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Jaclyn Grossman. Photo: Jessica Osber; Miriam Khalil. Photo: Shayne Gray Photography

Preview | Jaclyn Grossman and Miriam Khalil Present Salam-Shalom: Echoes of Home

By Kaitlyn Chan on 21 November 2025 Contemporary, Interviews, Vancouver, Vocal, West

In Vancouver on Nov. 29, sopranos Jaclyn Grossman and Miriam Khalil will present Salam-Shalom: Echoes of Home. This program of Arabic and Jewish music explores how these two distinct cultures are intertwined through shared histories, human experiences, and sounds. They will be accompanied by pianist Gordon Gerrard, artistic director of City Opera Vancouver. Both performers emphasize their eagerness to embrace this learning opportunity. “Right out of the gate, we both [agreed] let’s not do ‘I’m doing my thing, and you’re doing your thing,’” says Grossman. “Let’s share in each other’s music and cultures in this concert.” A Jewish singer and…

Gabrielle Turgeon at the OSM Competition 2025 finals. Photo: Gabriel Fournier

Report | OSM Competition 2025: Lyrical Generosity at Maison symphonic

By Adrian Rodriguez on 17 November 2025 Art Song, Interviews, Montreal, Music Competition, Opera, Vocal

It was a packed house on Nov. 15 at Maison symphonique for the finals of the OSM Competition 2025, and one could feel the sense of occasion in the air. On the international day of philanthropy, Montrealers were invited to a free concert with their own symphony orchestra on stage, under the baton of Jacques Lacombe. The gesture suited the evening perfectly. It was both a showcase of the rising generation of Canadian singers and a reminder that the OSM Competition is also a gift to the public. This 86th edition dedicated to voice unfolded over several days, from the…

Steeve Michaud, Cate Proctor, Daphné Bisson

Canada’s Newest Company Directors Part 2

By Gianmarco Segato on 10 November 2025 Arts Industry, Interviews

Following the post-pandemic trend, the renewal of leadership at Canada’s cultural institutions continues apace. Here, we meet the newest of these leaders to get their take on the current state of the classical music industry. Daphné Bisson was named general director of Orchestre symphonique de Laval in May 2025, succeeding Simon Ouellette who had held the position since December 2022. Her previous roles include stage manager at Pollack Hall, coordinator of young audience concerts at Jeunesses Musicales Canada, CEO of Orchestre de la francophonie, coordinator of the Fédération des harmonies et des orchestres symphoniques du Québec and, most recently, business…

Louise Pitre. Photo: Trish Lindstrom

Louise Pitre: Canada’s First Lady of Musical Theatre in Her Most Perfect Role

By Emma Yee on 10 November 2025 Interviews, Montreal, Musical Theatre, Toronto

Louise Pitre—Canada’s First Lady of musical theatre—has made audiences fall in love with her for decades. Best known for originating the role of Donna Sheridan in Mamma Mia! on Broadway, Pitre will star as the titular Kimberly Akimbo in Montreal (Nov. 23–Dec. 21) and Toronto (Jan. 15–Feb. 8) this winter. Pitre’s first big show was the 1989 Toronto production of Les Misérables in which she played Fantine. “It was the only show my parents came to the opening. I didn’t have to explain the story,” says Pitre. She went on to perform the role in Montreal, and then, Paris. For…

The Tallis Scholars: Timeless Voices

By Heather Weinreb on 10 November 2025 Baroque and Early, Choral, Interviews

Thomas Tallis, Josquin des Prez, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina—these are just a few of the composers whom the Tallis Scholars have brought to an international stage throughout their storied history. “We’ve made [the performance of Renaissance vocal works] a major international activity,” says founding conductor Peter Phillips. “We started in Oxford. We then went to London, and from there, we branched out.” Since its founding in 1973, the Tallis Scholars have given over 2,500 concerts in over 16 countries and released more than 60 albums on their own label, Gimmel Records. The ensemble also boasts an impressive list of accolades,…

Michael Francis. Photo: Marco Borggreve/The Florida Orchestra

Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s Messiah: Conductor Michael Francis on the Greatest Work of Art

By Denise Lai on 10 November 2025 Baroque and Early, Choral, Classical Music, Interviews, Orchestral, Toronto, Vocal

For the past 90 years, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Toronto Mendelssohn Choir have performed Handel’s Messiah together. Like the Nutcracker ballet, Messiah is an annual tradition that brings festive joy to every holiday season. TSO’s 2025 version will be conducted by Michael Francis, music director of the Florida Orchestra and the Mainly Mozart Festival in San Diego, as well as chief conductor of Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz. This is the British maestro’s fourth time working with the TSO. Most recently, in 2023, Francis conducted the TSO and TMC in Mozart’s Requiem. “I thought Jean-Sébastien Vallée trained the chorus so brilliantly…

Photos: SKP—Celebration Issue (@skpbeijing)

Jakub Józef Orliński: A Countertenor for Modern Times

By Justin Bernard on 10 November 2025 Baroque and Early, Contemporary, Interviews, Opera, Popular Music

Jakub Józef Orliński is only 34 years old, but his media presence and aura have already launched him to the rank of one of the most recognizable personalities of the baroque music scene. Like many young artists, he started off quietly, without knowing where this life would lead him. In 2015, after already experiencing success singing roles in Poland and Germany, he began studies at Juilliard, New York’s prestigious music school, and became a finalist at the Metropolitan Opera auditions. And yet it was a unique event, on a July afternoon during a heatwave in 2017, that would put him…

Noëls éternels: Studio de musique ancienne de Montréal Goes on the Road

By Adrian Rodriguez on 10 November 2025 Baroque and Early, Choral, Classical Music, Interviews, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, Vocal

by Adrian Rodriguez; based on an interview by Justin Bernard A festive spirit is once again blowing through Studio de musique ancienne de Montréal (SMAM). After several years without touring, SMAM is hitting the road again. Five cities, five collaborations and one common thread: creating a genuine connection between professionals, the next generation and the public. “In every city we visit, a local choir joins us. In Ottawa, it’s Christ Church Cathedral Choir conducted by Andrew McAnerney; in Chicoutimi, the Ecce Novum and Conservatoire du Saguenay choirs; in Trois-Rivières, L’Orphéon; and in Quebec City, the Le Chœur de l’Université Laval,”…

Mécénat Musica | Perspectives on Philanthropy

By L. I. Liganor on 28 October 2025 Arts Industry, Interviews

When we experience art—whether in the form of the performing arts, literature or the visual arts—we become immersed in the moment. We don’t usually think about what makes our enjoyment possible. At the heart of it is the artist’s vision, creativity and hard work. Often what fuels the art and the artist is the care and support of others. This support can be offered in a myriad of ways, but at its core are donations from benefactors. In its 2025 World Giving Report, Charities Aid Foundation Canada notes that 84 per cent of Canadians did some type of charitable behaviour…

Mécénat Musica | 9e Musique@17h

By La Scena Musicale Team on 28 October 2025 Classical Music, Interviews, Montreal

by Kaitlyn Chan & Justin Bernard HausMusique “[Our] goal with the 9e Musique@17h HausMusique series [presented at the new performing arts space on the Montreal Eaton Centre’s iconic Art Deco ninth floor 9e Grande Salle], is to feature programs with thoughtful combinations of repertoire and unique musical collaborations, keeping the duration to one hour in length,” says cellist and Co-Artistic Director Cameron Crozman. The HausMusique series features well-known and complex works performed at the landmark Art Deco heritage venue. In the concert of the 9e Musique@17h HausMusique series, Beethoven’s symphonies will be heard for the first time at Le 9e…

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