Early music, innovative
renditions at the SMAM

A 2025–2026 season that’s not only ambitious, but truly vibrant

October 3, 2025

After celebrating its 50th anniversary in grand style, the Studio de musique ancienne de Montréal (SMAM) returns with a 2025–2026 season that is not only ambitious but richly vibrant. Far from resting on its laurels, the ensemble once again breaks the clichés attached to early music, opening its doors to unexpected dialogues: between past and present, memory and creation, heritage and the world’s musical traditions.

And what an expansion! This new season will feature 22 concerts, up from the previous 9. Already this summer, Montreal resonated with the special event Come, Italia! concerts performed in the laneways and parks of the Plateau-Mont-Royal, while other performances made their way into hospitals during the Journées de la culture—clear proof that early music knows how to reach out to all audiences.

“We continue to challenge preconceived ideas about early music by revealing its diversity, its sensuality, and its expressive power. This season revolves around memory, transmission, resilience, and dialogue,” says Andrew McAnerney, SMAM’s Artistic Director.

Major Concerts

The Rose and the Quill
October 21, 2025, Salle Bourgie
A journey into the splendour of the Eton Choirbook (15th century), brought to life by 12 a cappella voices and enriched with projections of illuminated manuscripts. Also presented at the Abbey of Saint-Benoît-du-Lac, October 18 at 2 pm.

Eternal Christmas
December 4, 2025, Saint-Léon-de-Westmount Church
A luminous holiday celebration: German Baroque masterpieces alongside traditional carols sung together with the audience.

Vivaldi’s Muses
February 21, 2026, Salle Bourgie
A portrait of the orphaned women musicians of Venice’s ospedali through works by Vivaldi, Porpora, Hasse, and Galuppi—an all-female performance.

Mystical Tremors
April 16, 2026, Salle Bourgie
A defining moment: the creation of the Missa Tekakwitha by Cree composer Andrew Balfour, in a striking dialogue with Antoine Brumel’s Missa Et ecce terræ motus.

Intimate Concerts

In the jewel-like setting of the Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours, audiences are invited to discover:

¡Olé!
September 24, 2025
Spanish Baroque in all its splendour and exuberance.

Of a Single Sun
November 12, 2025
French polyphony, vibrant with humanity.

Love, Devotion, and Unicorns
January 21, 2026
A tribute to Italian women composers of the 17th century.

Echoes of Mesopotamia
March 11, 2026
The Urmawi Ensemble, under the direction of Lamia Yared, brings to life the musical poetry of the Arab-Persian tradition from the 18th and 19th centuries.

The Studio de musique ancienne de Montréal

Founded in 1974, the Studio de musique ancienne de Montréal is an internationally acclaimed professional vocal ensemble dedicated to reviving the treasures of Renaissance and Baroque music. With a refined, historically informed approach—yet firmly rooted in today’s sensibilities—SMAM breathes new life into forgotten masterpieces, giving them fresh contemporary resonance.

SMAM’s mission goes beyond performing for connoisseurs: its music reaches out to the community. Accessible ticketing includes a $10 admission for those under 34, free entry for children and companions of people with disabilities, as well as a welcoming environment for marginalized communities. The ensemble is equally committed to sustainability, with a Green Policy guiding its activities since 2022—reflected in projects such as “Ode to the Earth,” a concert devoted to the beauty of nature.

Tickets
Information: Yoan Leviel – y.leviel@smamontreal.ca – 438-939-5005

Image: Emma Richter – Unsplash

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