2025-2026 Season
at Bourgie Hall

Virtuosity and diversity shine in this fifteenth anniversary musical program

By Luc Archambault

September 22, 2025

Bourgie Hall, nestled within the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, marks its fifteenth anniversary this year—a milestone that speaks volumes in itself. Under the steady guidance of Caroline Louis, Executive Director, and Olivier Godin, Artistic Director—both at the helm since the 2022-2023 season—a true sense of continuity has settled in, not only in terms of quality, but also structure. To the delight of music lovers—locals and visitors alike—the international reputation of this beloved venue keeps growing, attracting world-class musicians eager to share its peerless acoustics and unique Montréal spirit.

The international prestige of this prized destination continues to grow, drawing acclaimed musicians from across the globe.

Looking to the future, Bourgie Hall is committed to maintaining and expanding its international reputation—while also fostering stronger connections with younger audiences. The reality is that classical music tends to draw an older crowd, and rising ticket prices make it difficult for young people to get a foot in the door. The challenge is clear: to break that pattern, spark the curiosity of younger listeners, and truly broaden access, ensuring that this music lives on and grows with each new generation.

Caroline Louis • Image: Nadia Zheng

Thanks to the promotional flair of its leadership and its unmatched acoustics, Bourgie Hall has become a must-stop for touring artists and booking agents across North America. Caroline Louis and Olivier Godin know how to draw promoters, performers, and audiences—Montreal’s music lovers always show up, and that’s the real strength and appeal of this venue over the years.

But the vision doesn’t stop there. Through a series of fresh initiatives, Bourgie Hall is crafting new ways to welcome and inspire more listeners—ensuring a lasting passion for concert music, and opening the door ever wider to the full spectrum of concertgoers and participants.

2025-2026 Season Program

The 2025-2026 program is built around high-profile concert series that showcase the hall’s artistic breadth: a phenomenal “Exceptional Pianists” lineup with 24 performances, the second year of a landmark Schubert Lieder cycle (9 concerts), chamber music at its finest (10 events), explorations in early and baroque music (6 concerts), and seven appearances from the celebrated ensemble Les Violons du Roy. Each series promises its own immersion into genre and tradition, highlighting talent and invention at every turn.

Tabea Zimmerman • Image: Marco Borggreve

But this year’s lineup is full of unique musical gems too: Geneviève Soly brings us the complete sonatas for obbligato harpsichord and instrumental ensemble by J. S. Bach; jazz sparkles in the vibrant 5 à 7 series, with shows as colourful and inventive as the city itself.

Some concerts stand out as shining beacons on the calendar: Baroque Christmas in Montreal, a magnificent gift from Arion Baroque Orchestra; A Charlie Brown Christmas, brought to life by the Taurey Butler Trio; and, to make Easter even more memorable, The Passion Concert featuring works by Christoph Graupner—an inspired project led by Geneviève Soly and her ensemble, Les Idées Heureuses.

David Jalbert • Image: Julien Faugère

Without downplaying the rest of the program—which is rich with discoveries—Caroline Louis shares a few personal favourites.

Within the Exceptional Pianists series, two concerts feature David Jalbert performing the complete Prokofiev piano sonatas (November 5, March 5, and June 3); on January 30, Vikingur Olafsson takes on Bach, Beethoven, and Schubert; February 13 brings together the OSM musicians for Strings and Saxophones with Steven Banks; on March 3, Ronald Brautigam delves into Schubert’s impromptus as part of the Historical Keyboards series; and, to round out these highlights, the Strings Honoured series features a remarkable evening of rare works for viola and piano with Tabea Zimmermann and Javier Perianes.

But beyond the rich program, one pressing concern remains: drawing new audiences. Caroline Louis and Olivier Godin are acutely aware of the gap the pandemic has deepened between concert music and the general public. That’s why Ms. Louis urges everyone to take a chance, to let curiosity lead them into this vibrant world. One thing is certain—with a program like this, it’s safe to bet that musical passion will reignite and tempt even the most hesitant out of their living rooms. Who could resist such a celebration?

2025-2026 Season at Bourgie Hall

To see the entire program for the 2025-2026 season, simply consult the Bourgie Hall brochure.

Images: courtesy of Bourgie Hall

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Bourgie Hall presents over a hundred concerts a year in various musical styles, ranging from jazz to classical works, from Baroque music to contemporary creations. Its high-calibre programming features some of the most prominent Canadian and international musicians of their generation. bourgiehall.ca

Luc Archambault WestmountMag.ca

Luc Archambault, writer, journalist, and cultural columnist based in Montreal, is passionate about film, music, literature, and contemporary dance, and is recognized for his reporting, reviews, and editorials in both French and English-language media.