The 18th season of the Montreal Chamber Music Festival, May 9 to June 1, mixes international and local string quartets, the brilliance of Bach and several evenings of jazz, all in the stunning, acoustically pleasing St. George’s Church in historical Old Montreal…

World-class musicians and emerging artists rub shoulders at the Montreal Chamber Music Festival, where the traditional music of the festival’s Classical Series is complemented by a Jazz Series, together proving that innovation, creativity and beautiful music remain at the heart of the festival. Opening night, marks a special occasion: for the first time ever, the Boston Chamber Music Society, led by Artistic Directors Marcus Thompson and Denis Brott, performs in Montreal. The following night, Montreal jazz legend, pianist Oliver Jones plays alongside musicians Eric Lagacé on bass and Jim Doxas on drums, with an opening set by bassist Brandi Disterheft and her quartet, all at St-George’s Church.

Further on the classical side, master cellist Colin Carr performs Schubert and more, while The Fine Arts Quartet and Brazilian pianist Cristina Ortiz and others offer a two-night performance dedicated to St. Saëns. May 22 marks the beginning of “Bach Week,” featuring solo Bach performances, the Brandenburg Concertos, the complete cello concertos and more, including jazz-Bach with the Swingle Singers. Enjoy two nights of French music with French pianist Jean-Philippe Collard and David Jalbert, and on May 30, The Emerson String Quartet performs with their new cellist Paul Watkins.

The festival also celebrates Camille Saint-Saëns via three concerts and talks by Oxford University Press author Sabina Ratner: the Fine Arts Quartet; Brazilian pianist Christina Ortiz; OSM Principal Trumpet Paul Merkelo, Principal Bass Ali Yazdanfar and up-and-coming star Annie Zhou. As well, winners of the triennial Instrument Bank Competition for emerging talents will perform on 18 unique violins and cellos, made by Stradivarius, Guarneri, Gagliano and other masters, from the Canadian collection.

The festival explores the overlap of genres with its Jazz Series: popular Brazilian guitarist Chico Pinheiro and his ensemble perform in Montreal for the first time; The Swingle Singers 50th Anniversary Celebration gets the party started with everything from their take on The Beatles to Debussy’s Clair de Lune, New York pianist Eldar Djangirov returns with a new album and many standards, and guitar duo The Assad Brothers with Grammy-winning clarinetist Paquito D’Rivera end the jazz portion of the fest on a Latin jazz note.

A double concert dedicated to Tchaikovsky’s chamber music closes the festival on June 1, including his first String Quartet, his Piano Trio, his Souvenir de Florence, the Scherzo from his 6th Symphony and his Serenade for Strings, featuring several festival artists in one big celebration of springtime-suited chamber music. And even before the festival begins, get a glimpse of the chamber-music spirit at free evening shows by brass quintet Frolic, at Place des Arts’ Espace culturel Georges-Émile Lapalme on May 7 and 8 at 6:30 p.m. For the full schedule of all the duos, trios and quintets on the program, see the Montreal Chamber Music Festival website.

THE DETAILS

Montreal Chamber Music Festival, May 9-June 1, 2013

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10 Great Pop Montreal Venues…

1. I feel like the most transcendent shows I’ve seen have been at the Ukrainian Federation (pictured above)– something about sitting in semi-comfortable wooden theatre seats, talking with people, staring at the painted backdrop on stage (a forest scene, a lake, mountains, all memories are a water-colour blur), waiting for music that defies categorization: Joanna Newsom, Faust, Van Dyke Parks, Destroyer, Tune-yards and many, many more.

2. The acoustics of certain churches are often better suited to choral harmonies and silent worship than rock n’ roll bombast, but every Pop Montreal show I’ve seen at Eglise St. Jean Baptiste on Rachel has left me feeling closer to God regardless: Patti Smith, Burt Bacharach, Buffy Sainte-Marie, all classic and wonderful.

3. And sometimes a band completely eclipses a venue. In the category of “bands that blow the doors off a venue so hard that they’ll be headlining doorless outdoor festivals within the next year”: yeah, I saw Interpol in 2002 at The Jupiter Room, when the “stage” was a three-inch riser in the back of the room, next to the bathroom hallway. The place was understandably packed and sweaty as the band lit into songs from their debut Turn On The Bright Lights.

4. In 2002, the Mile End neighbourhood wasn’t the hipster mecca its become (and even that’s arguable), but it was on its way – an indication of that was the somewhat defunct Rialto Theatre opened its doors to Pop Montreal, holding promise as a future show venue. And though the elaborate old theatre’s evolution has been slow (this year has been a good one though!), inaugurating it with The Dears and Stars, along with some of burgeoning Broken Social Scene, was a pretty sweet move.

