BÉBÉ SYMPHONIQUE

A meeting between infants (0 to 18 months) and their parents with the infinitely vast.

The Bébé symphonique project draws on the richness and power of orchestral music to create special moments of connection between babies and their parents while supporting early childhood development. Centered around seven instrumental pieces composed by Simon Leclerc and performed by the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Bébé symphonique is an original idea by Nicolas Lemieux, who serves as its artistic director, with the support of host Marie-Claude Barrette.

Blending 2D, 3D, and stop-motion animation, the 33-minute multimedia show Bébé symphonique, directed by Marcella Grimaux (Noisy Head Studio), transports infants from birth to 18 months and their parents into a mesmerizing world of shapes, colors, and textures designed to capture their attention. Set to the rhythm of the seven instrumental pieces, distant nebulae, clouds of stardust, colorful beads, and handcrafted objects come to life in captivating choreographies, designed to stimulate young children’s vision and hearing in a playful way.

Numerous scientific studies have demonstrated the benefits of music on a child’s overall development from birth. The richness and power of orchestral music create meaningful moments of bonding between child and parent while fostering infants’ neurological development.

Marcelle Grimaux

Direction, Visual design and Scenography

Originally from Montreal, Marcella Grimaux grew up in New York before studying theater at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. She began her career as an assistant to Dominic Champagne on the multimedia production Paradis perdu, presented in Las Vegas by Cirque du Soleil. Her path led her to collaborate with major international artists such as Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Katy Perry, The Backstreet Boys, One Direction, and Pink. In 2016, she joined Montreal-based studio 4U2C as Associate Creative Content Producer, where she notably directed the video content for Kevin Hart’s show What Now?. She also co-directed and oversaw the video scenography for Jean Leloup’s show Le Fantôme de Paradise City, which received ADISQ awards for Best Show and Best Lighting Design. In 2021, she signed Bébé symphonique, an immersive and poetic project designed to stimulate the senses of infants through music and visuals.

Nicolas Lemieux

Artistic director

Nicolas Lemieux is a Montreal-based artistic director and producer known for his creative projects that blend music, visuals, and immersive experiences. In 2021, he led the artistic direction of Bébé symphonique, a unique project designed to introduce babies to symphonic music and support their early development. He also brought the project to an international audience, with presentations in Germany, the UK, the United States, and Mexico.
In parallel, Nicolas Lemieux spearheaded Riopelle symphonique, a visual and musical tribute to artist Jean Paul Riopelle. He is recognized for his ability to craft artistic experiences that resonate with both children and adults.