Festival d’opéra de Québec has just announced its 10th annual festival celebrating the art of French opera through an amazing lineup of concerts, opera performances and outdoor activities this summer.
As part of the 12-day festival happening from July 27 to August 7, Festival d’opéra de Québec will be hosting some of opera’s most exciting international artists for six events, both ticketed and free for the public.
New this year are mobile shows across parks in Québec City starring four young artists, two instrumentalists in three different programs. From July 13 to August 7, these pop-up productions will be offered free to anyone passing by.
Kicking off the main festivities is Peau d’âne, an opera based on the Charles Perreault fairytale created by composer Jean-François Mailloux and librettist Jean-Philippe Lavoie. Starring mezzo-soprano Éva-Marie Cloutier, soprano Jessica Latouche and baritone Francis Belcourt, the story follows a run-away bride to be and the adventures that ensue.
Second in the Festival d’opéra de Québec program is a concert featuring the most beautiful French opera arias from Gluck to Poulenc to Offenbach to Bizet and Massenet. Live audiences will experience 200 years of French lyricism in a concert featuring such acclaimed artists as sopranos Karina Gauvin and Claire de Sévigné as well as baritone Jean-François Lapointe.
Starting July 31st, the Festival will stage Georges Bizet‘s Les Pêcheurs de perles starring soprano Carole-Anne Roussel, tenor Louis-Charles Gagnon and baritone Bruno Roy. The story follows two men whose vow of eternal friendship is threatened when they both fall in love with the same woman.
Taking on one of the best known and most fascinating sopranos in opera history, the Festival presents Les Leçons de Maria Callas (Masterclass) by Terrence McNally and translated by Michel Tremblay. Starring Sophie Faucher, the opera follows Maria Callas recounting her life lessons and stories to a master class of young students at the Juilliard School of Music in the 1970s.
Finally, as part of their free program, La Brigade lyrique is back to bring parks and public space to life with songs with three up and coming Canadian singers, Hugo Laporte, Sarah Bissonette and Marie-Andrée Mathieu who will perform some of opera’s most popular arias at outdoor events around the city.
Tickets and more information about Festival d’opéra de Québec can be found here.