5. On the arguable border of Mile End and the Plateau, rock institutions La Sala Rossa and Casa del Popolo have seen everything and everyone over the years, at Pop Montreal and otherwise. Lee Fields and the Expressions, Sharon Jones, Naomi Shelton, The Unicorns, Arcade Fire, and thousands more in the soft red glow of Sala and in the once-cramped (and we loved it, right?) quarters of Casa, now oh-so-roomy with its second space dedicated to shows.

6. When I wandered onto the second-floor lounge of the Armoury des Canadian Grenadier Guards on a sunny Sunday afternoon in 2006 while Puces Pop craft fair and record sale went on below, I didn’t expect to see Patrick Watson pounding on a grand piano in the middle of the room. I remember thinking: This beautiful weirdo needs to be huge. A couple of years later he was on the main outdoor stage at Jazz Fest.

7. I’m guessing that this Thursday’s Arcade Fire show at Quartiers des Spectacles will go off without a hitch, but outdoor shows can be unpredictable – unstable autumn weather, unstable power supplies, unstable musicians who rarely see daylight – but the Pop Montreal all-afternoon lineups at Parc des Amériques have always been a good time. Featuring local and Canadians acts, and surprise drop-ins from others, the free shows were a good place to make discoveries while meeting up with friends and maybe even resting a little.

8. Dive bars are often the places to go if you want to be surprised – delighted surprised or baffled surprised, it’s a risk worth taking. In 2005, in a bout of venue hopping, I found myself at Missy Bar, these days all spiffed up and lacking in stale-beer smell, but those days, rough around every edge, well, rough right into the middle. But that’s where You Say Party! We Say Die! made a fan of me. This year, check out L’Esco, 3 Minots, Barfly and other holes in the wall. And, not a dive bar but definitely a dive, Cinema L’Amour hosted a brilliant night a few years ago: locals L’il Andy and Ideal Lovers covering Neil Young’s Tonight’s the Night.

9. Getting out of the Plateau and Mile End – to northern venues like Église St-Édouard, CFC and Il Motore and to southern venues like the Corona Theatre is a necessity to fully experience Pop. The beautiful Little Burgundy/St-Henri theatre is located next door to restaurants and bars and, if you’re too satiated, has a full balcony for lounging. The Corona is a friend to sit-down folk concerts and more obscure sounds, like 2004’s Les Georges Leningrad and Tim Hecker show. This year, the Corona hosts three great shows: Steven Malkmus, Laura Marling and Girls.

10. Loft parties in unnameable loft spaces, late at night, often poorly lit and even more poorly ventilated, with bands and DJs of note taking the stage by surprise – we wouldn’t have it any other way. The spirit continues in 2011 with late-night parties at Église St-Édouard and possibly elsewhere… keep your ear to the ground.

A

THE DETAILS

Pop Montreal, September 21-25, 2011

Photo Credit: Ukrainian Federation: Drawn & Quarterly; Rialto: Urban Photo; Li’l Andy: Caroline Désilets

The post POP MONTREAL: 10 YEARS OF SHOWS IN COOL PLACES appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

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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Though your uncle’s eggnog-fueled Bing Crosby impression has its place, one of the most magical parts of the holiday season can be found in the music that defines it. Here are some of highlights of Montreal’s Christmas Concert lineup…

The Orchestra at the Basilica: The combination of the OSM and the Notre-Dame Basilica will always be one of Montreal’s most popular holiday partnerships. The sound of the full orchestra playing in one of the city’s most spectacular spaces is truly one of the most festive presents one could give their ears. It begins, as always, with Kent Nagano conducting Handel’s Messiah, the 200-year old baroque piece that has come to symbolize the season for many people and is always OSM’s most popular performance of the year. You can catch it on December 11 and 13^th- if you get your ticket immediately. For those that miss it (or just want more), on the 15^th and 16^th you can return to the Basilica when the OSM presents a Christmas Celebration accompanied by the Choeurs des Enfants de Montreal. These shows take a more varied approach to the repertoire, covering everything from Tchaikovsky to Schubert to Handel.

Dans La Rue and the CBC: Though you’ve missed the chance to participate in the CBC’s Caroling Challenge, you’ve still got all month to donate to Dans La Rue, an organization dedicated to helping street kids. Just scratch one gift off your shopping list and send that money their way. You also still have the chance to attend the 31st Annual CBC Christmas Sing-In at The Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul, where all proceeds go to Dans La Rue. The concert will air on Christmas day on CBC- take a listen to what it sounded like last year.

Serenata at St-John’s: Now in its seventh year, this Sunday afternoon series culminates in a December 12th “concerto for trumpet and 2 oboes”. Located in the historic (and sonorous) St. John’s Lutheran Church, the concert will feature members of the MSO and other prominent Montreal musicians.

