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Complete artistic programming for the 2019 edition unveiled
Sublime voices and star pianists
Berlioz tribute
Many premieres
Joliette, May 7, 2019 –Festival de Lanaudière’s Artistic Director Renaud Loranger today unveiled the complete artistic programming of the Festival de Lanaudière’s 42nd season. This year, the Festival features many artists making their debuts either at Lanaudière, in Quebec, or for some, in Canada. From July 5 to August 4, music lovers are invited to take advantage of the Festival’s top venues: the enchanting Amphithéâtre Fernand-Lindsay and several local churches.
In the words of Mr. Loranger: “From Europe and America, a roster of stars from the classical music universe and next-generation artists, as well as our traditional Festival partners have responded with enthusiasm to our invitation this year. Together, they welcome you to enjoy a summer of joy and pleasure in their presence, through music.”
First Weekend
The opening concert will be presented by the OSM on Friday, July 5, under the renowned French conductor Alain Altinoglu, back after his highly successful Montreal debut last fall. On the programme are works inspired by the great classics of literature: Felix Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Richard Wagner’s Prelude and Death of Isolde, and Till Eulenspiegel by Richard Strauss. The extraordinary pianist Francesco Piemontesi joins the orchestra for his first concert in the province of Quebec, performing Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto no. 1.
On Saturday, July 6, the Amphithéâtre Fernand Lindsay will resound to the enchanting voice of American mezzo-soprano Susan Graham, the veritable great lady of French opera in recent decades. She joins the Orchestre Métropolitain and Yannick Nézet-Séguin in a performance of Hector Berlioz’s La Mort de Cléopâtre. Transporting audiences to the world of mythical and legendary characters, the evening also features Roméo et Juliette by Berlioz and Louise Farrenc’s Symphony no. 2. This is the first concert of the season to mark the 150th anniversary of Berlioz’s death (#Berlioz150), and an evening imbued with Romanticism in its most essential form.
Sunday, July 7, after a prolonged absence the remarkable Venice Baroque Orchestra will give a return performance in Quebec. Audiences will embark on an authentic journey through Naples and Venice in Vivaldi’s time, exploring the dazzling beauty of that composer’s works and those of his contemporaries, and this includes the timeless The Four Seasons. Fireworks are assured!
Second Weekend
The Festival’s second weekend begins on Friday, July 12, as the Amphithéâtre hosts one of the Festival’s long-time partners, Les Violons du Roy. Led by their new Music Director Jonathan Cohen, with pianist Charles Richard-Hamelin, the concert showcases the music of Mozart with the Overture to Le Nozze di Figaro, the Piano Concertos 22 and 24, as well as the Symphony no. 38.
On Saturday, July 13, American tenor Michael Spyres performs a grand lyric concert accompanied by the Festival Orchestra and Chorus under the direction of Corrado Rovaris. Excerpts from operas by Berlioz, Rossini, Bellini and Offenbach are offered on this programme.
The weekend concludes on Sunday, July 14 with cellist Stéphane Tétreault, another favourite at Lanaudière, together with the Orchestre Métropolitain conducted by Nicolas Ellis, who will make his Festival debut. On the programme: Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio espagnol, the Cello Concerto no. 1 by Shostakovich, and Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition.
Third Weekend
On Friday, July 19th, festival-goers will have the opportunity to hear the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra in a performance of Philip Glass’ Third Piano Concerto written for Simone Dinnerstein, with the dedicatee herself performing for the first time in Quebec. To complete the programme: works by Vivian Fung and Antonín Dvorák.
Saturday, July 20, the Orchestre national de Jazz de Montréal will be back in Lanaudière for the seventh consecutive summer, this time with their tribute to William “Count” Basie, one of the 20th century’s leading figures of jazz. The ensemble will also celebrate Michel Legrand, who passed away earlier this year.
The Dutch wind quintet Calefax will make its Canadian debut at the Festival on Sunday, July 21. They offer the public at Lanaudière a selection of works that range from virtuoso Baroque pieces to the jazzy sonorities of Debussy and Gershwin.
