Interviews - my/maSCENA

Montreal skyline. Photo: Marc-Olivier Jodoin

Cityscapes | Montreal, Que.

By Kaitlyn Chan on 1 June 2026 Art of Living, Interviews, Montreal

Welcome to Cityscapes From coast to coast, Canada offers magnificent natural landscapes and culturally diverse cities. In this issue, we highlight Montreal’s inspiring locations, music and arts scene, and unique neighbourhoods. We invited four local artists to tell us what they love most about this creative hotspot. Sharon Azrieli Soprano Sharon Azrieli was awarded the National Order of Quebec (Chevalière du Québec) in 2019 for her achievements as a performer. She is devoted to arts education and philanthropy, creating the Azrieli Music Prizes and sitting on several arts foundations’ boards. Tim Brady Tim Brady is a composer, electric guitarist,…

An Indigenous Playlist: Artists Select Their Favourite Tunes

By Kaitlyn Chan on 1 June 2026 Classical Music, Folk, Indigenous, Interviews, Musique populaire, Opera, Vocal

In celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, La Scena Musicale presents the second edition of its Indigenous Playlist. We invited several Indigenous artists to select one song by an Indigenous musician or composer and explain why they chose the piece. Discover what some of Canada’s incredible Indigenous creators are listening to right now! Aysanabee www.aysanabee.com Aysanabee is a four-time Juno Award-winning Oji-Cree artist, who made history as the first Indigenous artist to win the Juno Award for Alternative Album of the Year and Songwriter of the Year, as well as the first Indigenous artist to reach No.…

Photo: Dagnushka

William Fedkenheuer: Introducing Toronto Summer Music’s New Leader

By Heather Weinreb on 1 June 2026 Chamber Music, Classical Music, Folk, Interviews, Toronto, Vocal

Toronto Summer Music, which celebrates its 20th anniversary from July 9 to Aug. 1, has a new artistic director at its helm. A violinist and chamber musician with a strong background in fiddling, William Fedkenheuer is uniquely positioned to lead the festival’s threefold mission: presenting concerts in Toronto’s Koerner and Walter halls, running a fellowship program for emerging artists, and offering a community program for advanced amateurs. Fedkenheuer notes that although the integration of all these elements is “overwhelming sometimes,” it also opens up unique opportunities in each sphere. “There’s not many programs where the professionals play with the fellows,”…

Photo: Dario Acosta

Erin Morley: Golden Age Coloratura

By Patrick Dillon on 1 June 2026 Interviews, Opera, Vocal

“Of course I said yes! It was a no-brainer!” recalls a smiling Erin Morley when the luminous American soprano is asked to outline the genesis of her Golden Age collaboration with tenor Lawrence Brownlee, a bewitching blend of bel canto and French arias and duets that emerged first as a recording, then as the extended tour that’s bringing her to Koerner Hall on July 16 as part of Toronto Summer Music. Amazingly, this will mark her Canadian debut. “Larry gave me a surprise phone call during the pandemic, back in 2020. I’d never sung with him, never even met him,…

Photo: ©Ornato

Saioa Hernández: In the Pursuit of Artistry

By Justin Bernard on 1 June 2026 Interviews, Opera, Région

This summer, Festival de Lanaudière is set to deliver yet another of its signature musical moments. Alongside Yannick Nézet-Séguin and Orchestre Métropolitain, opera lovers can anticipate the Canadian debut of the exceptional soprano Saioa Hernández, who will portray the titular Lady in Verdi’s Macbeth at the Fernand-Lindsay Amphitheatre in Joliette, Que. Originally from Madrid, Hernández has spent most of her career in Europe. Her appearance at Lanaudière may be a local debut, but it represents a reunion of sorts with her stage husband, Canadian baritone Etienne Dupuis who will sing Macbeth. Indeed, the soprano and the baritone had previously joined…

SooBeen Lee in the final round of CMIM Violin 2023. Photo: Tam Photography

Concours musical international de Montréal 2026: All Shades of the Violin

By Heather Weinreb on 4 May 2026 Classical Music, Interviews, Montreal, Music Competition, Strings, Violin

Out of 250 violinists who auditioned from all over the world, the preliminary jury selected 24, including three Canadians (Justin Saulnier, Paloma So and Belle Ting), to compete at this year’s edition of Concours musical international de Montréal. “We could have easily selected twice that amount,” says Artistic Director Shira Gilbert. “The level [of the competitors] is really exceptional.” Founded in 2001 by legendary Canadian bass Joseph Rouleau, together with politician and philanthropist André Bourbeau, the Concours is North America’s only international multidisciplinary classical music competition. Rotating annually between violin, voice, and piano, it is based on the model of…

Rihab Chaieb. Photo: Gaetz Photography; Arturo Chacón-Cruz. Photo: Lena Kern

Video | Behind the Scenes at Opéra de Montréal’s Carmen

By La Scena Musicale Team on 30 April 2026 Interviews, Montreal, Opera, This Week in Montreal, Video of the day

La Scena Musicale’s Adrian Rodriguez and Justin Bernard dropped in on a rehearsal for Opéra de Montréal’s production of Carmen. Opening this Saturday, May 2, 2026, watch the following video for insights from Rihab Chaieb (Carmen) and Arturo Chacón-Cruz (Don José). https://youtu.be/ZCS7KwIyx9Q Opéra de Montréal presents Georges Bizet’s Carmen from May 2-12.

Photo: Jag Gundu

Anoushka Shankar: The Next Chapter

By Kaitlyn Chan on 15 April 2026 Interviews, Orchestral, Strings, Toronto

“The sitar was an important part of my life before I even played it because it was so key in my family,” says sitarist and composer Anoushka Shankar. Shankar’s father, sitar virtuoso and composer Pandit Ravi Shankar, played a pivotal role in bringing the world’s attention to Hindustani classical music. He was also A. Shankar’s first sitar teacher. Growing up, Shankar was surrounded by a variety of artistic influences. Her parents, who were from different areas of India, both passed down a love for the music and dance styles from their regions. “I listened to a mix of Hindustani, Carnatic…

Dinuk Wijeratne: Identity in Motion

By Kaitlyn Chan on 3 April 2026 Classical Music, Contemporary, Interviews, Orchestral, Piano

Canadian composer, conductor and pianist Dinuk Wijeratne is well known for his cross-cultural works, which he describes as “East-West.” “On any given day, I don’t feel either fully Eastern or Western,” says Wijeratne. “Call it a conflict or an identity crisis—but I always think, aren’t I so blessed that I get to try and create a balance for even a few moments in a piece of music?” Born in Sri Lanka, Wijeratne spent his childhood and adolescent years in Dubai. He studied composition at the Royal Northern College of Music, The Juilliard School, Mannes College and the University of Toronto.…

Étienne Tremblay

Canadian Music Competition: A Rite of Passage and a Model for Learning

By Benjamin Goron on 3 April 2026 Arts Industry, Classical Music, Interviews, Music Competition, Piano

Pianist Étienne Tremblay is currently studying for his bachelor’s degree at the Université de Montréal under Henry Kramer and André Laplante. While devouring the repertoire, he is preparing for nearly a dozen competitions this year, as well as appearances at festivals and other engagements. His life is governed by the black and white keys. Yet, without the Canadian Music Competition (CMC), he might not have chosen this path. What follows is a portrait of a young artist deeply rooted in his art and a competition unlike any other. “It was thanks to CMC that I flew on a plane for…

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