Joliette – August 7, 2025 – With the grandiose Carmina Burana, a powerful and energetic overture delivered by the Montréal Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Rafael Payare, and Tristan und Isolde as a monumental finale performed with virtuosity by the Orchestre Métropolitain directed by Yannick Nézet-Séguin, the Festival de Lanaudière’s 48th season confirms its status as the largest classical music festival in Canada and an essential part of the current classical music scene.
Between the inaugural concert on July 4, presented in a full-to-capacity Fernand-Lindsay Amphitheatre, and the apotheosis of August 3, the Festival presented more than 30 concerts with rich, audacious, elevated and cohesive programming conceived by artistic director Renaud Loranger, who proposes that we come together through music, despite our differences: this year’s inspiring theme.
“The 2025 edition of the Festival marks a turning point in the history of the institution, as much in the breadth and the diversity of programming as in its artistic quality: the Festival de Lanaudière regains its place among the great music festivals of the world, fully inhabiting its role on the stages of Québec and its objective of artistic excellence and community enrichment.” – Renaud Loranger
More than 30,000 festivalgoers were in attendance to hear almost 1,000 artists, including more than 350 international guests, at the Amphitheatre nestled in the woods and in churches and other intimate venues in Lanaudière.
One for the history books
The Festival de Lanaudière 2025 ended in an unforgettable apotheosis, to be entered not only in the history of the Festival, but in the greater history of musique in Québec. We will talk about it for a long time afterward, as we still evoke certain performances from Expo 67 (…) – Christophe Huss, Le Devoir
This edition of the Festival de Lanaudière distinguished itself with a number of debut performances, attesting to growing international interest in the event. Several renowned artists performed for the first time in Canada, including countertenors Nicolò Balducci and Franco Fagioli, soprano Sophie Junker, baritone-bass Edward Grint, and director Martin Steidler. Others, such as Lawrence Zazzo, Sol Gabetta and Tamara Wilson, performed for the first time in Québec. First-timers at the Festival included prestigious ensembles Chanticleer, Audi Jugendchorakademie and the Dover Quartet, as well as high-level soloists Veronika Eberle, Stuart Skelton, and Christopher Maltman, who won over the public with their debut appearances.
Several loyal compatriots of the Festival made long-awaited returns this year, including Marc-André Hamelin, Kent Nagano, and Les Violons du Roy with Bernard Labadie.
This edition was also punctuated with gems that the public found remarkable for their intensity and originality:
- The impressive Cappella Medterranea and Monteverdi’s Coronation of Poppea;
- Christian Tetzlaff, with overwhelming depth and mastery in his performance of Bach’s solo Partitas and Sonatas for violin;
- An exceptional double Mendelssohn with AKAMUS and Audi Jugendchorakademie;
- Pianist Yulianna Avdeeva, resplendent in Shostakovich’s Preludes and Fugues;
- The sparkling Sol Gabetta and Les Violons du Roy;
- Countertenor Franco Fagioli and the Orchestre de l’Opéra royal de Versailles, for the first time in Canada; and,
- •The great return of Kent Nagano at the podium of the OSM.
Mentorship program:
Contributing to the futures of exceptional young artists
Thanks to the generosity of the Fonds Jacques-Martin, in partnership with the Fondation Père-Lindsay, five young Canadian classical musicians at the start of their careers participated in the 4th edition of our mentorship program, from July 25 to August 3.
They had the privilege of interacting with great musical figures, such as Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Rafael Payare, Kent Nagano, Yulianna Avdeeva, Laurent Brunner, Lydia Connolly, Bernard Labadie, Tamara Wilson and Renaud Loranger, among others; they also participated in workshops, attended rehearsals, and benefitted from personalized expert advice for launching what will surely be long and productive careers.
Discover music in new ways
Staying true to its mission of democratizing classical music, the Festival de Lanaudière’s programming was conceived to attract and bring together a broader public. In addition to the main series of concerts at the Amphitheatre, several free activities including five open-air cinema evenings and musical entertainment in public and community spaces allowed thousands of the curious and the passionate, the young and the less young, to discover music in new ways. The Festival reaffirms its commitment to making classical music accessible to all.
Thanks to our partners
We would like to express our immense gratitude to the institutions, sponsors, donors, and volunteers who contributed to the renewed success of the Festival this summer: we’re counting on you to help us continue!
The expectations of our audience have surely been heightened after this season, and invitations have already begun to be sent out for audacious projects planned for our 49th season by artistic director Renaud Loranger. We are looking forward to revealing, in the spring of 2026, the exciting details of our next season.
Special thanks to
Hydro-Québec, presenting sponsor of the Festival, in collaboration with La Presse, as well as the Gouvernement du Québec, Tourisme Québec, the Government of Canada, the Ville de Joliette, Desjardins, Yamaha Music, Ratelle, Promutuel Assurances Lanaudière, la Société de la Place des Arts, le Fonds de solidarité FTQ, la Fondation Sandra et Alain Bouchard, la Ferme Régis, Joliette Lincoln, La Fabrique culturelle, the cities of Saint-Charles-Borromée and Notre-Dame-des-Prairies, regional municipalities, as well as all our cultural, media, hotel, and restaurant partners.
The concerts held in Lanaudière churches were presented by Desjardins, and the “Hors les murs” series, offering performances in agro-tourism and cultural venues, were presented by La Fabrique culturelle.
A festival like Lanaudière would not exist without the musicians who every year push the boundaries of excellence and generosity as they share their art. Our loyal audience is just as important: Lanaudière festivalgoers are known for their fidelity, their enthusiasm, and their exceptionally good taste. We are privileged to be able to count on our audience, and to offer them beautiful and lasting experiences of art, culture, and special events.
About the Festival de Lanaudière
Founded in 1978, the Festival de Lanaudière stands among the grandest classical music festivals in North America. Located in a natural setting, it offers enlightening programming, bringing together top-tier international artists and the best of our local musicians. The immersive and convivial experience surrounded by nature combines the atmosphere of the greatest concert halls with the welcoming spirit of the region of Lanaudière.
