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LEWISTON — Two musical programs will be held at Lewiston-Auburn’s Gendron Franco Center in September, and one of them includes a meal.
The next La Rencontre will feature Normand Gagnon, master French-Canadian button accordionist. La Rencontre (the gathering) is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 13, starting at 11:25 a.m.
La Rencontre is a multi-language event and not restricted to French-speakers or even those of Franco descent. All are welcome to attend this fun monthly meal and event. The home cooked meal is oven-fried chicken, rice pilaf, beans, rolls and strawberry shortcake for dessert.
The event is sponsored by TV5MONDE USA, the global French language entertainment network, broadcasting 24 hours a day, seven days a week without commercial interruptions. TV5MONDE can be found locally on Spectrum cable at Channel 71.
The cost of the meal and the program is $12 per person; doors and the bar open at 10 a.m.
After the meal, guests will be treated to a performance by Gagnon and group of musician friends. Born in Québec, Gagnon moved to Maine in 1971 at the age of 30. An area of the floor will be cleared for dancing, as the group plays traditional Québécois and other favorites. After the program, several raffle prizes will be drawn.
On Monday, Sept., 17, beginning at 7 p.m., the center will host “Choeur en Supplement’Air” — a 50-voice choir from Québec — also known as “The Voices of Québec.” In addition to an annual concert in Canada, some 50 of the 400 choristers perform annually with a trip to different places in North America and even in Europe.
The purpose of these trips is to promote the French language by means of essentially performing French-speaking songs for their audiences and to help raise funds for the local venues in each community.
This theme of this New England concert tour is “Le Cinema, A travers ses plus belle chansons.” (The Cinema through its most beautiful songs.) They will perform pieces from well-known films such as “The Sound of Music,” “Les Miserables,” “My Fair Lady,” “The Pink Panther,” and more.
Tickets for the event are $18; there is no admission charged for students.
For reservations or tickets, including students for whom there is no admission, contact the center’s box office at 207-783-1585 from noon to 4.p.m. E-mail reservations may be sent to boxoffice@francocenter.org.
The Gendron Franco Center at Cedar and Oxford streets is handicapped-accessible in the “Little Canada” section of Lewiston, just across the Bernard Lown Peace Bridge from New Auburn.
