursday at the 19th century building, which also includes a residence for seniors, a housing cooperative and a daycare centre in addition to the concert hall.
The blaze that broke out on Thursday quickly became a five-alarm fire requiring the intervention of 150 firefighters who battled the flames for 42 hours.
Both the cause of the fire and an estimate of damages remained unknown, Montreal's fire department said Saturday.
While it's fortunate that nobody was hurt, Blanchet said members of the artistic community are "in mourning" for the concert space and looking for other places to carry out their programming.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 28, 2023
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
The Indian couple killed in a wrong-way police chase crash on Highway 401 earlier this week has been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
2 charged after police find 'concerning and diverse' explosives at Manitoba home
Winnipeg police say they have arrested two people in their 20s after a large amount of explosives were found in a home outside of Winnipeg, Man.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Spain abolishes national bullfighting award in cultural shift
Spain scrapped an annual bullfighting award on Friday, prompting a rebuke from conservatives over a backlash against a centuries-old tradition they see as an art form but which has run into growing concern for animal welfare.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.
Police officer hit by driver of fleeing vehicle in Toronto
York Regional Police say they are continuing to search for a suspect in an auto theft investigation who was captured on video running over a police officer in Toronto last month.