Mediterranean countries will be in the spotlight through a range of free and paid activities presented by the OSM as part of the 11th edition of the unmissable Classical Spree. The event will be held this summer from August 14 to 18.
The kick-off will be given on Wednesday, August 14 at 7:30 p.m. with the traditional free concert at the Esplanade of the Olympic Park, which brings together thousands of Montreal classical music fans each year. On the program, among other things: the opening of the Roman Carnival by Berlioz, The pines of Rome from Respighi or even Constantinople by Tawadros, which will be performed on the oud, a plucked string instrument common in Arab countries, by its composer.
* The OSM at the Esplanade of the Olympic Park as part of the 2023 Classical Spree. Photo by Antoine Saito.
The grandiose Requiem by Verdi will be presented by the orchestra at the Maison symphonique on August 16 in the evening and August 18 in the afternoon. The four soloists, Joyce El-Khoury, Rihab Chaieb, Dovlet Nurgeldiyev and Adam Palka, and the OSM Choir will make the hall resonate more beautifully through the score, both dramatic and melancholic, particularly known for its movement Dies Irae. The show will be paid for.
Again at the Maison symphonique, for paid concerts, the OSM will host the Ensemble Constantinople and the Ensemble Obiora on August 17, at 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. respectively. The orchestras will present short pieces by Grieg, Albéniz, Tchaikovsky, Cantemir or Saint-Saëns depicting the exotic landscapes of countries such as Italy, Spain or Egypt. The paid component of the Classical Spree also includes intimate performances at the Cinquième Salle and the arrival of Miloš Karadaglić, a talented Montenegrin guitarist, who will notably perform the sublime Concierto de Aranjuez on the evening of August 17.
From August 16 to 18, the Quartier des spectacles and Place des Arts will come alive during the Virée with around sixty free activities offered to those interested, ranging from musical quizzes to musical yoga, including film screenings. linked to the theme of the event and participatory and educational workshops. Concerts will be presented free of charge at the Complexe Desjardins, showcasing established ensembles such as the Unidentified Wind Orchestra or the Mezghena Orchestra of Montreal, but also up-and-coming musicians from the Montreal Youth Symphony Orchestra or the Virée Youth Harmony.
Activities specially adapted for young children, such as Music introductionintroducing future music lovers to the melodies and instruments of various world cultures, are part of the 2024 Classical Spree programming, proving once again to what extent the OSM wants to make its institution accessible to all.
The Montreal Symphony Orchestra will present four shows at the Festival de Lanaudière, in Joliette, on July 19 and 20 and August 2 and 3, all under the direction of the ensemble’s conductor, Rafael Payare. The orchestra will also travel to two parks in Greater Montreal, on July 24 at Poly-Aréna park in Brossard and on July 27 at Centennial park in Beaconsfield, before closing its summer with three performances of the concert. Symphonic Charlebois from August 22 to 24, revisiting the immense repertoire of the singer celebrating his 80th birthday this year.
For more details on the programming of the Classical Spree and other OSM summer activities, you can follow this link.
