Montreal is a city of many churches, some of which host spectacular Christmas concerts. Notre-Dame Basilica welcomes the Montreal Symphony Orchestra performing Hector Berlioz’s L’Enfance du Christ for the first time with Kent Nagano conducting the powerful orchestral and choral oratorio, December 19-20. The Basilica also hosts eight Quebecois singers interpreting traditional Christmas songs for the Les Stars chantent Noël concert, December 14-15 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. There’s even a chance to hear the Notre-Dame Basilica organ in action as organist Pierre Grandmaison rehearses on December 23-24 and 28-31 at 2 p.m. The Basilica’s Let There Be Light multi-media show also continues throughout the month.

Les Choralies Christmas concerts add harmonious voices to the quiet space of Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours in Old Montreal, every Saturday and Sunday afternoon at 1:30 and 3 p.m., including a jazz twist on December 9, gospel hymns on December 16, a closing concert on December 23 with the Da Capo ensemble. The Gesù, a downtown church that also has a concert venue, will be full of glorious sound on December 9 at 3 p.m. as the award-winning Le Choeur Gospel Célébration sings its Noël Divin program of Christmas and holiday-themed music. On December 16, the Gesù’s organ gets a workout in the French 18th century music of Les douze Noëls pour orgue de Louis-Claude Daquin, with organist François Zeitouni. And December 27-28 brings La Pastorale des Santons de Provence d’Yvan Audouard to the Gesù space.

The newly built Maison Symphonique de Montréal, downtown at Place des Spectacles, also rings in the holiday cheer this December. The Montreal Symphony Orchestra and conductor Kent Nagano add a twist to traditional Québécois music as Québec writer Bryan Perro tells a magical, Christmassy tale of two villages on the Saint-Maurice River – the storytelling is in French, while the music transcends language – December 14-15 at Maison symphonique de Montréal. The OSM and the Montreal Bach Festival present internationally renowned Collegium Vocale Gent performing Bach’s Christmas Oratorio on December 12-13. And The Orchestre Métropolitain, conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin, makes the month more romantic with performances of Bruckner’s Symphony No. 6 on December 8.

Festive sounds permeate the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts throughout the month in a series of Christmas- and holiday-themed concerts. Free choral concerts take place on December 9 (Cantivo Vocal Ensemble) and on December 16 (Westmount Harmonia) in the Hall of Bronzes of the Michal and Renata Hornstein Pavilion at 3 p.m., with local vocal groups lifting their voices high. In the museum’s grand Bourgie Hall, hear soprano Hélène Guilmette sing cantatas and traditional songs on December 12, soprano Suzie LeBlanc in a traditional concert of Advent music, with violinist, organist and conductor on December 16 at 3 p.m., and on December 28-29, join in on the Arte Musica choral concert Let’s Sing Christmas! at 2 p.m.

And if the natural world is your sanctuary, choirs also come to the Montreal Botanic Gardens this month, making themselves at home among the greenery in the festively decorated and lit-up main greenhouse December 8-9, 15-16, and 22-23 throughout the afternoon.

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The easiest way to begin this post is by starting with a look at a couple of Montreal’s most impressive churches. There is, obviously, a religious connection between choral music and church, but I’m a music guy, so I’ll just mention that they have some of the best acoustics in town…

Churches

Notre-Dame Basilica: This jewel of Old Montreal is renowned around the world for the impact of its Gothic Revival architecture, incredibly colourful interior and Casavant organ. During the course of the year, it is home to a range of choirs, symphonies and ensembles, but on April 23^rd it will be the Basilica’s own choir adding their voices to the Easter Mass.

Saint-Joseph’s Oratory: Another of Montreal’s iconic landmarks, the Oratory is a truly spectacular basilica located on Mount Royal, which is equally recognised as being the home of the recent canonized Saint André Bessette. Their boys’ choir, the Petites Chanteurs du Mont-Royal, has been singing at the Sunday morning mass for over 50 years and Easter Weekend will be no exception.

Choirs

Studio de Musique Ancienne de Montreal: The Studio, which matches an incredible choir with accomplished period musicians, has been one of Montreal’s true musical powerhouses for over 30 years and specializes in music from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. You can find them at Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel on April 22, performing works from Victoria, Gesualdo, Morales and Tallis.

Choeur de L’UQAM: Alongside the Société Philharmonique de Montréal and featuring soprano Elyse Charlebois and mezzo-soprano Andrea Kövagó under the direction of Maestro Miklós Takács, this esteemed choir will celebrate the music of Frank Liszt on April 22 at the Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste.

Fans of this post should take special note that the Montreal Chamber Music Festival runs from May 5 to May 28 and we’ll have preview coming on the blog soon…

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