Montreal opera fans will have a chance to enjoy and international array of young up-and-coming opera singers during the Montreal Vocal Arts Festival from July 27 – August 4. Photo by PE BergeronYoung singers out and about in Montreal The Montrealer July 24, 2015 5759 The Montreal Vocal Arts Festival will host 45 young singers The 12th edition of Montreal’s Vocal Arts Festival, under co-artistic directors Joan Dornemann and Paul Nadler, will be held this year from July 27 to August 18, 2015. Over 45 young singers from 11 countries will hone their craft with artists and teachers from major opera houses and prestigious training schools. Quebec mezzo-soprano Julie Boulianne, a program participant from 2005 to 2007, returns once again as spokesperson for the Festival, produced by the Canadian Vocal Arts Institute (CVAI). In addition to a series of public events in Montreal from July 27 to August 14, the young singers will be at Domaine Forget from August 16 to 18 for the International Festival. It’s a wonderful opportunity to see world‑class professionals working alongside the next generation of vocal artists. Masterclasses in Montreal and Domaine Forget Masterclasses are a unique opportunity to witness the fascinating world of music instruction and the remarkable relationship between teacher and student. In each session, three to five young talents will sing some of the most gorgeous pieces of the lyric repertoire and receive coaching from several renowned vocal artists, including Sherrill Milnes. This famous baritone’s powerful voice, commanding stage presence and stature have earned him the kind of glory usually reserved for tenors all throughout his career. He has sung over 650 performances at the Met and, as one of the foremost artists performing in the world’s greatest opera houses, Milnes has played and recorded alongside the likes of Domingo, Pavarotti, Caballé, Sutherland, Sills, Horne, Price, and Tebaldi. Winner of three Grammy Awards, he holds the title for the most recordings. In 2008 he received the Opera News Award for Distinguished Achievement for his entire career. Sherrill Milnes (EN), baritone – United States: Monday, July 27, 7:30 pm, Salle Serge-Garant, Université de Montréal. Tickets: $10 Joan Dornemann (EN), artistic director & coach – Metropolitan Opera, Wednesday, July 29, 7:30 pm, Salle Serge-Garant, Université de Montréal, Tickets: $10 Judith Forst (EN), mezzo-soprano – Metropolitan Opera, Friday, July 31, 7:30 pm, Salle Serge-Garant, Université de Montréal, Tickets: $10 Joan Dornemann (EN), artistic director & coach – Metropolitan Opera, Monday, August 17, 1:30 pm, Salle Françoys-Bernier, Domaine-Forget, Free. Joan Dornemann (EN) and guests, artistic director & coach – Metropolitan Opera, Tuesday, August 18, 1:30 pm, Salle Françoys-Bernier, Domaine-Forget, Free Friendly competition – The Voice Is Right Joan Dornemann, artistic director and coach at the Metropolitan Opera, has created a friendly competition exclusively for the Montreal Vocal Arts Festival. The voice is right! is a chance for the general public to attend a recital organized as a contest and vote for their three favorite singers. It’s also a chance to meet the young singers over a glass of wine, compliments of the Festival, while the jury selects the winners. The voice is right! takes place on Wednesday, August 5, 2015, 7:30 pm, Salle Serge-Garant, Université de Montréal | Tickets: $10 Lieder & French Mélodies Rainer Armbrust, conductor and coach of the Bayreuth Festival, will preside over this recital as artistic and musical director. The singers will interpret some of the most beautiful German and French melodies by Schumann, Chausson, Fauré, Mendelssohn, Duprac, Wolf, and many more. Friday, August 7, 7:30 pm, Salle Serge-Garant, Université de Montréal, Tickets: $10. With piano accompaniment Musical Sundays