Nebulæ: A Story of Harp and Astronomy

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November 8, 2025

Geneviève Beaulieu-Veilleux, Le Nouvelliste

Have you ever attended a classical music concert that also incorporates astronomy? Neither had I. That is the boldest possible proposition put forward by harpist Valérie Milot with her new show, Nebulae.

“Nebulae is eclectic, yet simple at the same time. I want to connect the musical world of the harp to the world of astronomy,” says the musician, originally from Trois-Rivières. For her, a show must be a total experience — and that is precisely the aim of this new tour, which brings together art and science. As for the word Nebulae, it means cloud or fog in Latin.

A Dialogue Between Art and Science

Through this project, the harpist offers both an artistic and philosophical reflection rooted in the science of astronomical phenomena. The harp is positioned as a witness to humanity’s evolution and its relationship with the universe.

The show draws a parallel between the evolution of art and the evolution of science. Introducing each piece, Milot performs works from both the Baroque era and modern repertoire, and presents two world premiere compositions: Au cœur de l’étoile by Denis Gougeon and Lux — meaning light in Latin — by Amélie Fortin.

Milot collaborated with Julien Patenaude to develop compelling preambles for each piece — by turns serious and comic — illustrating how our presence on Earth is often a matter of pure chance, and how science can sometimes be poetry.

“I wanted to bring together two of my passions—music and astronomy—to explore the question of our place in the Universe.”

— Valérie Milot

“I would say the through-line of the show is Carl Sagan’s Pale Blue Dot, which demonstrates how the Earth is but a speck of dust within the Universe.” For this new tour, the harpist also had the support of her partner Jean-François, who contributed to various aspects of the production, including its more technical dimensions.

Making Classical Music Accessible

Dedicated to accessible programming, Valérie Milot has developed a youth workshop inspired by the Nebulae project. A second workshop, designed for audiences with intellectual disabilities, is currently in development.

“I think I’ve reached a point in my career where I want to make authentic projects that align with my values,” she says. The outreach arm of the project is led by Anémone 47, an organization she co-directs with her colleague Stéphane Tétreault.

Nebulae can be experienced as part of the current tour, which will visit various regions of Quebec this fall and through next summer, including Mauricie (Gentilly) on November 22, Lac-Saint-Jean (Saint-Prime) on March 6, Estrie (Granby) on April 10, and the Capital Region (Quebec City) on January 18.

English Translation : Stéphane Tétreault

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