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In previous years, the week-long Italfest had culminated in this unique event, the only one of its kind in Montreal. This year, though, the festival is much longer than just one week, running from August 4th to 20th. What’s more, instead of taking place on rue Saint-Laurent, between Bellechasse and Jean-Talon, the festival’s activities are happening at Quartier des spectacles, and elsewhere in the city where there are branches of the Italian community.
With ideal weather conditions, and an orchestra of about twenty musicians conducted by Maestro Jean-Michel Malouf, the open-air opera offered audiences the chance to hear beautiful voices, including that of Hugo Laporte as Doctor Malatesta. His accomplices were all equally remarkable: Doug MacNaughton, bass, as Don Pasquale, Ernesto, proudly played by Louis-Charles Gagnon, tenor, as well as Carole-Anne Roussel, soprano in the role of Norina. It should be noted that Laporte left his mark at La Scala in Milan last March, in the role of Hermann, and as Schlémil in the Tales of Hoffman, following his participation in the Belvedere competition in Austria.
Don Pasquale, premiered in January 1843, reflects the traditions of opera buffa, and the basic characters of the commedia dell’arte tradition. On the occasion of the festival’s 30th anniversary – its”pearl wedding”, to use the words of Valérie Plante – “the success of the event is undeniable”. Rue Saint Laurent, and far beyond (in areas such as Dante, Bélanger and Beaubien), was crowded, with terraces packed. Near the main stage, faithful festival goers set up their lawn chairs as early as 7 pm. The opera was scheduled for 9 pm, started almost on time, and ended around 10:30 pm. The production’s artistic director was Salvatore Sciascia, its staff director and music librarian, Daniel Plamondon, and the rehearsal pianist was Dana Andrea Nigrim
The festival continues until August 20, with activities, film screenings, exhibitions, and performances taking place in theaters and outside all over the city. The 1956 cult film and masterpiece, Trapeze, starring Gina Lollobrigida, Burt Lancaster and Tony Curtis, will travel from the Leonardo da Vinci Center/Théâtre Piccolo to La Salle Pauline Julien at Collège Gérald Godin via La Casa From Italy.
Other major events will take place on the Esplanade Tranquille stage at Quartier des Spectacles. Among them, on August 11, Michel Pagliaro will perform, and on August 12, the festival will present All’italiana Classical Celebration, a classical ballet show with Jurgita Dronina and Harrison James of the National Ballet of Canada, who will perform to Italian tunes.
Programming details: https://italfestmtl.ca/programmation/
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