Le Temps des fleurs, le temps des neiges

-by Dimitri Ilias

Following an intense audition period, 33 young singers from École Socrates-Demosthènes were selected for the children’s choir, and are now sacrificing their Sundays practicing and preparing for Le Temps des fleurs, le temps des neiges, the French version of the massive multi-disciplinary book/CD for children first published in English in October 2013. Le Temps des fleurs, le temps des neiges is a moving yet humorous retelling of the ancient Greek myth of the goddess Demeter, her daughter Persephone and how the seasons came to be. As with the English book/CD, the French version is being produced under the direction of opera singers Maria Diamantis and Dimitris Ilias.

On February 23, 2015, at the Hellenic Community Centre Adrian Maris, these 33 young ambassadors of Greek mythology and culture will host the General Rehearsal and Press Conference for Le Temps des fleurs, le temps des neiges for the 310 other members of their choir from the English Montreal School Board and the Commission scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoys, the 55 musicians of Orchestre Symphonique Pop de Montréal, and of course the author, illustrator, composer and many dignitaries. Our 33 singers will have the opportunity to lend their voices the CD soundtrack that will be accompanying the book, which will be in bookstores in October 2015. The book/CD will also simultaneously be released as an iPad app. The narrator for the French version is Guy Nadon, one of Quebec’s most celebrated actors.