Fourth Weekend
Friday, July 26 marks the first concert on Quebec soil of the highly acclaimed pianist Seong-Jin Cho. Under the direction of Yannick Nézet-Séguin, he will perform Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Concerto no. 4. The OM and its conductor will also present Bruckner’s Symphony no. 7, whose nearly mystical depth remains an endless source of fascination.
On Saturday, July 27, brothers Arthur and Lucas Jussen and the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal under Venezuelan conductor Rafael Payare perform on the Amphithéâtre stage in a programme featuring Paul Dukas’ The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Francis Poulenc’s Concerto for Two Pianos, and Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Symphony no. 4.
On Sunday, 28 July, pianist Marc-André Hamelin, a familiar figure at the Festival and well-known for his breathtaking virtuosity, joins Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the OM to take on Johannes Brahms’ Piano Concertos 1 and 2 in succession. A monumental concert imbued with irresistible Romanticism!
Fifth Weekend
Under the direction of Kent Nagano, the OSM and violinist Veronika Eberle will grace the Amphithéâtre stage on Friday, August 2. The concert features Johannes Brahms’ Hungarian Dances and Violin Concerto, as well as Antonín Dvorák’s Symphony no. 5.
Kent Nagano and the OSM conclude in grand style their participation in the 2019 edition of Festival de Lanaudière. On Saturday, August 3, Gustav Mahler’s Symphony no. 3 will be the concert’s centrepiece.
To close the 2019 season, the Grand Ballets Canadiens de Montréal pay a visit to the Festival for the first time. The company’s dancers will perform their double bill of Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater and Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony right before embarking on their European tour.
Concerts in Churches
Churches in the area are fully involved in the season, hosting an array of dazzling performances! Here is a glimpse of some of them: Francesco Piemontesi (July 9), Miloš (July 10), Michael Spyres and Mathieu Pordoy (July 11), The Gryphon Trio (July 16), Miró Quartet (July 18), Kristian Bezuidenhout (July 23), Charles Richard-Hamelin (July 24) and Christian Tetzlaff (July 29).
The concerts on July 13, 26 and August 3 will be dedicated to the memory of Father Fernand Lindsay, the Festival’s founder, who passed away ten years ago this year.
Artists performing at the Festival for the first time
First time in Canada
Michael Spyres, tenor (July 11 and 13)
Calefax, wind quintet (July 21)
First time in Quebec
Francesco Piemontesi, piano (July 5 and 9)
Miloš Karadaglic, guitar (July 10)
Corrado Rovaris, conductor (July 13)
Seong-Jin Cho, piano (July 26)
Arthur and Lucas Jussen, piano (July 27)
First time at Lanaudière
Alain Altinoglu, conductor (July 5)
Susan Graham, mezzo-soprano (July 6)
Venice Baroque Orchestra (July 7)
Jonathan Cohen, conductor (July 12)
Nicolas Ellis, conductor (July 14)
Miró Quartet (July 18)
Simone Dinnerstein, piano (July 19)
Manitoba Chamber Orchestra (July 19)
Rafael Payare, conductor (July 27)
Karen Cargill, mezzo-soprano (August 3)
Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal (August 4)
And highly awaited return performances by Christian Tetzlaff, Marc-André Hamelin, Charles Richard-Hamelin, Kristian Bezuidenhout, Gryphon Trio, Orchestre national de jazz de Montréal, Stéphane Tétreault, Orchestre symphonique de Montréal and Kent Nagano, Orchestre Métropolitain and Yannick Nézet-Séguin, and les Violons du Roy.
Tickets to all concerts go on sale starting today, Tuesday, May 7, at lanaudiere.org, the Place des Arts ticket office at 514 842-2112 and 1 866 842-2112 or at placedesarts.com.
About the Festival de Lanaudière
The Festival de Lanaudière is the largest classical music festival in Canada. It is a member of the Regroupement des événements majeurs internationaux. From year to year, the Festival welcomes more than 50,000 attendees to its full range of activities. Its artistic programming remains accessible, featuring many world class, internationally renowned artists. The Festival’s main stage is the Amphithéâtre Fernand-Lindsay, which accommodates 2,000 listeners under its roof and 5,000 on the surrounding green.
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