The OSM Unveils its Summer Season

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Montreal, June 5, 2024 – The Orchestre symphonique de Montréal and Music Director Rafael Payare are thrilled to unveil the OSM’s 2024 summer programming, featuring among other events the Orchestra’s 11^th Virée classique. This year’s exciting and diverse edition will take place from August 14 to 18. With its Mediterranean theme, the festival offers concerts and enhanced free programming to immerse you in a sea of Mediterranean sounds. Another long-standing summer tradition continues with three major free OSM Concerts in the Parks SiriusXM hosted by André Robitaille, as well as the OSM’s presence in Joliette at the Festival de Lanaudière for four outdoor concerts conducted by Rafael Payare. Here’s the summer season, at a glance.

« At the heart of summer, the OSM brings people together with music. Join us for this great celebration and discover the 2024 Virée classique’s spectacular program. This is your festival ! » — Rafael Payare, Music Director at the OSM

THE 11th VIRÉE CLASSIQUE – AUGUST 14 to 18

Spain, Italy and the Middle East take the spotlight in this summer’s vast range of cultural expressions. Eight paid concerts will be presented, including five under the direction of Rafael Payare, as well as some sixty free-of-charge ongoing activities that aim to make classical music accessible to the entire metropolitan community. Let’s head for the Mediterranean and savour its music!

THE LARGE-SCALE KICK-OFF : A MEDITERRANEAN JOURNEY
FREE CONCERT AT THE OLYMPIC PARK ESPLANADE – AUGUST 14, 7:30 P.M.

This is the must-see event of the summer! Rafael Payare leads the OSM and André Robitaille joins them as presenter in a concert that also features a special guest: the virtuoso oud player and multidisciplinary artist Joseph Tawadros, whose works Permission to Evaporate and Constantinople will spin a captivating musical kaleidoscope. After this colourful journey, the Orchestra will take you into the world of the great Italian composer Respighi and his symphonic poem Pini di Roma (The Pines of Rome). Then, plunge into the effervescent Carnaval romain by Berlioz, brimming over with life and energy, in which the Orchestra deploys all its brilliance in a carnival-worthy celebration. A trip to remember!

A RICH OFFERING OF INDOOR CONCERTS

For the Virée classique’s 11th edition, great names of the international music scene with illuminate the stage of the Maison symphonique as they gather around Verdi’s famous Requiem. Exceptional voices include Lebanese-Canadian soprano Joyce El-Khoury, Tunisian-born Montreal mezzo-soprano Rihab Chaieb, German-Turkmen tenor Dovlet Nurgeldiyev and Polish bass Adam Palka, all under the baton of Rafael Payare. A grand opening and an equally grand conclusion!

Between these two memorable moments, the Orchestra welcomes Constantinople ensemble and French pianist Cédric Tiberghien, who will transport audiences in a truly captivating dialogue between musical traditions. The Obiora Ensemble and composer Joseph Tawadros unveil the spellbinding colours of the oud, a rich and unique-sounding instrument in an intoxicatingly beautiful program. World-famous classical guitarist Miloš, accompanied by the gifted mezzo soprano Emily Sierra and the OSM conducted by Rafael Payare, will perform great works by Rossini, Bizet and Ravel, in a concert entitled L’ESPAGNE DE BIZET.

In a more intimate setting, three concerts in the Cinquième Salle at Place des Arts will offer unique moments of discovery. Musicians from the OSM will form a string quintet to accompany pianist Cédric Tiberghien, while the charismatic guitarist Miloš will present a few emblematic pages from the guitar repertoire in a recital format. To cap things off, another intimate but energetic concert: NORTH-AFRICAN MUSIC WITH THE FAKIR TRIO AND RACHID ZEROUAL, weaving Mediterranean, Balkan and jazz influences together in a repertoire of traditional Sufi music, Gnawa rhythms, and hmadcha music.

FREE ACTIVITIES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

This summer, the OSM is redefining accessibility to music with a diversified and enhanced free program committed to uniting all audiences around a single passion: music! More than 60 captivating activities will enliven the Quartier des Spectacles and Place des Arts, offering a full array of interactive and educational experiences. Encounters with artists, outdoor film and opera screenings, participatory workshops, discovery tours, talks, musical quizzes and, of course, unforgettable concerts. Esplanade Tranquille, rue Sainte-Catherine, Espace OSM, Complexe Desjardins, Espace culturel George-Émile-Lapalme and Salon Urbain will be hosting this multifaceted musical extravaganza!

Looking for a bite to eat between activities? Our Foodtrucks will be there to satisfy your cravings, Friday from 5pm to 10pm, Saturday from 11am to 11pm and Sunday from 11am to 4pm in front of Esplanade Tranquille on rue Sainte-Catherine.

Family fun for all! Dynamic workshops such as Dansons! and Chantons! invite you to explore your own musical creativity. You can also discover the orchestra’s different instrument groups or immerse yourself in an interactive experience for a closer contact with the enchanting sound of each instrument. Need to catch your breath? Musical yoga sessions or captivating storytelling in a peaceful reading area offer moments of sharing and wonder for all!

OSM IN THE PARKS SIRIUSXM

Once again this year, the OSM invites the public to gather in parks for two free concerts on the theme of… Christmas for Campers! Under the direction of Andrei Feher, come and discover the symphonic repertoire with your family and friends on July 24 and 27, and enjoy magical moments under the stars. André Robitaille, who will host these evenings, awaits the public in Brossard and Beaconsfield to celebrate summer with the Orchestra and Chinese-Canadian cellist Leland Ko, First prize winner of the 2023 OSM Competition.

FESTIVAL DE LANAUDIÈRE

The OSM makes its unmissable appearance in Joliette, as it has for many years now, for four concerts at the Amphithéâtre Fernand-Lindsay on July 19 and 20, as well as on August 2 and 3, all under the inspired direction of Rafael Payare.

CHARLEBOIS SYMPHONIQUE: AN EPIC CELEBRATION WITH THE OSM!

Mark the conclusion of the OSM’s summer season with a symphonic version of greatest hits by one of Quebec’s musical giants. Accompanied by guests Rose Naggar-Tremblay, Frédéric Antoun and the OSM Chorus, you’ll relive the great classics. You don’t want to miss this event on August 22, 23 and 24 at the Maison symphonique.

July 19 / FESTIVAL DE LANAUDIÈRE

July 20 / FESTIVAL DE LANAUDIÈRE

July 24 / OSM IN THE PARKS SIRIUSXM – PARC POLY-ARÉNA, BROSSARD
July 27/ OSM IN THE PARKS SIRIUSXM – PARC CENTENNIAL, BEACONSFIELD

August 2 / FESTIVAL DE LANAUDIÈRE

August 3 / FESTIVAL DE LANAUDIÈRE

August 14 / KICK-OFF VIRÉE CLASSIQUE – OLYMPIC PARK ESPLANADE

August 16 to 18 / 11th VIRÉE CLASSIQUE EDITION

August 22 to 24 / CHARLEBOIS SYMPHONIQUE

More information: https://www.osm.ca/