Vocal Arts Festival

Presented by the Canadian Vocal Arts Institute until August 12

The 14th edition of the Montreal Vocal Arts Festival offers a privileged access to some of the most promising young singers around and world renowned teachers.

No less than 44 young opera singers (35 women and 9 men) will be heard: 17 from Canada, 11 from the United States, 5 from Mexico, 4 from France, 2 from Taiwan and one each from China, Colombia, Russia, Serbia and South Korea. Each of them will perform in public and perfect his craft under the tutelage of artists and teachers from the world’s most respected opera houses and music schools. This prestigious event is a testimony to Montreal’s vibrant cultural scene that is even more evident in this year marking its 375th Anniversary.

Under the joint artistic direction of Joan Dornemann, assistant conductor and vocal coach at the Metropolitan Opera of New York (MET) and Paul Nadler, conductor at the Met, the Festival welcomes opera lovers to gala concerts, master classes and recitals.

At the Université de Montréal’s Faculty of Music Claude-Champagne Hall, it features notably the short operas The Medium by Menotti, Gianni Schicchi by Puccini known for the aria O mio babbino caro, one of the most beloved of the whole repertoire, on Thursday August 10, public master classes were given given by tenor Richard Margison (July 25), mezzo-soprano Judith Forst (July 27) and Joan Dornemann (July 28). The spectacular gala concert that will bring this 14th edition to a conclusion is on Saturday August 12.

The operas are offered with piano accompaniment and sung respectively in English and Italian with subtitles provided in French and English. The staging is entrusted Joshua Major and the musical direction to Paul Nadler.

A new feature this year, three recitals, conceived and staged by members of CVAI’s faculty will be presented at the Université de Montréal Faculty of Music Jean-Papineau-Couture Hall on August 1st, 4 and 8. On Friday, August 4, Rainer Armbrust brings together participants around German Music from Kurt Weill and his contemporaries, while on Tuesday August 8, Rosemarie Landry and Robin Wheeler stage the young singers to create a Paris-Montréal postal card.

In addition, the festival program offers a unique recital featuring some of the most celebrated arias from the repertoire at Warwick’s Saint-Médard Church on Sunday August 6.

Tickets are offered at affordable prices: $18 for master classes and recitals (seniors, $ 15), $ 35 for the opera evening and gala concert (seniors, $ 25). Students can attend all events for $ 10 each).

Tickets are sold on the premises one hour prior to each event or by phone at 514-554- 8822. The Montreal Vocal Arts Festival is presented by the Canadian Vocal Arts Institute and the Université de Montréal. For information: icav-cvai.ca