NEWS
Launch of the 2025 Program
Launch of the 2025 Program
“The Nations”: 49th Season of the Lamèque International Baroque Music Festival
Lamèque, N.B., Wednesday, April 15, 2025: The Lamèque International Baroque Music Festival is proud to present the program for its 49th season. The program includes night events full of surprising discoveries and powerful emotions that will provide opportunities for music lovers to meet other people and share their common passion for early music. All the concert details are available on the Festival website: www.festivalbaroque.com
« THE NATIONS »
From July 24 to 26, music lovers are invited to take part in a voyage to the heart of the four nations where Baroque music grew and flourished: Italy, France, Germany and England. The 2025 edition will take a few short side trips to Spain and Poland and to 17th century Persia.
EVENING CONCERTS
These concerts will feature works by leading composers of the Baroque era, Georg Philipp Telemann and Johann Sebastian Bach from Germany, as well as Spanish composers of the 17th and 18th centuries.
« Telemann : Alla Polacca »
Thursday, July 24, 7:30 p.m., Sainte-Cécile Church, Petite-Rivière-de-l'Île
Georg Philipp Telemann is considered to be one of the most prolific composers of the Baroque period. A great traveller, he wrote in the French and Italian styles but also drew inspiration from Polish folk songs and dances. 10 musicians under the leadership of violinist Olivier Brault will present a number of Telemann’s dances, suites and concertos that have a distinct Polish influence.
« Spanish Follias »
Friday, July 25, 7:30 p.m., Sainte-Cécile Church, Petite-Rivière-de-l'Île
An exploration of Spanish chaconas, a vocal and instrumental program based on this fascinating dance and musical form! This concert, presented by Montreal ensemble Les Idées heureuses, will include a variety of touching, surprising, energetic works by composers such as Andrea Falconieri, Diego Ortiz and Bartolomé de Selma y Salaverde, all performed by renowned experts in the repertoire.
« Bach: Voices of Hope »
Saturday, July 26, 7:30 p.m., Sainte-Cécile Church, Petite-Rivière-de-l'Île
Motets and cantatas by the great Johann Sebastian Bach with soloists Denise Torre Ormeño (soprano) and Antonio Figueroa (tenor), the Mission Saint-Charles Choir under the direction of Pierre Lavoie, and the Mission Saint-Charles Orchestra conducted by harpsichordist and organist Mark Edwards.
THE RETURN OF THE MATHIEU DUGUAY EARLY MUSIC COMPETITION
The Festival is proud to present the sixth edition of the Mathieu Duguay Early Music Competition. Presented in two parts, it allows music lovers to discover various facets of the talent of the finalists during two events. The three finalists, selected from close to forty international applications, are:
Nicholas Burns, countertenor (Canada)
Eleanor Legault, violin (United States)
Janelle Lucyk, soprano (Canada)
They will first perform in recital before performing concertos with the Mission Saint-Charles Orchestra, conducted by harpsichordist Hank Knox.
"Mathieu Duguay Early Music Competition - Finalists' Recital
Thursday, July 24, 2 p.m., Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue Church, Miscou
"Mathieu-Duguay Early Music Competition - Final round
Friday, July 25, 3 p.m., Sainte-Cécile Church, Petite-Rivière-de-l'Île
TWO INTIMATE CONCERTS AT MISCOU CHURCH
The Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue Church is renowned for its exceptional acoustics. The Festival is proud to present two intimate concerts in this venue that will allow the audience members to make exciting discoveries and have a close contact with the artists on stage.
« The Nations »
Saturday, July 26, 11 a.m., Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue Church, Miscou
An instrumental quartet from Les Idées heureuses plays four suites titled “Les Nations” that François Couperin wrote in homage to the different European nations: France, Spain, the Holy Roman Empire and Italy.
« Remembrances »
Saturday, July 26, 3 p.m., Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue Church, Miscou
A concert based on rhythmic cycles (Osul) taken from a manuscript written by Amir Khan Gorgi to the King of Iran during the Safavid period, in 1696. The rhythmic cycles were very common during this period, and many composers wrote melodies for them. Ziya Tabassian will present a number of his melodies based on the Osul rhythms, melodies that evoke distant memories.
A HARPSICHORD RECITAL: A MUST-SEE
From the seed of a single harpsichord recital in 1971, the Festival has always given pride of place to the favorite instrument of its founder, Mathieu Duguay. This year, the Festival presents a recital by harpsichordist Mark Edwards, who explores the works of Georg Friedrich Handel, a German-born composer who became a naturalized English citizen and had a long, prolific career in London. The program will also include transcriptions and virtuosic variations on a number of Handel’s operatic airs by English Baroque composer William Babell as well as works written by Bach and Dieupart, Handel’s contemporaries that had ties to England.
« A Harpsichord in London »
Friday, July 25, 11 a.m., Saint-Raphaël Church, Sainte-Marie-Saint-Raphaël
YOUNG AUDIENCE CONCERT
A concert dedicated to young audiences will be presented (in French) as a prelude to the Festival. A project of Arion Orchestre Baroque, « La Révolte des anciens » presents the dramatic changes that happened in the musical landscape at the turn of the 17th century. This concert is a testament to the rebellious side of the Italian geniuses of the early Baroque period—a trait shared by the musicians who perform their music today!
« La Révolte des anciens »
Wednesday, July 23, 2 p.m., Hangar, Carrefour COOP, Lamèque
A VISUAL SIGNATURE BY BRIAN J. FRANCIS
The Festival team was pleased to present the visual signature for the 2025 season. It is a work by Brian J. Francis of Elsipogtog First Nation in New Brunswick. Brian J. Francis is an accomplished director/writer, filmmaker and visual artist and his main focus in his artistic expression is the positive promotion of the Mi’kmaq people and their culture. He was the recipient of the very prestigious Dialogue NB Governor General Award for his extensive work and accomplishment in preservation of the Mi’kmaq language and his role of Indigenous Liaison. He also received the Queens Platinum Jubilee Medal.
For all the details about the program, visit the website at www.festivalbaroque.com. Tickets will be for sale on Wednesday, April 16. Packages to attend all concerts as well as packages with accommodation are offered in limited quantities.