The Montreal Baroque Festival’s exuberant 21st season

This year’s theme is Chaos and Confetti, inspired by the outpouring of creativity from the Baroque community in the wake of the pandemic and the drive to celebrate all the magic of music and dance alongside Montreal audiences. Concerts and events will be held at Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel, the PHI Centre, the Wilder Building, L’Orbite, and on the streets of Old Montreal.

According to Vincent Lauzer, who recently joined conductor Matthias Maute as artistic co-director at the helm of this Montreal institution, “The Chaos and Confetti theme embraces the richness of Montreal’s Baroque scene. It’s a tight-knit community brought together by the need to create and the desire to touch the hearts of our audiences, especially after these past few dark and restrictive years for artists and musicians.”

Scandinavian Baroque and Quebec folk music
This year’s all-new programming will delight listeners with Norwegian and Finnish music both traditional and contemporary. The Finnish Baroque Orchestra and the Norwegian Barokkanerne ensemble will make their Quebec debuts in the Festival’s grand opening concert, Peace, Plague, Party, where Norwegian folklore, a Finnish psalm, and Quebec folk music take centre stage alongside Baroque masterpieces. With soprano Myriam Leblanc and Ensemble Caprice, directed by
Matthias Maute.
Thursday, June 15, 7:00pm

Ragnhild Hemsing

Ragnhild Hemsing

Grand concert Solstice also features both Scandinavian orchestras. Soloist Ragnhild Hemsing on Hardanger violin and contemporary composer Jukka Tiensuu will bring the sounds of Scandinavian summer solstice celebrations to life.
Friday, June 16, 7:00pm

In Chaos, conciliation, confetti, radiant soprano Janelle Lucyk and the Les Voix humaines Viol Consort return to the Festival to perform Moulinié, Purcell and Charpentier alongside traditional music. The concert follows the history of our land, beginning with the First Nations and continuing  through the invasion of Europeans seeking wealth and the arrival of immigrants seeking shelter from conflict.
Saturday, June 17, 7:00pm

Discord and Alliance brings together Les Jardins chorégraphiques, Ensemble ArtChoral and La Bande Montréal Baroque for a journey that weaves together dances, voices, and instruments. Works by Monteverdi, Gesualdo, Falconieri and Ortiz.
Sunday, June 18, 8:00pm

Special guests
Fire and Stardust is the perfect opportunity for festival-goers to discover French violinist Guillaume Villeneuve, winner of the 2022 Mathieu-Duguay Early Music Competition and the 2023 Discovery of the Year Opus Award, as well as his brother, harpsichordist Lucas Villeneuve. Works by Eccles, Biber, Corelli, Tartini and Bach.
Thursday, June 15, 9:00pm

Canadian harpsichordist Marc Edwards, first prize winner of the 2012 Bruges Harpsichord Competition, will appear in two Festival concerts, including Corelli Confetti, a duet program with Vincent Lauzer on recorder.
Friday, June 16, 9:00pm

Mysterium! Together will captivate audiences with a multimedia show where two simultaneous performances in different places are brought together by the magic of technology. With soprano Denise Torre Ormeño, choreographer Anne-Rose Cupidon, Ensemble Caprice, and choirs Chœur Nigra Sum and Ensemble ArtChoral, conducted by Frédéricka Petit-Homme. With works by J. S. Bach, gospels and spirituals, the program symbolizes unity among the peoples.
Sunday, June 18, 3:00pm

A festive Baroque weekend, Saturday and Sunday, June 17 and 18!
Café L’Orbite will become the headquarters for the Baroque community throughout the Festival. Concerts and free activities in this intimate space include masterclasses, the Baroque Lab, and Mozart Mimosa, a musical brunch. Space is limited, so reserve now!

History and architecture aficionados won’t want to miss Meanders of Love, a historical and musical tour of Old Montreal with 16/42’s professional bilingual tour guides, steeped in the enchanting sounds of the viol, oboe and flûte d’amour. Multiple group departure times. Meet at the entrance of the Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel.

To see the complete festival program and to purchase your tickets visit: www.montrealbaroque.com