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Quebec
Centre Culturel de Pointe-Claire
The theme of the Centre Culturel de Pointe-Claire’s 2024 festival is Cultural Notebook. Focusing on Indigenous stories about the creation of the world, the festival contains a range of programming for all ages that spreads across visual exhibitions, workshops, and the performing arts. One exhibition centres on Indigenous storytelling and the founding stories of different Indigenous groups, categorized by the four cardinal directions. The festival evenings tend to offer musical performances, ranging from classical to jazz to circus. Indeed, some highlighted groups include Christine Tassan et les Imposteures—a new-age swing band; the R.C Jazz Sextet; and the acrobats of Vague de Cirque with a multimedia act entitled Éphémère. These evening concerts all operate free of charge, but some daytime events need tickets that can be purchased on the lepointdevente.com platform. www.pointe-claire.ca
Festival Classica
Festival Classica aims to create a classical music ecosystem that offers a unique live and digital concert experience. Concerts run throughout the month of June and cover a variety of classical genres and themes, including a traditional piano trio (Trio Hochelaga) on June 7, and a children-focused stage performance entitled Biscuits, Tempêtes, et Melodies on June 16. The festival also includes a number of events under the festival’s new opera division, the Nouvel Opéra Métropolitain (NOM). This effort to reflect the cultural diversity of opera in Quebec focuses on French opera and operetta repertoire. This year includes three opera works: a three-act concert-collage of famous Mozart melodies entitled Amoureuses de Mozart; Der Kaiser von Atlantis is a chamber opera about the darkness of tyranny and totalitarianism; and Starmania, a rock-opera about dystopian imagination. Festival Classica is mounting 23 concerts in total this year, ensuring something that caters to everyone’s tastes. www.festivalclassica.com
ICAV – Montreal Festival of Vocal Art
The 20th year of the Festival d’art vocal de Montréal features a grand vocal lineup spread throughout the summer. June 4th sees the benefit gala event featuring a masked-ball theme. On July 28, program soloists will perform Beethoven’s ninth symphony with Orchestre de la Francophonie under the direction of Jean-Philippe Tremblay. The final event of the festival includes Strauss’s Die Fledermaus and Johnsons’s The Four Note Opera. www.icav.ca
Montreal Baroque Festival
Baroque music will once again bring Montreal to life for the 2024 Montreal Baroque Festival. The theme of Parallel Universe aims to celebrate inclusivity and diversity by highlighting music from places parallel to the European cultural centres. The festival offers both free concerts and larger ticketed events. The Baroque café experience includes musical “jam sessions” on period instruments while patrons enjoy food and drink at the Café l’Orbite. The grand concert takes place on June 15 at the Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours and features operatic excerpts from the works of Handel, directed by Hank Knox. The plethora of events kickstarts on June 13 with the opening concert event featuring the Cape Town Baroque Orchestra, sopranos Lynelle Kenned and Nigra Sum, and ClassiqueInclusif—a project ensemble that aims to promote diversity in classical spheres. This concert promises bold colours and contrasting traditions showing the timelessness of the baroque style. www.montrealbaroque.com
CAMMAC
With a core vision of fostering personal growth, programming for CAMMAC’s 2024 summer features both immersion in nature, and a series of world-class training and performances. Concertgoers can opt to add a morning brunch by the lake to their experience prior to hearing one of their chamber music, solo, or large group performances. The Quatuor Cobalt opens the CAMMAC season on June 30, as they explore string quartet music throughout the ages. Tapestry vocal ensemble will perform Occitan folk songs and dance tunes on July 7 in their presentation Postcards From France, folk roots with a touch of jazz. Later, Stick & Bow marimba-cello duo will present a wide range of musical styles and unique arrangements that evoke some of the most celebrated works in history. The season ends with traditional Balinese music and dance presented by Giri Kedaton (Aug. 18). www.cammac.ca
Festival d’opéra de Québec
