2025 PROGRAM
2025 Edition: The Nations
For our 49th anniversary, the Festival invites you to join us on a voyage to the heart of the four nations where Baroque music grew and flourished: Italy, France, Germany and England. The Festival’s guest artists will be paying homage to the musicians widely considered to be the greatest composers of the Baroque era: Johann Sebastian Bach, Georg Philipp Telemann, Claudio Monteverdi, Antonio Vivaldi, Georg Friedrich Handel and François Couperin—as well as taking a few short side trips to Spain and Poland. This year’s edition also includes a concert that will transport us to the world of 17th century Persia.
PRE-FESTIVAL CONCERT
La Révolte des anciens
*Young audience concert presented in French
Wednesday, July 23, 2025 | 2:00 p.m.
Hangar, Carrefour COOP, Lamèque
At the turn of the 17th century, the musical landscape was undergoing some dramatic changes. Composers were pushing the limits and adopting new techniques. In Italy, this period marked the birth of opera, as well as a heavier focus on instrumental music, ornamentation and virtuosity.
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!
Arion Baroque Orchestra
Isabeau Proulx-Lemire, actor and tenor
Vincent Lauzer, recorder
Jessy Dubé, violin
Camille Paquette-Roy, cello
Antoine Malette-Chénier, triple harp
A Renaissance Celebration
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Wednesday, July 23, 7 p.m.
Notre-Dame-des-flots Church (basement), Lamèque
Come and dance pavanes and branles, just like in the 16th century, under the leadership of dancer and musician Dorothéa Ventura. No experience is required; all you need is good shoes and a bit of enthusiasm! Come dance and have a drink (cash bar) with friends!
**FREE ACTIVITY**
Mathieu Duguay Early Music Competition – recital round
Thursday, July 24, 2025 | 2:00 p.m.
Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue Church, Miscou
This marks the sixth edition of the Mathieu Duguay Early Music Competition, which encourages the next generation of young musicians and promotes the rising stars of the early music scene. Over the course of the two-part competition, music lovers will be able to discover the many talents of the three finalists. For this event, each finalist will present a short recital for instrument or voice and basso continuo, the perfect opportunity to discover these young talents in the context of a small, intimate concert.
Amanda Keesmaat, cello
Hank Knox, harpsichord
The three finalists of the Mathieu Duguay Early Music Competition
Nicholas Burns : countertenor
Eleanor Legault : violin
Janelle Lucyk : soprano
Telemann: Alla polacca
Thursday, July 24, 2025 | 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. His catalogue of more than 3,000 works is notable not only for its size, but also for its wide variety of influences. A great traveller, Telemann wrote in the French and Italian styles, but also drew inspiration from Polish folk songs and dances. This concert will present a number of Telemann’s dances, suites and concertos that have a distinct Polish influence.
Les Idées heureuses – 10 musicians
Olivier Brault, violin and conductor
Alexa Raine-Wright, traverso
Vincent Lauzer, recorder
A Harpsichord in London
Friday, July 25, 2025 | 11:00 a.m.
Saint-Raphaël Church, Sainte-Marie-Saint-Raphaël
A recital by harpsichordist Mark Edwards that 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.
Mark Edwards, harpsichord
Mathieu Duguay Early Music Competition – final round
Friday, July 25, 2025 | 3:00 p.m.
Sainte-Cécile Church, Petite-Rivière-de-l’Île
This concert showcases the three young soloists selected as finalists in the competition. They will show off their talent by performing a variety of concertos and vocal works with Baroque orchestra. They will be accompanied by the Mission Saint-Charles Orchestra, conducted by Hank Knox. During this event, which will bring the Competition to a close, the winners will be presented with several prizes and the public will have the opportunity to vote for their favourite finalist.
The three finalists of the Mathieu Duguay Early Music Competition
Nicholas Burns : countertenor
Eleanor Legault : violin
Janelle Lucyk : soprano
Mission Saint-Charles Orchestra – 5 musicians
Hank Knox, harpischord and conductor
Spanish Follias
Friday, July 25, 2025 | 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 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.
Les Idées heureuses – 8 musicians
Dorothéa Ventura, harpsichord and artistic director
Denise Torre Ormeño, soprano
Antonio Figueroa, tenor
The Nations
Saturday, July 26, 2025 | 11:00 a.m.
Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue Church, Miscou
François Couperin was without a doubt one of the most influential composers in France during the Baroque period. He was an organist at the Chapel of Versailles and composed numerous works for harpsichord. Indeed, he is considered as one of the greatest composers for this instrument. He wrote four suites titled “Les Nations” in homage to the different European nations: France, Spain, the Holy Roman Empire and Italy.
Les Idées heureuses
Olivier Brault and Julie Rivest, violin
Margaret Little, viola da gamba
Dorothéa Ventura, harpsichord
Remembrances
Saturday, July 26, 2025 | 3:00 p.m.
Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue Church, Miscou
This concert is 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.
Ziya Tabassian, percussion
Vincent Lauzer, recorder
Olivier Brault, baroque violin
Margaret Little, viola da gamba
Antoine Malette-Chénier, triple harp
Bach: Voices of Hope
Saturday, July 26, 2025 | 7:30 p.m.
Sainte-Cécile Church, Petite-Rivière-de-l’Île
A concert showcasing the vocal works of the greatest genius of the Baroque period, Johann Sebastian Bach. The quintessential German composer wrote both grand motets and an impressive number of cantatas. This concert marks a return to its roots for the Mission Saint-Charles Choir, which was originally formed 39 years ago primarily to perform the famous composer’s cantatas. The program includes Cantata BWV 55 for solo tenor, Cantata BWV 84 for soprano, and a series of motets for choir and continuo.
Denise Torre Ormeño, soprano
Antonio Figueroa, tenor
Mission Saint-Charles Choir
Pierre Lavoie, conductor
Mission Saint-Charles Orchestra – 9 musicians
Mark Edwards, organ and conductor
We promote a scent-free environment during our concerts.