Twenty years ago, it was a six-day event. Today the Festival International Bach Montréal draws close to 20,000 people every fall and counts as one of the most important Bach festivals in North America. Its 20th edition runs from Nov. 4 to Dec. 9 with 24 concerts, about 200 artists and a dozen venues, from the Maison symphonique to some of the city’s most beautiful churches. Here’s how to plan your month, including several free events.
The Festival International Bach Montréal at 20
Founded in 2005 by Alexandra Scheibler, the festival is marking the milestone with a stellar lineup, according to Journal Métro: pianist Sir András Schiff, Grammy-winning mandolinist Chris Thile, violinist Augustin Hadelich, the vocal ensemble Vox Luminis and the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal under its conductor emeritus, Kent Nagano. The season opened on Nov. 4 with a sold-out Goldberg Variations by pianist Schaghajegh Nosrati at Théâtre Paradoxe.
Why does Bach draw such crowds here? Part of the answer is the city’s instruments and rooms: the Maison symphonique’s acoustics, the great organs of the Oratory and the downtown churches, and small heritage chapels where a single cello can fill the space. Part of it is the festival’s mix of world stars and local musicians, plus a steady stream of free events that make it easy to try something new. Tourisme Montréal includes it among the month’s highlights in its November guide.
The big nights
- Friday, Nov. 20, Maison symphonique: “Ouverture jubilatoire!”, the anniversary gala, with the Festival Orchestra under John Butt of the Dunedin Consort in Bach’s Magnificat and Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 and Handel’s Water Music. Tickets range from $74 to $125 through Place des Arts.
- Sunday, Nov. 22, Église Saint-Léon de Westmount: Vox Luminis in “Drame sacré.”
- Tuesday, Nov. 24, Église St. George: Augustin Hadelich, violin.
- Monday, Nov. 30, Maison symphonique: Sir András Schiff, “L’absolu Bach.”
- Dec. 8 and 9: the Postlude with the OSM and Kent Nagano.
An organ marathon at the Oratory
One of the most ambitious projects on the official program is the complete organ works of Bach at Saint Joseph’s Oratory, a multi-year cycle. This month’s recitals: Christian Schmitt of Germany on Sunday, Nov. 8, Vincent Boucher on Nov. 15 and Bálint Karosi on Nov. 29. On Nov. 22, the Oratory’s basilica also hosts “Une rencontre imaginaire,” an organ and choir concert pairing Bach with Louis Vierne.
Intimate concerts in heritage chapels
- Nov. 21: “Deux femmes et Bach,” cellist Hayoung Choi at the Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours in Old Montreal.
- Nov. 23: baroque oboist Daniel Lanthier and lutenist Marco Baronchelli at the Église de Saint-Jean l’Évangéliste.
- Nov. 25: “Génération Jupiter,” Ensemble Jupiter with mezzo Léa Desandre and lutenist Thomas Dunford at the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul.
- Dec. 1: the Goldberg Variations for string trio, with Andrew Wan, Victor Fournelle-Blain and Anna Burden, back at Bon-Secours.
Families and free events
On Saturday, Nov. 14, the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul (enter on Sherbrooke) hosts “Bach Incognito,” a concert for families aged “8 to 88,” and the 12th Nuit des Choeurs. Then the festival’s Off-Bach series, listed on the program as free, fills late November with recitals and talks: a clarinet recital by David Dias da Silva on Nov. 26, mini-lectures on Bach with harpsichordist Luc Beauséjour on Nov. 28 and 29, and a talk over coffee and croissants with Michael Maul, artistic director of the Leipzig Bach Festival, on Nov. 29. Check each listing for times and registration.
A day trip option
The festival also makes a stop in Quebec City on Thursday, Nov. 19, with “Jubilate! Bach et Haendel en fête” at the Palais Montcalm, the night before the Montreal gala.
Tips for concertgoers
- Book the Schiff recital and the Nov. 20 gala early; they are the hottest tickets.
- Church venues can be chilly in late November. Bring a layer.
- Arrive early for free events; seating is often first come, first served.
- The full calendar, with filters by venue and instrument, is on the festival website.
Bach is just one of November’s highlights; see our November festivals calendar, our picks of museum exhibitions and our list of free things to do in November. More ideas in our Things to Do section. Bonne écoute!
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Photo: Jeangagnon / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Sources: Festival International Bach Montréal (program), Festival International Bach Montréal, Journal Métro, Place des Arts, Tourisme Montréal