The 2024 Festival d’opéra de Québec has placed Parisian life at the fore. This main concert event will feature Offenbach’s La vie parisienne and will set the tone of a grand party and jubilant atmosphere depicted in the opéra-bouffe. This concert will run on Aug. 2, 3, and 4, under the musical direction of Thomas Le Duc-Moreau. The festival also boasts a number of concerts and free activities, all centred around creating an avenue for patrons to discover (or rediscover) the world of opera. Festival highlights include a concert honouring the works of Gluck and Berlioz (July 27), an imagined sequel to Bizet’s Carmen by France Ducasse entitled Épitaphe pour Carmen et son assassin(July 30, Aug. 1), a co-production with Jeunesse Musicales du Canada presenting a kid-friendly concert of Poulenc and French melodies (July 26, 28), and a lyrical adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Ugly Duckling (July 29, 31, Aug. 2). www.operadequebec.com
Orford Music Festival
Orford promises a summer filled with music through their concerts taking place on June 12-Aug. 10. The festival offers a number of concerts featuring the academy students throughout the season, which are free at the Gilles-Lefebvre Concert Hall. The academy students will also perform publicly in the township of Serres St-Élie throughout the summer. Orford faculty and professional artists will put on a number of concerts as well. Some events include the Orford Six Pianos on July 13, playing orchestral transcriptions of music by Pamela Reimer, Francis Perron, and Olivier Godin that depict the frenzy of Belle Époque France. If you’re in search of a calmer side of French music, consider the Aug. 2 cello and piano concert with Lluís Claret and Sandra Murray. The duo will perform music by Dubois, Debussy, and other French chamber composers. The Orford Academy and its partners are sure to offer another riveting season of music. www.orford.mu
Festival Domaine Forget
Domaine Forget has programmed numerous student, faculty, and partner concerts for the 2024 festival season. Their international academy program concerts run through June 8-Aug. 23, free of charge at Domaine Forget Concert Hall and Saint-Irénée Church. Their public masterclasses on June 11-Aug. 7 are also free and open to the public. Select faculty concerts include Solstice—woodwind chamber music featuring works by Mendelssohn, Farrenc, and Beethoven (June 21)—and Retrouvailles et découvertes by Orchestre Métropolitain with Yannick Nézet-Séguin and violist Antoine Tamestit on July 26. The closing concert on Aug. 24 features Les Violons du Roy, the Academy Chamber orchestra, Academy Singers, Pentaèdre, and three conductors: Mathieu Lussier, Jean-Marie Zeitouni and Nicolas Ellis. Specific concert dates and details can be found on the Domaine Forget website. www.domaineforget.com
ItalFest
Montreal’s Italian community celebrates its shared history with the city at large for the 31st year in a row, this time from Aug. 2-11. First launched in 1994, the festival offers a wide range of events and activities on the island of Montreal and in Laval. Organized by the National Congress of Italian Canadians, the festival aims to promote and bring to life Italian culture through artistic presentations, craftsmanship, and gastronomy.
This year’s festival will include events of all kinds. While the details have yet to be announced, the 2023 festival saw performances of Don Pasquale featuring artists such as Hugo Laporte, Carole-Anne Roussel, and the ItalfestMTL Symphony Orchestra, and performers in the 2022 edition included such names as Paul Cargnello, Ensemble Lyrico, and Daniela Fiorentino. Raffles, an art competition, film festival, fashion show, and car show round out Italfest’s activities, promising a month of la dolce vita for the whole family. www.italfestmtl.ca
Festival des Arts Saint-Sauveur
Artistic Director Guillaume Côté and the Festival des Arts Saint-Sauveur will continue to promote the mission of bringing major arts-and-culture dance performances to the Saint-Sauveur village. The 2024 festival will run from July 24-Aug. 4 and is set to feature a number of dance and musical shows. The festival opens with the Gibney Company performing a program that captures the intense physical energy of contemporary dance, and sensitive, human storytelling (July 24). Later, pianist Alexandra Stréliski takes the stage for an evocative show inspired by her latest album, Néo-Romance. She will be joined by Cirque Le Roux who will bring her music to life through on-stage tableaux (July 28). The festival also features smaller events at Georges Filion Park. Musical Fridays (July 26, Aug. 2) and Dancing Saturdays (July 27, Aug. 3) are free events where the performers engage directly with the audience in pre-concert workshops. Classical styles are not the only genre present at FASS; on Aug. 1 hip-hop choreographer Crazy Smooth brings a dance cast spanning three generations to perform In My Body—an exploration of aging and its inevitable demands on the body. The Festival rounds out on Aug. 3 and 4 with Gauthier Dance presenting the high-octane show Contemporary Dance 2.0, a blend of urban culture, humour, and energy. Ticket information and stunning video trailers for each event can be found on the FASS website.
