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It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Canadians can look forward to top-quality Messiah performances and holiday concerts across the country. Here are some of our picks this season.
Quebec City
Les Violons du Roy + La Chapelle de Québec Chamber Choir
This year, conductor Jonathan Cohen will lead the Violons du Roy and La Chapelle de Québec in an exciting performance of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio. The groups will be joined by soprano Myriam Leblanc, countertenor Iestyn Davies, tenor Sam Boden, and bass-baritone Michael Sumuel, for performances in Quebec City (Dec. 14, 15) and Montreal (Dec. 16).
Montreal
SMAM + Arion Baroque
The Studio de musique ancienne de Montréal will join forces with Arion Baroque Orchestra for what is sure to be an electric performance of Handel’s Messiah. Conductor Andrew McAnerney, who regularly leads the orchestra, will join soloists Susan Elizabeth Brown (soprano), Nicholas Burns (alto), Haitham Haidar (tenor), and Geoffroy Salvas (baritone) for three performances at Bourgie Hall (Nov. 17, 18, and 19).
Orchestre Métropolitain
Yannick Nézet-Séguin will conduct the Orchestre Métropolitain in performances of Messiah, joined by soprano Magali Simard Galdès, contralto Rose Naggar-Tremblay, baritone Philippe Sly, and tenor Spencer Britten at Montreal’s beloved Notre-Dame Basilica (Dec. 19 and 20).
www.orchestremetropolitain.com
Orchestre classique de Montréal
This year, the Orchestre classique de Montréal will continue their annual holiday tradition of hosting Messiah performances in the crypt of the Saint Joseph Oratory. Maestro Jacques Lacombe will conduct the Filles de l’île women’s choir, joined by Les Chantres Musiciens, alongside soprano Sydney Baedke, mezzo-soprano Lauren Segal, tenor Antoine Bélanger, and bass-baritone Greg Dahl (Dec. 13 and 14).
Choeur St-Laurent
Those who are interested in trying their hand at singing Messiah are welcome to do so at the Choeur St-Laurent’s singalong event. Free of charge, the performance at Westmount Baptist Church will provide singers of all levels with the opportunity to take part in this beloved musical event. The choir, conducted by Philippe Bourque, will be accompanied by a string quartet and piano (Dec. 13). www.choeur.qc.ca
Festival classica/Ens. Caprice
In collaboration with Ensemble ArtChoral and the Festival Classica, Ensemble Caprice will present their interpretation of Handel’s Messiah at the Maison symphonique. Led by Caprice’s Matthias Maute, the orchestra and choir will be joined by soprano Anna-Sophie Neher, mezzo-soprano Stéphanie Pothier, tenor Emmanuel Hasler, and baritone Marc Boucher (Dec. 6, 7, 9, 22 in Longueuil, Boucherville, Quebec City and Montreal).
www.festivalclassica.com, www.placedesarts.com
Ottawa
NAC Orchestra,
Cantata Singers of Ottawa + Capital Chamber Choir
Christmas will be right around the corner when Ottawa-area audiences get a chance to hear Handel’s Messiah this year, as interpreted by the NAC Orchestra, the Cantata Singers of Ottawa and the Capital Chamber Choir. Under the baton of conductor Jeannette Sorrell, the groups will perform with soprano Sonya Headlam, mezzo-soprano Georgia Burashko, bass-baritone Kevin Deas, and tenor Lawrence Wiliford (Dec. 20 and 21).
Toronto
Masterworks of Oakville
The Masterworks of Oakville Chorus and Orchestra are getting audiences into the holiday spirit early this year, with their performances of Handel’s Messiah. Featuring soloists Clodagh Earls (soprano), Celine Cascanette (mezzo), Bud Roach (tenor), and Nicholas Borg (bass), the performances will be free of charge for audience members under 30, as part of the orchestra’s mission to make classical masterworks accessible to young people. (Nov. 25 and 26). www.masterworksofoakville.ca
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra + Chamber Choir
Tafelmusik’s Messiah is one of Toronto’s most exciting events of the season, complete with stellar musical performances, and an appearance from Handel himself. This year, Tafelmusik Chamber Choir director Ivars Taurins will conduct the choir and orchestra, joined by soloists Rachel Redmond (soprano), Cameron Shahbazi (countertenor), James Reese (tenor), and Enrico Lagasca (bass-baritone) at the Royal Conservatory of Music’s Koerner Hall (Dec. 14 and 15). www.rcmusic.com
Toronto Symphony Orchestra + Toronto Mendelssohn Choir
The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir rings in this year’s holiday season with their well-loved annual celebration of all things festive. This year’s Festival of Carols, conducted by Jean-Sébastien Vallée and accompanied by organist Jonathan Oldengarm, will bring traditional household favourites and innovative arrangements of seasonal classics to Yorkminster Park Baptist Church in equal measure (Dec. 5 and 6). www.tmchoir.org
The Toronto Symphony Orchestra will embark on an ambitious five-show run of Messiah performances this December, at Roy Thomson Hall. Joined by the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir (prepared by Jean-Sebastien Vallée), these concerts will be led by Dame Jane Glover, and feature soprano Lauren Snouffer, mezzo-soprano Krisztina Szabó, tenor Colin Ainsworth, and baritone Joshua Hopkins (Dec. 17, 19, 20, 22, 23). www.tso.ca
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