We have a pleasure to announce a concert of a great Canadian artist – Mimi Blais who will perform in the Montenegrin National Theatre in Podgorica on March 28 at 8pm. The concert is supported by the Embassy of Canada in light of the manifestation Francophonie Days in Montenegro. For Mimi Blais, ragtime music became a way to discover her many talents as an entertainer, story-teller, communicator, educator, actress and composer. Classically trained (started piano at age 7, then entered the Quebec City Conservatory of Music, L.Mus, B.Mus. in performance & Concert Diploma at McGill University in Montreal, where she now lives). Whatever the style of music she chooses to play; she receives unanimous praise from the public and the media; in Canada, in the United States and in Europe (Belgium, Hungary, and Norway). This gifted pianist, generous to a fault, causes laughter and tears. Her music speaks to the audience, caresses, tickles, charms, dazzles, and surprises. It touches the soul. Mimi loves the theatrical. She often uses costumes to present or invent characters, making her piano concerts more visual and animated. Sometimes, when she steps out on stage, the audience may not even be sure that it’s actually her. Mimi is one of the most popular ragtime performers on the circuit. She is also the comedy star of the “genre”. “Ragtime is FREEDOM! … Ragtime music helped me to discover my own freedom as an artist!” (M.Blais). Nicknamed the New Queen of Ragtime, at her first visit to the Scott Joplin Festival in June 1990, by musicologist and historian
Ed. Berlin, Mimi Blais is in high demand because of her charming personality, her deep musicality and her flawless and precise technique at the piano. Mimi received several other nicknames: the Celine Dion of the
Keyboard, The Female Victor Borge and the Quebec Liberacette… A concert artist and educator, Mimi is touring a lot in the United States and Canada, playing, explaining and showing people why ragtime is so important in the history of American Music: “Ragtime is the trunk of the
tree”. Mimi has many
CDs: Ragtime (1992), Geraldine (1993), Taxi (1998), Old Rags – New Rags (2000), Made in Quebec (2002, with participation of violinist Sophie Rivard), Sunday Morning (2004), Mimi Blais plays André Gagnon (ADISQ-2004), Once Upon a Rag Time (ADISQ-2005, with participation of pianist John Petley), Life is a dream (2006), which features some of Mimi’s newest compositions (non-ragtime) and classical music, then SILENCE (2008). Mimi Blais has many “artistic” talents … come and hear The Queen of “Right” Time!