www.festivaldesarts.ca
Festival l’Art de la Musique
The Festival l’Art de la Musique takes place July 11-14 in the churches of the Gatineau area. It aims to bring great music to a wide public audience, and bring together regional, national, and international performing artists. The festival’s grand concert features the Festival String Orchestra and pianist Philip Chiu for a concert of Schumann and Bach (July 13). Chiu will also perform a solo show featuring Rachmaninoff, Messiaen, and Schubert (July 11). The a-cappella vocal ensemble, Aella Choir, will perform on July 12, and a trio consisting of violinist Yolanda Bruno, cellist Carmen Bruno, and accordionist Michael Bridge will close out the festival on July 14. The website includes advance ticket discounts and a special package deal for all four concerts. www.festivalartdelamusique.com
La Route des concerts
La Route des concerts has events happening all across the province of Quebec this summer, with something for everyone.
In June, the l’Orchestre symphonique de la Côte-Nord will present Voyage au bout de la nuit with soprano Carole-Anne Roussel (June 1). In Saguenay, meanwhile, soprano Elisabeth St-Gelais and pianist Louise Pelletier will perform a recital (June 2). Les Harmonies des Saisons goes on tour, performing works by Purcell in Montreal (June 7), Estrie (June 8), and Quebec City (June 9). At the end of the month, cellist Elinor Frey will perform chamber music in the national capital region (June 27), Les Boréades de Montréal will present a Baroque Cabaret (June 29), and Duo Vivo will perform rare works from the 18th and 19th centuries (June 30). This is but the first month of La Route des concerts, with concerts of all kinds taking place between now and Aug. 25. www.laroutedesconcerts.com
Montreal Chamber Music Festival
From June 13-23, Place des Arts will play host to the 29th Montreal Chamber Music Festival (FMCM). The festival is prepared to deliver a world-class program, honouring the mission and vision of founder and cellist Denis Brott. Passion for chamber music drives the festival, with highlights including evocative and innovative concerts such as Beethoven’s Viola, The Passions of Clara, and All That Jazz. The series finale concert will feature Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos under the direction of James Ehnes. www.festivalmontreal.org
LAND InSIGHTS’ Montreal International First Peoples Festival
The Montreal International First Peoples Festival is a multidisciplinary artistic and cultural event that unites cultures from north, central and south America in the heart of Montreal. Running from Aug. 6-15, the festival celebrates film, visual arts, performance, and more, with an extensive film program and annual awards. www.presenceautochtone.ca
Ontario
Festival Franco-Ontarien
Festival Franco-Ontarien will see three days of music and activities in the heart of Ottawa at Major’s Hill Park. The festival begins on June 13 with an Afro-Caribbean night that features the music of Paul Beaubrun and Pierre Kwenders. June 14 and 15 have matinee performances geared toward children, with June 14 reserved for school groups and June 15 open to families. The second night features hip-hop and rap performances from LeFLOFRANCO, Sarahmée, and FouKi. The festival closes with an electric pop night headed by Mehdi Cayenne, Kaïn, and Damien Robitaille. This rich music festival is joined by a number of community vendors and experiences, sure to be enjoyed by all. www.ffo.ca
Luminato
Luminato is a multi-arts festival that celebrates the energy of Toronto, and its power to connect people through memorable arts experiences. By pushing the boundaries of art in an effort to make it as accessible as possible, Luminato is set to offer a wide variety of programming catering to different interests, age groups, and needs. The festival opens on May 29 with Haley McGee’s production of Age is a Feeling—a never-the-same-twice show written and performed by McGee herself. The festival also has a number of free and family-friendly performances, with each show on the Luminato calendar showing specific accessibility details. Musical events include a voice-and-dance performance by The Nathaniel Dett Chorale (June 11), and a free performance celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Toronto Arts Council, featuring Cris Derksen, Pan Fantasy Steelband, and Tapestry Opera (June 13). www.luminatofestival.com
Toronto Summer Music
The theme of the 2024 Toronto Summer Music Festival is Voices Within. The event begins with a gala night featuring performances by the Orford String Quartet and festival Artistic Director Jonathon Crow (July 10). ReGeneration concerts occur at Walter Hall throughout the festival, and include TSM Academy Fellows, their mentors, and top pedagogues and performers. There are also numerous mainstage concerts that include soloists, chamber groups, and large ensembles. Examples include the New Orford Quartet performing Schubert’s Death and the Maiden (July 15), soprano Elisabeth St-Gelais (July 30), and the TSM Festival Orchestra performing two major Beethoven works with violinist Kerson Leong (Aug. 1). The titular event Voices Within is on July 26 and consists of a piano quintet performing works by Jocelyn Morlock, Jessie Montgomery, Dvořák, and Schumann. Toronto Summer Music is simply filled to the brim with talent this year, and is surely not to be missed.
