Michel Levasseur: Prix Opus Hommage

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The Prix Opus gala, which recognizes excellence in concert music, is an opportunity for the Conseil québécois de la musique (CQM) to pay tribute to a personality who has left his or her mark on musical life in Quebec.

For this 28th edition, the CQM will highlight the exceptional career of Michel Levasseur—in particular, his 40 years as general and artistic director of the Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville (FIMAV). This visionary’s contribution to the dissemination and promotion of experimental and improvisational music has, without doubt, been exceptional.

Levasseur’s life wasn’t always devoted to music. A native of Victoriaville and a fan of Quebec chansonniers and traditional music, he initially studied forestry engineering. Adventure then led him to Europe; it was in Scotland that his interest in contemporary art took shape. While on the lookout for cultural novelties, he discovered anarchic musical movements that piqued his interest in artistic creation.

At the dawn of his 30s, he moved back to Victoriaville with a renewed passion for music. With a group of friends, he founded Productions Plateforme Inc. Together, they produced shows in this as-of-yet unnamed musical movement, oriented toward novelty. In 1983, this endeavour evolved into FIMAV, of which Levassseur was general and artistic director for 40 years.

Establishing a regional festival for new music is no small task. While the “young fools” of the early days succeeded in demonstrating that they knew what they were doing, they did not yet have the credibility to find partners to finance the event. It was at this point that Levasseur approached Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM) about performing at the festival. If you need credibility, you might as well go with the big guns! By agreeing to play at FIMAV, the OSM, conducted by Pierre Hétu, helped convince the City of Victoriaville and local elected officials to invest in this extraordinary project. It was a real kickoff for the festival, which has gone from strength to strength ever since.

Often little-known to the public, many of the artists presented at FIMAV perform to almost-empty rooms in Montreal and then encounter an eager audience of curious onlookers, enthusiasts and specialists in the packed halls of Victoriaville. It’s a unique opportunity for major Quebec artists such as Raymond Daveluy, Jean Derome and René Lussier, as well as international musicians like Cecil Taylor, John Zorn and Fred Frith. FIMAV is also a springboard for younger musicians. Levasseur’s flair and perseverance have contributed to the success of many innovative proposals, such as Pascal Germain-Berardi’s Basileus, which brings together soloists and ensembles from Quebec’s classical, contemporary and metal worlds. This unique musical experience, which pushes back the boundaries of symphonic music, won this year’s Opus Award for Musical Event of the Year.

Over the years, FIMAV has become a family affair, with Levasseur’s wife, children, parents, in-laws and friends taking turns to ensure the success of each edition.

In addition, with his wife Joanne Vézina, Levasseur founded Les Disques VICTO, whose catalogue (which began in the late 1980s) now includes 137 albums. The initiative is in keeping with the festival’s commitment to the dissemination of music.

After 40 busy years of disseminating and promoting the avant-garde, Levasseur left his position as FIMAV’s general and artistic director in 2023 with his head held high and, above all, full of musical memories. The Quebec music community is grateful for the essential role he played in the advancement of experimental music—a man with a heart that stops at nothing.