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Mark Fewer with Ensemble Caprice conducted by Matthias Maute. Photo: Tam Photography

Review | Ensemble Caprice Performs a Magnificent Magnificat

By Heather Weinreb on 8 June 2026 Choral, Classical Music, Concert Reviews, Montreal, Orchestral, Vocal

On June 5, Matthias Maute led ArtChoral and Ensemble Caprice in a performance of Bach’s Magnificat at Montreal’s Maison symphonique. Lasting about 30 minutes, Magnificat is relatively short for a choral work. The evening was filled out by violinist Mark Fewer’s performance of Bellatrix, a contemporary work by Jeffrey Ryan, and one of the great concertos of violin repertoire—Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto no. 2 in E minor. What you missed Maute conducted the orchestra with clear and crisp momentum, giving special attention to the rhetorical phrasing of the musical lines. From the audience, it seemed that the orchestra was thoroughly enjoying…

Laurel Gagnon, Koshiro Takeuchi and Sara Watanabe. Photo: Tam Photography

Newswire | Koshiro Takeuchi is the Grand Laureate of the Concours 2026

By Newswire on 5 June 2026 Classical Music, Montreal, Music Competition, Newswire, Strings, Violin

Montréal, Friday, June 5, 2026 – Japanese violinist Koshiro Takeuchi has been crowned the much-coveted Grand Laureate of the Concours musical international de Montréal 2026. Following a Grand Final filled with high emotions, Koshiro was awarded the top prize thanks to his refined musicality, his assured technique and his captivating stage presence. This thrilling Grand Final took place at the Maison symphonique, where the three Grand Finalists each performed a major concerto from the repertoire, accompanied by the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal – the Concours’ official orchestra – led by Guest Conductor Sascha Goetzel. The decision was made by the…

A scene from Gianni Schicchi at Opera 5's Toronto Opera Festival. Photo: Emily Ding Photography

Review | Expertly-Staged Puccini at Toronto Opera Festival

By Gianmarco Segato on 4 June 2026 Concert Reviews, Opera, Toronto, Vocal

Opera 5 opened their Toronto Opera Festival on June 3 with Puccini’s Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi. Two parts of the opera master’s Il trittico (with poor, neglected Il tabarro left out as is too often the case), these heavily contrasting one-acters run the gamut from gut-wrenching tragedy to laugh-out-loud farce. That they came off so successfully at Toronto’s small Theatre Passe Muraille can be chalked up to savvy casting and masterful stage direction by Jessica Derventzis. Suor Angelica isn’t staged all that much in Canada. I can’t think of a fully-professional production I’ve seen in this country except at…

Joe Hisaishi conducting Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Photo: Allan Cabral/Courtesy of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra

Review | Hisaishi Returns to Toronto Symphony Orchestra

By Andrea Rush on 2 June 2026 Classical Music, Concert Reviews, Orchestral, Strings, Toronto, Violin

French mathematician and philosopher Blaise Pascal famously apologized for writing a long letter, explaining that he did not have enough time to write a short one. The multi-talented composer and maestro Joe Hisaishi would not need to make such an apology. The May 28 TSO program that he curated, and the scores he composes, exude beauty through simplicity. The evening featured three composers, three works, one governing idea: to demonstrate the beauty of simplicity. It is an attractive force that cuts across cultures and centuries. Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall was well sold out in advance. From the main floor to…

Sara Watanabe, Bade Dastan, Koshiro Takeuchi, Laurel Gagnon, Aozhe Zhang, Photo: Tam Photography

Newswire | CMIM announces five finalists for Violin 2026

By Newswire on 1 June 2026 Arts Industry, Montreal, Newswire, Violin

Montréal, Sunday May 31, 2026 – Following a Semifinal that captivated the audience, the International Jury presided by Lucie Robert selected the five Finalists of the Concours 2026. The announcement was made following the jury’s deliberations after the last session of the Semifinal, during which the competitors dazzled the audience with a program comprising at least one full sonata, a Canadian work and another piece of their choice. HERE ARE THE FIVE FINALISTS WHO ARE ADVANCING TO THE FINAL – MOZART ROUND (by order of performance) Koshiro Takeuchi, Japan Laurel Gagnon, United States Sara Watanabe, Japan Aozhe Zhang, China Bade…

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,…

Festival Bites: Insiders Dish on the Best Food Spots

By Kaitlyn Chan on 1 June 2026 Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, West

Hours spent absorbing music, theatre and dance at Canada’s finest summer festivals can work up an appetite. To help you narrow down your choices, local artists and festival organizers offer their top picks of nearby restaurants, cafés and bars. And, this year, the La Scena Musicale team shares their favourite spots in Montreal! Early Music Vancouver’s Summer Festival Selections by Idan Cohen | Choreographer of Bach Dances (Aug. 1) www.earlymusic.bc.ca Favourite Spot for a Meal: Nuba “I’m always searching for Middle Eastern food that brings me a sense of home, and Nuba truly does. It’s one of the best places…

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,”…

Left: Chamberfest's Canadiana, 2025. Right: Chamberfest's Rising Stars Showcase, 2024. Photos: Curtis Perry

Ottawa Chamberfest 2026: Expanding the Definition of Chamber Music

By Hal Kowalewski on 1 June 2026 Baroque and Early, Chamber Music, Classical Music, Opera, Ottawa, Scena Jazz

Chamberfest is, above all else, a celebration of form. With this festival, Artistic Director Carissa Klopoushak aims to highlight both the best of what chamber music is, and what it can be. “Chamberfest uses a very broad definition of chamber music,” she says. “It’s purposefully done, and it’s carefully done, too.” Chamberfest aims to create a milieu where chamber music builds connections among its performers, and between artist and audience. The smallness of the presenting ensembles and the intimacy of the venues shrink the distance between stage and house, allowing listeners to feel truly absorbed by the music. “We use…

Photo: Curtis Perry

Alexander Shelley: Saying Goodbye to NACO

By Emma Yee on 1 June 2026 Classical, Classical Music, Orchestral, Ottawa

Eleven years ago, in 2015, Alexander Shelley was named the youngest-ever music director of the National Arts Centre Orchestra (NACO). He recalls the great anticipation he felt at the prospect of working with “such a classy group of musicians, such a great group of individual talents, and such a sophisticated orchestra. I knew I’d have this double-sided challenge of maintaining the qualities they had developed from years prior, and also exploring new territory.” When Shelley began his tenure, the orchestra was starting to plan for Canada 150, which, the maestro says, created a challenge “to interrogate the question of national…

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