The Christmas concert season has begun. There are classics like Nutcracker, symphonic, traditional, pop proposals, modern fairy tales and shows for children. Here’s a list of 25 events that will liven up Quebec and Montreal through the end of December.
December
Photo archive, Martin Alarie
Québec Issime presents its Great Fresco of Time, taking place in the village of Onésime Lemaire, where 24 artists perform more than 60 songs.
► Théâtre Maisonneuve, Place des Arts, Montreal until December 29
Nutcracker
A tradition since 1964, Les Grands Ballets present the Nutcracker created by choreographer Fernand Nault with dancers and the presence of an orchestra to interpret Tchaikovsky’s famous score.
► Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, Place des Arts, Montreal until December 30
Stories to Pass the Time
Photo provided by Cath Langlois
Six actors stage original texts themed around Christmas and inspired by five Quebec neighborhoods in the setting of the historic Maison Chevalier and with the presence of a dessert bar.
► Maison Chevalier, Quebec, through December 30
Handel’s Messiah
The Orchester Classique de Montréal, conducted by Simon Rivard, presents Handel’s famous oratorio with four soloists and the choirs Les Filles de l’Île and Les Chantres Musiciens.
► Saint Joseph’s Oratory, Montreal, December 13
Hymns to the Virgin
The English ensemble The Tallis Scholars, conducted by Peter Phillips, sings the most beautiful works from the Renaissance to the present day, which pay homage to the Virgin Mary.
► Bourgie Hall, Montreal, December 13
Holiday favorites and classic hits
Caribbean disco-pop band Boney M., behind hits Daddy Cool, Rivers of Babylon and Rasputin, will perform Christmas carols from their 1981 Christmas album
► L’Olympia, Montreal, December 14
Let’s sing Christmas with Rafael Payare
Photo provided by Antoine Saito
Conducted by Rafael Payare, the Orchester symphonique de Montréal, the OSM Choir and the Petits Chanteurs du Mont-Royal will perform symphonic works for the holiday season.
► Maison symphonique de Montréal, 14 and 15 December
Charlie Brown’s Christmas
Taurey Butler’s jazz trio will perform the tunes from Vince Guaraldi’s famous album A Charlie Brown Christmas. A children’s choir will join the trio for the December 15 show.
► Bourgie Hall, Montreal, December 14, 15 and 16
The youth of yesterday and today celebrate Christmas!
Joël Denis, Christine Chartrand, Suzie Villeneuve, Michaël Girard and David Corriveau, surrounded by musicians, will sing classic and traditional Christmas carols, past and present, during a family show.
► Cabaret Casino de Montreal, December 15
Christmas in choir
The Orchester symphonique de Québec, under the direction of guest conductor Jean-Sébastien Vallée, and its choir offer the great Christmas classics with the tenor Éric Laporte.
► Grand Théâtre de Québec, December 15 and 16
Jazzy Christmas
Saxophonist Rémi Bolduc and his trio, consisting of pianist François Bourassa, bassist Ira Coleman and drummer Jim Doxas, offer Christmas carols in jazz mode.
► L’Anglicane de Lévis, 16 December
Symphonic Christmas… with the family
Photo archive, Chantal Poirier
Marc Hervieux, Marie-Ève Janvier, Nathalie Choquette, Michaël Girard, Patrick Normand and their entourage celebrate Christmas with the family with the Sinfonia de Lanaudière and the choir of young singers from Laval.
► Maison symphonique de Montréal, December 17
La Natività del Signore – Christmas in Italy
The Les Rhapsodes Choir offers an Italian Christmas with guests Mary Bewitch (soprano), Luce Vachon (mezzo-soprano), Éric Laporte (tenor), Philippe Magnan (oboe and cor anglais) and Marc d’Anjou (organ).
► Salle Raoul-Jobin of the Palais Montcalm, Quebec, December 17th
Swing the holiday season with tea for 20s
With La Swing Ambassade, the Tea for 20’s ensemble offers a dance show for Christmas where we find standards in French and English and where ragtime mixes with traditional music.
► Salle d’Youville, Palais Montcalm, Quebec, December 17
The Little Christmas of Quebec Issime
Québec Issime offers a show for 2-8 year olds as part of its December show, where the elves and the star fairy await Santa’s visit.
► Théâtre Maisonneuve, Place des Arts in Montreal, December 17th and 18th
Montreal guitar trio
The Montreal guitar ensemble will use its colors to perform Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, Danny Elfman’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, Vince Guaraldi’s A Charlie Brown Christmas and other Christmas music.
► Théâtre Petit-Champlain, Quebec, December 18
The Crystal of Time
Nicolas Noël, the “real” Santa Claus, offers a show where he tells and sings his best stories in a magical atmosphere.
► Theater Petit-Champlain Quebec December 18th
► Teatro Jean-Duceppe, Montreal, December 27th and 30th
Judi Richards and her daughters
Judi Richards and her daughters Karine and Sarah-Émilie offer Christmas classics and must-haves with their vocal harmonies. A show for all generations with the presence of Annie Deschamps, Judi’s third daughter, and Alba Santos-Deschamps, Karine’s daughter.
► Théâtre Petit-Champlain, Quebec, December 19 at 8 p.m
The chorus of Y’a du monde at mass
The choir of the program Y’a du monde à messe by Christian Bégin is back after several forced Christmases with its relaxed Christmas party with hymns and festive classics.
► Salle Albert-Rousseau, Quebec, December 19
Christmas Oratorio by JS Bach
The Orchester symphonique de Montréal presents Johann Sebastian Bach’s Christmas Oratorio under the direction of the Argentine guest conductor Leonardo Garcia Alarcon, four soloists and the OSM Choir.
► Maison symphonique de Montréal, 21 and 22 December
In the Christmas mood
With its 18 musicians and singers, the legendary Glenn Miller Orchestra presents Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Let It Snow, Jingle Bells, Frosty The Snowman and other classics from their repertoire.
► Maison symphonique de Montréal, December 23
Ari Cui Cui and the magic skates
Ari Cui Cui and her friend Happy Baker celebrate winter sports in a show where she faces her fears to achieve her childhood dream of ice skating.
► Jean Duceppe Theater, Montreal, December 26th
► Imperial Bell, Quebec, December 29
Parapapam
Photo archive, agency QMI
Guylaine Tanguay, Roch Voisine and Alexandre Da Costa join forces for a musical journey into the magical world of Christmas. They will be accompanied by the Orchester symphonique de Longueuil, the Petits Chanteurs du Mont-Royal as well as the soprano Giorgia Fumanti and the baritone Vladimir Korneev.
► Maison Symphonique de Montréal, December 26-30
Take a seat at the Casavant organ at Christmas time
The basilica’s titular organist, accompanied by two choir singers, will perform a Christmas repertoire specially prepared for the occasion near the Casavant organ during a 60-minute concert.
► Notre-Dame Basilica, Montreal, December 27-30
The memory of the holiday season
Photo provided by Annie Diotte
Illusionist Alain Choquette explores the limits of the imagination, mixing the magical and the festive with his magic through large paintings inspired by the traditions associated with the end of year celebrations.
► Salle Albert-Rousseau, Quebec, December 29-31