22nd edition of the Montreal Baroque Festival

Improbable musical encounters under the theme “Parallel Universes”

From June 13 to 16, the Montreal Baroque Festival will present a tribute to Montreal’s diversity: cultural, gender and sexual diversity, of ages and artistic disciplines. Artists from all backgrounds will come together and exchange for the greatest pleasure of the festival-goers.

Among the headliners of the 2024 edition, mention should be made of the musicians from the Cape Town Baroque Orchestra (South Africa), tenor Charles Daniels (United Kingdom), baritone Jonathon Adams (Canada), mezzo-soprano Rose Naggar-Tremblay (Canada), countertenor Ian Sabourin (Canada), the trio Al Golpe del Guatimé (Mexico), as well as several Montreal ensembles and artists of international reputation: Arion Baroque Orchestra, Les Jardins chorégraphiques, ClassiqueInclusif (Ensemble Caprice), Flûte Alors!, Les Voix humaines, Les Boréades de Montréal, Infusion Baroque, Oktoécho, and the collective LA TRESSE.

In addition to concerts, several events are added to the program: the traditional opening parade (starting on June 13 at 6pm), musical Cafés, the Baroque Lab, a percussion workshop and initiation to Andalusian music for all, wandering concerts with the Baroque Brigade, and a master class with harpsichordist Erik Dippenaar (Cape Town Baroque Orchestra – South Africa).

The six main concerts:

The opening concert “Amazing Grace” features the Nigra Sum Choir, the ClassiqueInclusif ensemble (Ensemble Caprice), and musicians from the Cape Town Baroque Orchestra. A concert with African colors featuring musicians from Cape Town and gospels rooted in the Afro-American tradition. Soprano Lynelle Kenned (Cape Town) will shine in the sacred airs of Antonio Vivaldi. Directed by Erik Dippenaar and choir director Frédéricka Petit-Homme, the event also highlights the Festival’s Grand Choir composed of amateur musicians who participate each year in the opening concert.
Thursday, June 13, 2024 – 7pm – Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel

“Journey to the East” with the Infusion Baroque ensemble is a multicultural collaboration of Eastern and Western musical traditions in a postmodern response to colonization.
Thursday, June 13, 2024 – 9pm – Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel

“Metaphysical Music” presents sacred chants from the 17th century with renowned soloists Charles Daniels and Jonathon Adams and a choir of 8 singers directed by Nick Veltmeyer.
Friday, June 14 – 5pm – Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel

“Airlines” with Flûte Alors! and LA TRESSE is a first collaboration between the two organizations and a great collective creation where musicians and dancers will evoke astonishing parallels between new music and contemporary dance. On the program: music by Montrealers David Désilets and Kevin O’Neil, a North American premiere by German composer Ferdinand Grätz.
Friday, June 14 – 7pm – Bonsecours Market – Ville-Marie Hall

“Operatic Fluidity” presents the Arion Baroque Orchestra, contralto Rose Naggar-Tremblay, and countertenor Ian Sabourin in a staging by Thomas Ayouti. Spotlight on Handel’s operatic work, reflections on the interpretation of female and male roles once sung by castrati, and testimonials from the Montreal LGBTQ2IA+ community broadcast during the concert.
Saturday, June 15, 2024 – 7pm – Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel

The closing concert “Mysterious Barricades” highlights the Cape Town Baroque Orchestra, Les Jardins chorégraphiques, and the Montreal Baroque Band, in a staging by Marie-Nathalie Lacoursière. An ode to curiosity and extravagance, an invitation to explore the richness of artistic diversity, all in contrast.
Sunday, June 16, 2024 – 8pm – Wilder Building – Orange Space

The eight intimate concerts:

“Weavers of the Wind” with musicians from Les Boréades and actress Anne Millaire for a world tour illustrated by musical and universal tales.
Friday, June 14, 2024 – 9pm – Bonsecours Market – Old Montreal Room

“Musical Brunch – Son de jade” – Musical brunch with vibrant rhythms of Son Jarocho and oriental melodies with Trio Al Golpe del Guatimé and Ziya Tabassian.
Saturday, June 15, 2024 – 11am – Café L’Orbite

“Barbarian Invasions” – Carte blanche to Susie Napper, founder of the Festival, and her accomplice Mélisande Corriveau. The duo Les Voix humaines interprets music imported from the British Isles, the Caribbean, and through Beautiful France.
Saturday, June 15, 2024 – 3pm – Vault of Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel

“The Jewels of Bijuriya – Nightclub” – Les Goûts Réunis and drag artist/musician Bijuriya (Gabriel Dharmoo) present a crazy evening: British and French baroque airs, Trinidadian and South Asian traditional songs, and popular songs belonging to both Bollywood and Queer culture.
Saturday, June 15, 2024 – 9pm – Café L’Orbite

“Morning Nuba” – Grand return of the morning concert: let’s listen to Andalusian music from the 15th century and Spain from the 16th and 17th centuries, inspired by the sunrise with musicians from Oktoécho, Susie Napper, Vincent Lauzer, and Michel Angers to vibrate to the sounds of Sufi chant, oud, and percussion.
Sunday, June 16 – 7am – Cogeco 360° Space – Pointe-à-Callière Museum

“Variations” – Exploration of the art of variation on popular themes of the baroque period with the Trio of the Cape Town Baroque Orchestra and Matthias Maute.
Sunday, June 16, 2024 – 11:30am – Cogeco 360 Space – Pointe-à-Callière Museum

“Hoja de cedro” – Trio Al Golpe del Guatimé and Ziya Tabassian unite for a concert combining traditional music from Veracruz, the Middle East, and the Baroque.
Sunday, June 16, 2024 – 2pm – Vault of Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel

“In Full Sun” – soprano Janelle Lucyk offers a solo concert, 100% a cappella.
Sunday, June 16, 2024 – 4pm – Vault of Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel

For all details on the program and ticketing: montrealbaroque.com

Montreal Baroque Festival