The Choeur Quebecois: The big event on this Quebec choral groups’ Christmas calendar can be found on December 12th at the Maisonneuve Presbyterian Church and features veritable smorgasbord of yuletide hits.

Montreal Museum of Fine Arts: Those revelers looking for a musical bridge between Christmas and New Year’s Eve need look no further than the MMFA’s Arte Musica Foundation’s Christmas Concerts. Held in the museum’s Michal and Renata Hornstein Pavilion on December 28^th-30^th, these choral concerts feature the Studio de musique ancienne de Montréal performing the music of  Bach, Mendelssohn and Brahms. The MMFA’s volunteers have also curated some classical Christmas concerts being held in the same Pavilion: on December 12^th it’s the Orpheus Singers, while on December 20^th, the excellent Le Choeur de la Montagne take over.

The post CHRISTMAS CONCERTS IN MONTREAL appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

One of Montreal’s famed skyline silhouettes; St. Joseph’s Oratory is a sacred destination for many.

It attracts 2 million visitors annually. Some climb the 100 steps on their knees as pilgrims. Others come simply to admire this Italian Renaissance-style basilica reminiscent of the Duomo in Florence.

I love the grandeur of the beautiful building, set back on its large property.  It is the largest church in Canada. Its dome is second in size only to St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.  The first small chapel was erected in 1904, and was extended often.  By 1917 a new Crypt-Church was built, large enough for about 1,000 people.  Montreal’s Brother André, who was canonized last week-end in Rome, had a dream to build a sanctuary dedicated to Saint Joseph.  His dream came true in 1967, when the Oratory was completed.

The basilica is dedicated to Saint Joseph, to whom Brother André credited all his reported miracles. On display in the basilica is a wall covered with thousands of crutches from those who came to the church and were allegedly healed. Pope John Paul II deemed the miracles to be authentic and in 1982 beatified Brother André, who was canonized in Rome in October 2010. Liturgical music and concerts are provided by a great organ (with 5,811 pipes), a Carillion of 56 bells in their own building, and a choir school.  Check the website for special masses celebrating Saint André, and other events, including Christmas celebrations.

www.saint-joseph.org

St. Joseph’s Oratory,  3800 Queen Mary Road / Côte-des-Neiges

514-733-8211

Guided tours (in different languages), cafeteria, snack bar

Masses in English daily.

Newsletter

Open daily 6: 00 am – 9:30 p.m.

Metro:  Côte-des-Neiges

The post ST. JOSEPH’S ORATORY: CANADA’S SACRED DESTINATION appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

Our photo of the week comes from Flickr lovebirds Jean-Bernard et Jennifer. One could even say that their love is causing them to see fireworks (and you’ll probably have to click through their photos to understand that reference). Jeannifer (prounounced shjan-i-fer) as I’ve decided to call them, have captured the moody grandioseness of Montreal’s largest religious specimen, Oratoire Saint-Joseph.

“Saint Joseph’s Oratory atop Mount Royal is one of the world’s most visited shrines. The basilica’s huge dome reaches 97 metres and is second only in height to Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome. The sheer size of it contrasts sharply with its frail founder, Brother André, the humble doorkeeper who had initiated its construction in 1904. The shrine devoted to Saint Joseph consists of a primitive chapel, a votive chapel, a crypt and a basilica large enough to accommodate 10,000 worshippers. Relics of Brother André and many ex-voto of miraculously cured pilgrims are exhibited. The basilica’s great organs and 56 bell chimes will occasionally rekindle solemn works of great composers.”

A beautiful shot of a magnificent Montreal landmark.

Thanks!

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Submit your Montréal pictures to our MONTRÉAL BUZZ FLICKR GROUP.

And see our previous PHOTOS OF THE WEEK.

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Is Montreal the Monaco of North America?  Iegor de St-Hippolyte, founder of IEGOR Hôtel des Encans (house of auctions), thinks so.  Hailing from  France via Monaco, he was seduced by Montreal’s unique architecture and decided to make it his home.  From here, he searches for and sells prestigious Canadian and international works of art, jewelry, antique books, decorative pieces, rare wines, etc…  In 2004, he was appointed the official North American representative of Drouot, the world-famous Paris auction house.

But to really understand the extent of Iegor’s passion for art, you’ll need to visit the stunning  neo-classical style church he uses as his salesroom – a perfect setting that adds  grandeur and excitement of his montlhy live auctions.

DETAILS

IEGOR Hôtel des encans

872 rue du Couvent

H4C-2R6

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Phone: 1-514-344-4081

Fax: 1-514-344-4125

Email: info@iegor.net

http://www.iegor2.net

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