The Holiday Season
at Bourgie Hall

Five captivating concerts featuring folk, jazz, Gregorian chant, and baroque music

November 28, 2024

To celebrate the Holiday Season, Bourgie Hall of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) offers five exciting concerts in a wide variety of musical styles, ranging from Nordic folk and jazz to Gregorian chant and Baroque.

Kellylee Evans

On Thursday, December 12 at 6 p.m., Kellylee Evans will sing winter songs, promising to immerse the audience in the holiday spirit with a repertoire that blends Christmas classics and original compositions. This concert will be a unique opportunity to experience Kellylee Evans’s versatile vocal style, having previously opened for renowned artists such as John Legend and George Benson. Accompanied by Steve Boudreau on piano, Ed Lister on trumpet, Chris Pond on double bass and electric bass, and Stephen Adubofuor on drums, this performance is set to be an unforgettable moment for jazz lovers and fans of winter melodies.

A recipient of a JUNO Award, Kellylee Evans captivates audiences with her dynamic interpretations, natural charm, and distinctive improvisational style. For one evening, she will take the audience on a musical journey that navigates through jazz, soul, pop, R&B, and gospel, featuring songs from her album Winter Songs.

The Orchestre de l’Agora under the direction of Nicolas Ellis

On Friday, December 13 at 7:30 p.m., the audience is invited on a journey through time! The Orchestre de l’Agora under the leadership of Nicolas Ellis, with Alexis Chartrand (baroque fiddle and foot percussion) and Nicolas Babineau (fiddle and guitar) bring to life jig, cotillion, and contra dance have provided the rhythms at gatherings for many generations of Québécois. These traditional tunes are revisited in this program highly influenced by northern folklore.

Jean-François Beauvais

On Saturday, December 14 at 2:30 p.m., French baroque music is in the spotlight! Les trois messes basses is a tale by Alphonse Daudet that tells the humorous and poetic story of a Christmas night in the chapel of a 17th-century Provencal castle. Reading of this tale by actor Jean-François Beauvais will be interspersed with the most beautiful noëls by French composers Louis-Claude Daquin and Jean-François Dandrieu, magnificently performed on organ and harpsichord by François Zeitouni. Inspired by popular Nativity tunes, these noëls remain treasures of the organ repertoire today, bringing to life the spiritual and musical history and tradition of the period.

The Tallis Scholars under the direction of Peter Philips

On Sunday, December 15 at 2:30 p.m., the Tallis Scholars under Peter Phillips’ leadership are back at Bourgie Hall to celebrate Christmas with a program focusing on Gregorian chant through the centuries, from the Middle Ages to the present day. Acclaimed around the world, this English vocal ensemble specializes in a capella music and will present a concert ranging from the plainchant of Abbess Hildegard of Bingen, through the masters of the Renaissance, to the ethereal music of 20th-century Estonian composer Arvo Pärt. Please note that this concert is currently sold out – limited press tickets are available should you wish to cover the concert.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

On December 18 and 19, the highly anticipated A Charlie Brown Christmas, which celebrates its 10 years at Bourgie Hall, is back. A true classic for this festive season, jazzman Vince Guaraldi’s famous soundtrack will be performed live by three exceptional musicians: Taurey Butler (piano), Morgan Moore (double bass) and Wali Muhammad (drums), along with their celebrated guest, singer Lulu Hughes. Guaranteed fun for young and old alike!

All the details of the concert can be found at bourgiehall.ca.

TICKET OFFICE

Three simple ways to purchase tickets

ONLINE: bourgiehall.ca
BY PHONE: 514 285-2000, option 1, or 1 800 899-6873
IN PERSON at the MMFA box office (during opening hours)
and at Bourgie Hall (one hour before the concerts)

Numerous affordable subscription packages are also available.

Images courtesy of Bourgie Hall

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