Festival de la Voix has it all
from Baroque to Blues

Celebrating the power of music and the human voice in venues all across the West Island

April 4, 2024

Now in its 11th year, curated by Kerry-Anne Kutz, Festival de la Voix celebrates the power of music and the human voice. The 2024 program offers concerts for all ages, along with master workshops, in various venues across the West Island until April 13. A special free post-festival show features award-winning Connie Kaldor on April 19.

From festival Artistic Director Kerry-Anne Kutz, “I’m thrilled to have so many fabulous singers and instrumentalists for this latest edition. They will share their voices, thoughts and music from many cultures, including Indigenous artists, the Black community, and the beautiful music of Quebec and Canada. We’ve got it all, from Baroque to the Blues.”

This edition offers six eclectic, multi-artist concerts, including combinations of solo powerhouses, orchestras, singer-songwriters, choirs, jazz trios, classical ensembles, folk and blues musicians and vocal quartets, three exceptional workshops, and unique school shows.

Hallelujah! A Choral Celebration will wow audiences on Friday, April 5, with one of the most famous pieces in the history of classical music, Georg Friedrich Handel’s Hallelujah.

The mix of styles and voices kicked off with Martine St-Clair on March 20. This pop icon is one of Quebec’s most beloved artists. For Kutz, in many ways, St-Clair is this year’s headliner, “Martine is not only a tremendous singer, she is an insightful, generous and inclusive artist who wanted the senior music students of École secondaire Dorval-Jean-XXlll to share the spotlight. These young musicians were overjoyed to perform with her.”

On March 24, Nadia Di Lauro and her band, featuring some of Montreal’s best musicians, swung and soothed. Music is such an important part of Di Laura’s life, “Sharing music and making it accessible to everyone is an honour. The festival expands people’s horizons, exposing them to many musical genres as well as supports and promotes local artists,” she said. Also on the bill was award-winning folk-blues singer and songwriter Rob Lutes performing his unique and beautifully crafted songs with long-time collaborator, the lauded guitarist Rob MacDonald. From Lutes, “Kerry-Anne has built something really special here in the West Island – a beautifully curated diverse musical offering – I’m excited to be a part of it.”

Hallelujah! A Choral Celebration will wow audiences on Friday, April 5, with one of the most famous pieces in the history of classical music, Georg Friedrich Handel’s Hallelujah. The twenty-five artists on stage include Ensemble ArtChoral and JUNO award-winning orchestra Ensemble Caprice, conducted by Matthias Maute and accompanied by Nigra Sum as well as other vocal ensembles.

Ensemble ArtChoral

Sunday, April 7, is a treat with one of Canada’s finest jazz singers, Karen Young, interpreting well-known standards and unforgettable songs by Abbey Lincoln, followed by the original folk grass group Steel Rail, offering incredible guitar picking and sublime vocal harmonies. Young is thankful for Festival de la Voix, “Both the artists and the audience need live music today more than ever. We need that exchange of vibrations and emotions that digitized music cannot give us,” she said.

Steel Rail guitarist Dave Clarke, raised in Westmount, played on two of the albums nominated for this year’s Juno awards in the Traditional Roots Album of the Year category. He is on Juno-winning albums by David Francey and James Keelaghan and has two previous Juno awards for producing two of David Francey’s albums. Ellen Shizgal, the group’s bass player, was raised in Côte St-Luc.

‘Steel Rail guitarist Dave Clarke, raised in Westmount, played on two of the albums nominated for this year’s Juno awards in the Traditional Roots Album of the Year category.’

From Dave Clarke, “Festival de la Voix is one of the most interesting and eclectic festivals we know. We’re thrilled to be here and excited to be sharing a bill with the brilliant jazz singer Karen Young.”

New Horizons: Music by Simon Leclerc is on Sunday, April 13. Here, outstanding Québécois composer, arranger and conductor Simon Leclerc artfully regales with music performed by QUARTOM male vocal quartet, Musaïque female vocal quartet (with Kerry-Anne Kutz), singers from Voces Boreales and the Evergreen Elementary School Choir, with renowned soprano Sharon Azrieli narrating.

QUARTOM

Along with popular school programs for youth, the 11th edition of the festival has more than doubled the number of shows, including multiple performances with the rising band Nikamu Mamuitun (Songs That Unite Us) featuring young professional Innu singer-songwriters from northern Quebec and emerging Québecois artists. This project of reconciliation shares the beauty, traditions and harsh realities of the Innu with students and adults in Quebec and beyond. Other school events are the eclectic Musiquemosaïque and Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal Concert Band.

The free celebratory Après Festival Cabaret: Connie Kaldor on Friday, April 19, honours the award-winning women’s music pioneer’s 45 years of performing and her 18th album. Kaldor’s unique, funny and compelling songs and unforgettable storytelling promise a memorable concert.

Festival de la Voix -11th Edition, until April 13
Special free concert on April 19 with Connie Kaldor

For more information about concerts, artists/music clips, workshops, and venues, visit festivaldelavoix.com

Featured image: Steel Rail • Images: courtesy of Vox Aeterna

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Vox Aeterna is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the human voice during its annual Festival de la Voix. It is also committed to providing people of all ages and from all socio-economic environments with opportunities to attend high-calibre, multicultural concerts and workshops featuring both established and emerging Québecois, First Nations and Canadian artists and instrumentalists.