Concerts aux Îles du Bic: Nineteen seasons of talent and passion

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After almost 20 years of steady work, the Concerts aux Îles du Bic can be proud of the place that this summer chamber-music festival occupies in the calendar of classical festivals in the region and beyond. For the 19th edition, the organizers have announced a program true to tradition as well as surprises and novelties that are sure to rekindle the curiosity of music lovers from across Quebec and from other regions of North America, such as Vermont.

Co-artistic director Normand Forget is delighted to unveil an overview of the next edition, which will be held in historical locations on the banks of the St. Lawrence: in the Parc national du Bic and in the magnificent churches of Bic and Saint-Fabien. On the program are renowned and emerging musicians interpreting classics by Mozart, Mahler, Prokofiev, Schumann, Domenico Scarlatti, the noted electroacoustic composer Luciano Berio, and many others.

KINDERTOTENLIEDER, FOLK SONGS and Brecht

The schedule is distinguished by the participation of the pianist and conductor Lorraine Vaillancourt, mezzo-soprano Krisztina Szabó and the young virtuoso violinist Yolanda Bruno. Also on hand are Matthias Maute and the Ensemble Caprice, who present music of the East, and the wind quintet Choros, which prides itself in a great variety of repertoire. Forget focuses on the basics of the next edition, notably the Kindertotenlieder of Gustav Mahler, a cycle of five songs for voice and orchestra on texts selected from the Kindertotenlieder poems that Friedrich Rückert wrote following the death of two of his children; the Folk Songs of Luciano Berio, which contain arrangements of popular music from various countries; and the show Jean à François à Bertolt by Jean Maheux. “This work combines poetry, song and music, all inspired by the music of Kurt Weill and texts by François Villon and Bertolt Brecht,” Forget explains.

Take note that the Concerts aux Îles du Bic festival was a finalist for the Opus Award in the Concert of the Year (multiple disciplines) category for the Terreste-Céleste concert presented in the summer of 2019.