Paris may be suffering from its worst flooding in decades but the only thing flowing at its embassy in Ottawa on Thursday was generosity from its ambassador, Nicolas Chapuis. He hosted this year’s annual Fête Champêtre fundraising reception for the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra.
A trio of classical musicians filled the air with beautiful sounds as the ambassador greeted some 250 arriving guests, alongside Fête Champêtre honorary chair Peter Herrndorf and the orchestra’s new artistic adviser, maestro Alain Trudel, concertmaster Mary-Elizabeth Brown and the orchestra’s board president, Martha Hynna.
In his welcome speech, the ambassador remarked on what a “magnificent day” it was for Canada with the announcement that French-Canadian conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin will become the new music director of The Metropolitan Opera.
Herrndorf got the crowd chuckling when he remarked that the two most important cultural jobs in New York are now both filled by Canadians, with one being the executive producer (Lorne Michaels) of Saturday Night Live and the other being the music director of The Met. “What could be better for Canada?” said Herrndorf.
Attendees included Green party Leader Elizabeth May, award-winning Canadian novelist Elizabeth Hay and Ottawa city councillor Tobi Nussbaum.
Many women donned eye-catching hats and fascinators from milliner Madeleine France Cormier of Chapeaux de Madeleine. Her own headpiece came with a musical symbol — the always whimsical treble clef.
From left, French Ambassador Nicolas Chapuis and honorary chair Peter Herrndorf, president and CEO of the National Arts Centre, and Ottawa Symphony Orchestra concertmaster Mary-Elizabeth Brown and the orchestra’s new artistic adviser and principal guest conductor, Alain Trudel, greet arriving guests to the annual Fête Champêtre fundraiser for the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, hosted Thursday, June 2, 2016, by the French Embassy.
From left, Christos Mouroukas and his wife, visual artist Chrysoula (Susie) Mouroukas, with Claire MacDonald and lawyer Rob MacDonald (Gowling WLG) at the annual Fête Champêtre fundraiser for the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, hosted Thursday, June 2, 2016, by the French Embassy.
Looking rather mysterious in her large but beautiful hat, Ottawa Symphony Orchestra board member Sharon McGarry (Hulse, Playfair & McGarry) poses with fellow board member David Henry (Borden Ladner Gervais LLP) at the annual Fête Champêtre fundraiser for the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, hosted Thursday, June 2, 2016, by the French Embassy.
Les Kumar-Misir and his wife Mary de Toro attended the annual Fête Champêtre fundraiser for the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, hosted Thursday, June 2, 2016, by the French Embassy.
From left, Snookie Lomow, chair of special events for the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, with Ottawa milliner Madeleine France Cormier (in a musically themed fascinator) and guest Donna Scorpio at the annual Fête Champêtre fundraiser for the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, hosted Thursday, June 2, 2016, by the French Embassy.
From left, Erlene Leslie with Juliana Assaly and her mother, Sandra Assaly, at the annual Fête Champêtre fundraiser for the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, hosted Thursday, June 2, 2016, by the French Embassy.
From left, lawyer Marc Jolicoeur, from Borden Ladner Gervais LLP and his wife, Kathleen Faulkner, with Carla Pagani and her husband, Marco Pagani, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Ottawa, at the annual Fête Champêtre fundraiser for the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, hosted Thursday, June 2, 2016, by the French Embassy.
From left, Ottawa city councillor Tobi Nussbaum (Rideau-Rockcliffe Ward) in conversation with Sandy Smallwood, president of Andrex Holdings, at the annual Fête Champêtre fundraiser for the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, hosted Thursday, June 2, 2016, by the French Embassy.
Giller Prize-winning Canadian novelist Elizabeth Hay and her husband, Mark Fried, attended the annual Fête Champêtre fundraiser for the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, hosted Thursday, June 2, 2016, by the French Embassy.
From left, musicians Jonathan Crombie, Lisa Nazarenko and Olivier Philippe-Auguste performed at the annual Fête Champêtre fundraiser for the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, hosted Thursday, June 2, 2016, by the French Embassy.
From left, Otawa Symphony Orchestra honourary member Allison Dingle with Peg Herbert at the annual Fête Champêtre fundraiser for the orchestra, hosted Thursday, June 2, 2016, by the French Embassy.
French Ambassador Nicolas Chapuis with Green party Leader Elizabeth May at the annual Fête Champêtre fundraiser for the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, hosted Thursday, June 2, 2016, by the French Embassy.
From left, honorary chair Peter Herrndorf, president and CEO of the National Arts Centre, with host, French Ambassador Nicolas Chapuis, Ottawa Symphony Orchestra concertmaster Mary-Elizabeth Brown and the orchestra’s new artistic adviser and principal guest conductor, Alain Trudel, at the annual Fête champêtre fundraising party for the orchestra, held Thursday, June 2, 2016.
