What’s on in Montréal – Some choice arts and entertainment events for January

What’s on in Montréal courtesy of Tourisme Montréal

DANCE

The world-renowned National Ballet of Ukraine from the Taras Shevchenko National Opera House features excerpts from some of the world’s greatest ballets such as Le Corsaire and Don Quixote, while highlighting Ukrainian culture through traditional dance, at Théâtre St. Denis (January 17 to 19).

CLASSICAL

The world-renowned National Ballet of Ukraine will perform at Théâtre St. Denis January 17-19
Photo: Inara Prusakova

Admired worldwide for the powerful intensity of her playing, Dutch violinist Simone Lamsma joins the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal for Rafael Payare Conducts Mahler’s Symphony No. 7 (January 16-17-20), while the Orchestre Métropolitain under the baton of superstar conductor Kensho Watanabe performs Prokofiev’s Fifth Symphony in Fire and Flame (January 21). All concerts at the Maison Symphonique.

CINEMA

Classical music lovers and cartoon fans will enjoy Warner Bros. Discovery presents Bugs Bunny at the Symphony when a dozen of the world’s most iconic Looney Tunes — including What’s Opera, Doc?, The Rabbit of Seville, Corny Concerto, Baton Bunny, Long-Haired Hare, plus five brand-new animated shorts — will be projected on the big screen, while their original scores are played live by the FILMharmonic Orchestra conducted by George Daugherty, at Salle-Wilfred-Pelletier (January 13 and 14).

THEATRE

Featuring some of the most exciting independent theatre-makers in Montreal, Centaur Theatre Company’s annual Wildside Festival (January 18 to February 8) showcases the city’s most innovative and groundbreaking theatre artists and their cutting-edge productions.

The French-language adaptation of British mystery writer Agatha Christie’s classic And Then There Were None is called Ils étaient dix en français, and runs at the Cinqième Salle at Place des Arts from February 1 to 3.

The oldest professional Black theatre company in Canada, Montreal’s Black Theatre Workshop presents the world premiere of Diggers in the Studio Theatre of the Segal Centre for the Performing Arts (February 1 to 7). The play tells the story of three essential workers – gravediggers – who make the best of a bad situation as townsfolk grow increasingly distant when illness hits the town. A play full of song, laughter, tears and humanity.

MUSEUMS

Classic paintings by Impressionist masters come to life in the immersive experience Lasting Impressions, thanks to cutting-edge 3D Motion Sculpting technology, at Le Studio-Cabaret in Espace St-Denis from January 4 to February 11.

Exploring the history of the famed cathedral, the immersive Notre-Dame de Paris: The Augmented Exhibition at Arsenal Contemporary Art Montreal in Griffintown has been extended to February 4.

The PHI Foundation in Old Montreal presents the JOUEZ/PLAY solo exhibition by Argentinian-born artist Rirkrit Tiravanija – widely recognized as one of the most influential artists of his generation – until March 10.

COMEDY

Irish stand-up comedian and author David Nihill brings his Shelf Help show to Club Soda on January 21.

DRAG

Canada’s Drag Race season-four contestants Aurora Matrix, Venus and Montrealer Denim, along with CDR season-one contestant Kiara of Montreal, headline 4 QUEENS POUR NOUS at Cabaret Mado on January 10.

Madonna will perform at The Bell Centre on January 18 and 20

IGLOOFEST

Dance under the stars to the best local and international DJs at the 16th edition of Igloofest (January 18 to February 10) at the Jacques Cartier Pier in the Old Port. Dubbed “the coldest music festival in the world”, warm up on the dancefloor with such DJs as Stephan Bodzin (January 25), Diplo (January 26), Armin van Buuren (January 27), Daniel Goldstein a.k.a. Lane 8 (February 3), and Miss Monique (February 10).

POP MUSIC

After her 2022 health scare landed her in ICU and forced her to postpone her world tour, Queen of Pop Madonna – who turns 66 this year – has reclaimed her crown and headlines her rescheduled Montreal dates at the Bell Centre on January 18 and 20.

Other January shows of note: American rap superstar Travis Scott at Bell Centre (January 9), Genesis tribute band The Musical Box at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier (January 19 and 20), Montreal’s very own Cadillac Music benefit concert for Sun Youth at NDG’s legendary Wheel Club (January 27), and Belgian raï reggae-rapper DYSTINCT headlines MTELUS (January  29).

Dubbed “Mr. Montreal” by the CBC, arts and culture journalist and columnist Richard “Bugs” Burnett knows Montreal like a drag queen knows a cosmetics counter.