The CAMMAC Music Centre in Harrington, Quebec is a home for people of all ages to enrich their lives with music while basking in the atmosphere of the Laurentians. In addition to its immersive camps and workshops, CAMMAC offers a wonderful opportunity to anyone who makes the drive to the scenic Lake MacDonald: the Musical Sundays Concert Series.
For eight consecutive Sundays from June 29 to August 17, talented artists present concerts in a wide range of genres including classical, chamber music, a cappella, Argentine tango, jazz, and baroque. Concert-goers can also partake in an all-you-can-eat brunch, which is simply the cherry on top of a very pleasant experience.
CAMMAC Main Pavillion
The concert space at the CAMMAC Music Centre is a medium-sized room that suits the intended ambience: one that is smaller and more intimate. I had the opportunity to attend the first of these Musical Sundays, featuring soprano Catherine St-Arnaud with Julien LeBlanc on piano. The duo presented “Portraits of Women: From Vienna to Paris,” thoughtfully highlighting women composers and pieces inspired by women in the French and Austrian repertoire. St-Arnaud and LeBlanc explained their program carefully, describing each piece composed by Jeanne Landry, Mozart, Richard Strauss, Rita Strohl, Claude Arrieu (Louise-Marie Simon), and Johann Strauss II.
Catherine St-Arnaud. Photo: Gaetz Photography
St-Arnaud and LeBlanc appear to have been close friends and collaborators for many years, a detail reflected in their musical teamwork. In the bright acoustic, St-Arnaud’s voice carried and filled the room with ease. Her voice has depth, her tone warm and rich which worked well for Landry’s “Fleuve de sang” and Arrieu’s “Attendez le prochain bateau.” With increasing confidence and a sense of drama she culminated with“Mon cher Marquis,” Adele’s “laughing song” from Johann Strauss II’s La Chauve-Souris (the French rendition of the German operetta, Die Fledermaus). As St-Arnaud began to sing, she made her way down the aisle, floating amidst audience members, exuding charisma. She even found an empty seat and sang directly to her seemingly bewitched seatmate.
Julien LeBlanc
LeBlanc himself is an incredibly talented pianist, who supported St-Arnaud without too much pomp and circumstance. He was able to evoke the gentle lyricism in Strohl’s “La chevelure” as well as navigating the more flighty passages of Richard Strauss’ “Guten Morgen ‘s ist Sankt Valentinstag.” He drew out an appropriate amount of turmoil in Strohl’s “Remords,” his playing rife with rumblings and unrest. He got a chance to shine solo in Mozart’s “Variations on ‘Lison dormait’ in C major,” a piece that showed off his agility, if not depth of emotion. LeBlanc’s brisk and intricate fingers kept things dainty throughout the piece’s numerous embellishments, and he responded well to shifts in dynamics.
Gripes
CAMMAC’s performance space features large windows overlooking the terrace and neighbouring lake, giving the feeling of being in a cabin peering into nature. However, the windows may have unintentionally detracted from the show, with distracting instances of people setting up chairs or prepping flowers on the terrace right outside the window behind the piano. Fortunately, LeBlanc was unfazed, though I noticed several audience members reacting to the more informal setting. In terms of the music, the duo kept the performance clean and simple. Perhaps in the future, they need not rush so much through the pieces, allowing themselves to vary the tempo and hold silences for longer.
The performance was lovely overall, as was the atmosphere. The campgrounds lend an air of calm and separation from the ‘real world’ that makes the CAMMAC Music Centre such a refreshing escape. As such, the Musical Sundays series is a surefire way to spend a day surrounded by gorgeous scenery and music, and is literally and metaphorically, a breath of fresh air.
CAMMAC’s Musical Sundays Concert Series continues through August 17. Full programming information can be found here.
