NEWS
Less than a month before the start of the 50th edition of the Lamèque International Baroque Music Festival.
PRESS RELEASE
Less than a month before the start of the 50th edition of the Lamèque International Baroque Music Festival.
Lamèque, July 6th – As the 50th edition of the Lamèque International Baroque Music Festival approaches, the organization wishes to remind the public of several highlights of this anniversary program, including the opening concert by the Chœur de la Mission Saint-Charles, a dress rehearsal open to the public, and a spectacular finale that is already sold out.
An Opening Concert with Acadian Flavors
On Thursday, July 30, at 2:30 p.m., at Saint-Raphaël Church in Sainte-Marie–Saint-Raphaël, the Mission Saint-Charles Choir will celebrate its 40th anniversary with the concert Acadian Elements. The choir members will perform alongside musicians from the Montreal-based ensemble Pallade Musica
Under the direction of Pierre Lavoie, this musical gathering will bring together historical works and the Acadian repertoire in a program deeply rooted in our culture. The audience will hear music from the French Renaissance and Baroque periods, original compositions by Lamèque’s own Frédéric Chiasson, and arrangements of Acadian songs by Jean-François Mallet.
A unifying and emotionally charged concert that will kick off this very special edition of the Festival.
Please note that an oyster tasting will take place after the concert, courtesy of Mallet Oysters.
Concert presented by Mallet Oysters.
A First for Lamèque: A concert version of an opera
On Thursday, July 30, at 7:30 p.m., at Sainte-Cécile Church in Petite-Rivière-de-l’Île, the Festival will present George Frideric Handel’s Acis & Galatea.
Performed by four soloists and the Arion Baroque Orchestra under the direction of harpsichordist Hank Knox, this brilliant and moving work will allow the audience to discover the full richness and beauty of Baroque opera in an accessible and spectacular setting.
Concert presented by UNI Financial Cooperation.
A Magical Moment in Miscou
On Friday, July 31, at 11 a.m., the concert Wind at Play will take place at Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue Church in Miscou.
Recorder player Vincent Lauzer, bassoonist Mathieu Lussier, cellist Amanda Keesmaat, and harpsichordist Hank Knox will perform works by Boismortier, Telemann, and Vivaldi in a warm atmosphere that encourages interaction with the audience.
As is customary, the Festival will offer a light snack to music lovers attending the event immediately after the concert.
Concert presented by Coopérative d’Énergie Renouvelable.
Go Behind the Scenes
The Festival also invites the public to enjoy a unique experience by attending the dress rehearsal for the concert Spectacular Handel on Friday, July 31, at 2 p.m. at Sainte-Cécile Church in Petite-Rivière-de-l’Île.
This event will allow both the curious and the passionate to observe the artists at work and discover what goes on behind the scenes of a major concert for choir and orchestra. It is a rare opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the musicians’ musical preparation and interpretive work.
Tickets for this event are available by phone only at 506-344-3261.
A Memorable Encounter Between Voice and Organ
On Friday, July 31, at 7:30 p.m., at Saint-Jérôme Church in Shippagan, countertenor Nicholas Burns, first prize winner at the 2025 Mathieu-Duguay Early Music Competition, will join organist Jean-Willy Kunz and the musicians of ensemble Pallade Musica for the concert Bach and Handel: Voice and Organ.
The audience will have the opportunity to hear memorable works by Bach and Handel, while discovering the rich sound of the organ at Saint-Jérôme Church.
Concert presented by the Saint-André Parish, the City of Shippagan, and the Richelieu Clubs of the Acadian Peninsula.
A Return to the Festival’s Roots
On Saturday, August 1, at 11 a.m., at Sainte-Cécile Church in Petite-Rivière-de-l’Île, the Festival will revisit its history with Bach: Sonatas for Flute and Harpsichord.
This program echoes the very first concert presented when the Festival was founded in 1976. French artists Jocelyn Daubigney on flute and Bertrand Cuiller on harpsichord will perform these iconic sonatas by Johann Sebastian Bach with finesse and harmony.
A Moving Tribute to Mathieu Duguay
On Saturday, August 1, at 2:30 p.m., once again at Sainte-Cécile Church in Petite-Rivière-de-l’Île, harpsichordist Bertrand Cuiller will present Favorites, a recital inspired by the Baroque works that shaped and inspired Mathieu Duguay, the Festival’s founder.
Through pieces selected by Mathieu Duguay himself, this concert pays tribute to his vision and his musical legacy.
Concert presented by the municipality Île-de-Lamèque
A spectacular finale… already sold out!
The Festival also announces that the closing concert, Spectacular Handel taking place on Saturday, August 1, at 7:30 p.m. at Sainte-Cécile Church in Petite-Rivière-de-l’Île, is now sold out.
This grand finale will bring together more than 50 artists on stage, including the Arion Baroque Orchestra and the Mission Saint-Charles Choir, in a spectacular performance of George Frideric Handel’s famous Water Music and Coronation Anthems.
The public’s enthusiasm for this finale reflects its attachment to the Festival and the significance of this 50th edition within the Acadian cultural landscape.
Note that tickets with limited visibility are still available for this concert by contacting the Festival’s office by phone at 506-344-3261.
Ticket Office
Tickets for the other concerts in the program are still available via the online ticket office: festivalbaroque.ticketacces.net or by phone at 506-344-3261.
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