www.torontosummermusic.com
Elora Festival
The Elora Festival celebrates its 45th season in 2024 by continuing to uphold its reputation of presenting world-class choirs in the artists’ village of Elora. Both the festival and The Elora Singers are under the artistic direction of Mark Vuorinen. The opening night gala on July 5 begins with Haydn’s The Creation, a masterpiece for choir and orchestra. The Elora Singers will be joined by musicians of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony for this monumental work. The festival will also hold smaller, but no less enthralling pieces, such as the Gryphon Trio performing Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time on July 14. The closing gala returns to grandeur, as the choirs are joined by the Elmer Iseler Singers and the Anagnoson & Kinton Piano Duo to mount Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana. The concerts take place at various venues throughout Elora, with details and tickets to be found on the website. www.elorafestival.ca
Western Canada
Early Music Vancouver
Early Music Vancouver is thrilled to present their 2024 summer festival, Bach Untamed. This two-week event mixes new arrangements of Bach and his contemporaries with distant vocal traditions. Traditional staples such as Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610 (Aug. 1) will take place alongside a quasi-comedic performance of works, Banned from the Concert Hall!, by the Fox Cabaret (Aug. 2). Renowned cellist Cameron Crozman will be joined by pianist Meagan Milatz to present pieces by the early Romantics, with their concert featuring Beethoven, Schumann, and Mendelssohn. Upcoming baritone Hans Grunwald and viola-da-gamba player Adrienne Hyde will represent the next generation of Early Music Vancouver in their performance of Bach, Abel, Schubert, and Schumann. Whether you’re an early-music lover or new to the genre, Early Music Vancouver is guaranteed to have something all can enjoy. www.earlymusic.bc.ca
Banff Centre
The 2024 Banff Summer Arts Festival celebrates themes of connection and creativity, bringing together artists building on a rich legacy left by those who came before them. The three-month festival begins in June and honours a plethora of genres and musical styles. In recognition of Indigenous History Month, the festival will include Indigenous-led concerts, storytelling, dance, and an online marketplace. The “Interplay” program will feature workshops and premières of new music, including adaptations of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale and a new opera workshop about Thomas King’s Indians on Vacation. The Banff String Quartet Festival will be integrated into the programming, giving the public opportunity to listen to the world’s finest string quartets. Other mainstage performances will feature the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, and a radical retelling of Shakespeare’s As You Like It by Cliff Cardinal. There is truly something for everyone in Banff this summer. www.banffcentre.ca
Eastern Canada
Harbour Voices
The Harbour Voices Choral Festival in St. John’s, Newfoundland, is focused on celebrating equity and inclusion through the encouragement of diverse choral voices and cultures. The six-day event (June 29-July4) features choir and group singing traditions, with workshops led by industry leaders and performers. Choirs from across the globe will be participating, such as the Saskatoon Children’s Choir joining the Philippine Madrigal Singers on June 29. The next day, Indonesia’s Manado State University Choirwill perform with The Nathaniel Dett Chorale from Toronto as well as St. John’s own Holy Heart Chamber Choir. This festival is a true symbol of vocal and community unity, as the musicians are also supported by workshops and masterclass events open to the public as well. www.harbourvoices.ca
New Brunswick Summer Music Festival
The New Brunswick Summer Music Festival invites audiences to celebrate the music of Latin-American composers this summer, from July 29-Aug. 10. With performances by local and international performers of works by Manuel de Falla, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Astor Piazzolla, and Carlos Chávez, listeners will be brought into a vibrant, rich musical world. While the details have yet to be announced, this 31st season is surely not one to miss. www.nbsummermusicfestival.ca
This page is also available in / Cette page est également disponible en:
Francais (French)
