Published on November 30, 2009 – Since it opened its doors in 1996, the eXcentris repertory cinema has propelled us to the edge and back, to discover new horizons, to reach new heights and to sink to new depths in all languages, with documentaries, shocking films or film premiers in an extremely distinctive and different setting.
Today, the celebrated complex on the Main is, and will always be, one of a kind; however, two of the three screening rooms – the Felini and the Cassavetes – have been converted to stages on which singers, dancers, actors, and musicians now perform. Only the Parallèle cinema stays true to its original vocation, film projection.
Why such a change? Simply because according to Daniel Langlois, eXcentris creator and owner, music has been greatly affected by the digital age and music lovers urgently needed a new, innovative platform to accommodate multi-disciplinary performance art and live music so that they would keep flocking to live shows.
In this light, both the Cassavetes and Felini rooms were consequently reconfigured, notably with regards to acoustics and interior design. These changes – drawn by none other than Daniel Langlois himself, designer by training – allow the space to welcome a varied musical programme, from classical to opera to rock or even jazz, in a sit-down cabaret context with food and drink.
Lovers of the ‘old’ eXcentris shouldn’t worry: despite its revamp, eXcentris has retained its friendly spirit, and is still a great place to meet up for a drink while admiring the new “face” of Montréal’s newest multi-disciplinary arts facility.
eXcentris