at the Mount Royal Chalet with the Turovsky Quartet Sunday, August 9, at 3 pm., the singers will present a free recital accompanied by the Turovsky Quartet as part of the Les amis de la montagne concert series. Sunday, August 9, 3 p.m, Mount Royal Chalet, Free. Artistic Director: Joan Dornemann. With piano and string quartet accompaniment On the program: E. Chausson: Chanson perpétuelle, S. Barber Dover Beach L. Respighi: Il Tramonto, W. A. Mozart Schon lacht der holde Frühling, K.580 The Turovsky Quartet: Robert Margaryan, violin; Anastasia Virlan, violin; Elvira Misbakhova, viola; Katerina Bragina, cello. Gala Concert with 45 singers The Gala Concert is the Montreal Vocal Arts Festival’s big night out. All 45 young singers will be on hand to interpret some of the most beautiful arias in the vocal repertoire. This year’s selection of vocal works—small ensembles, solos, and chorus numbers—will be accompanied by a pianist as well as the Turovsky Quartet. Some of opera’s greatest arias will be performed. Wednesday, August 12, 7:30 pm at Salle Claude-Champagne, Université de Montréal. Tickets: $15–$30. The same program will be performed at Domaine Forget’s annual summer classical music festival in La Malbaie. Musical Directors: Joan Dornemann & Paul Nadler, staging by Joshua Major, with piano and the Turovsky String Quartet. Sunday, August 16, 3 p.m. Salle Françoys-Bernier, Domaine Forget. Tickets: $22–$37 Two Nights of Opera: L’Elisire d’Amore and Zanetto & L’Amico Fritz Italy will hold pride of place for our two evenings of opera. First, L’Elisire d’Amore, one of the jewels of opera buffa, by composer Gaetano Donizetti. This bittersweet comedy, with its clever plot and delightful score, is pure, unabashed entertainment. Monday, August 10, 7:30 pm, Salle Claude-Champagne, Université de Montréal Tickets: $15–$30. Adina: To be determined Nemorino: Fanyong Du, tenor Belcore: Jianan Huang, baritone Dulcamara: Vincent Grana, bass-baritone Giannetta: Samira Tou, soprano Sung in Italian with French and English surtitles with piano accompaniment. Musical Director: Joseph Mechavich, Stage Director – Sharon Mohar; Technical Director: Onil Brousseau; Set & Props: Carl Pelletier; Lighting: Serge Pelletier; Costumes: Emie Gagnon. The second opera night is a Pietro Mascagni double bill. In the first half, Zanetto—a one-act, 40-minute opera with just two roles, initially described by the composer as a lyric scene, rather than an opera. The opera L’Amico Fritz will round off the evening. Commissioned following the enormous success of Cavelleria Rusticana, it includes the famous “Cherry Duet” in the second act, spun around one of the most beautiful themes to have issued from Mascagni’s musical imagination. An evening of unforgettable opera on Friday, August 14, 7:30 pm, Salle Claude-Champagne, Université de Montréal Tickets: $15–$30. Zanetto – Pietro Mascagni Sylvia: Sarah Papini, soprano Zanetto: Gina Perregrino, mezzo-soprano L’Amico Fritz – Pietro Mascagni Fritz: Benito Rodriguez, tenor Suzel: France Bellemare, soprano Beppe: To be determined, mezzo-soprano David: Edward Cleary, baritone Sung in Italian with French and English surtitles, with piano accompaniment. Musical Director: Paul Nadler, Stage Director: Joshua Major; Technical Director: Onil Brousseau; Set & Props: Carl Pelletier; Lighting: Serge Pelletier; Costumes: Emie Gagnon. The Montreal Vocal Arts Festival is presented by the International Vocal Art Institute and Université de Montréal. Tickets are available through the Admission Network by calling 1-855-790-1245 or at www.admission.com. Tickets can also be purchased onsite on concert evenings or at the Université de Montréal’s Faculty of Music ticket booth. A $60 Passport is available that gives full access to the Montreal Festival events. For Festival information: www.icav-cvai.ca/Festival Related
