Montréal

Although the city was founded in 1642 by French settlers and incorporated as a city in 1842, there is evidence that the Island of Montreal was occupied by First Nations native people up to four thousand years ago. Montreal is the largest city in Canada's province of Quebec, the second largest city in Canada and one of Canada's most bilingual cities. For more than a-hundred-and-fifty years, Montreal was Canada's financial and industrial centre, and one can still see some of the city's earliest still-standing buildings, mostly in the Old Montreal area, many dating back to the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Like Calgary, Montreal sits at the confluence of two rivers - the St Lawrence and Ottawa - and it also sits at the confluence of French and English culture, which gives it a unique perspective in the arts.

 

A selection of articles about Montréal

Classical music news. January 2025 Newsletter - Watch and listen to our January 2025 video newsletter - Music and the Visual World

Spotlight. Sensationally Powerful - Gerald Fenech is impressed by Sibelius symphonies recorded in Montreal. '... a quite spectacular addition to this cycle ...'

Classical music news. A Competition, a Resignation and a New Opera - The Global Music Education League's competition returns to China after a four-year break, Martyn Brabbins resigns from English National Opera with immediate effect, and excerpts from Jaap Nico Hamburger's new opera 'Ariella' are to be performed across Canada

CD Spotlight. Colourful and Free from Pretence - Geoff Pearce explores the music of Airat Ichmouratov. '... committed and convincing ...'

Classical music news. Obituary - José Evangelista (1943-2023)

Echoes of Oblivion by Robert McCarney - Sound Sense and Nonsense

Profile. Suffering and Delight - Ron Bierman talks to conductor Rafael Payare

Classical music news. Obituary - Philippe Boesmans (1936-2022)

Classical music news. Obituary - Boris Brott (1944-2022)

Classical music news - March 2022 Obituaries - Our summary of those the classical music world has lost this month

Music Lessons from Long Ago - Recollections by Barbara Siket

Classical music news. Peter Forbes - A recently retired medical doctor launches Forbes International Artist Management to help a new generation of classical musicians

CD Spotlight. Chicago Baroque - Trio Settecento's A German Bouquet, recommended by Malcolm Tattersall. '... very fine performances of some rarely heard but attractive music ...'

Ensemble. A True Dynamo - Lawrence Budmen listens to French conductor Ludovic Morlot, in concert with Jennifer Koh and the New World Symphony

CD Spotlight. Protean Methuselah - Music by Henry Brant, investigated by Malcolm Tattersall. 'Most of us like to put composers in pigeon-holes but Brant is too big for that.'

Ensemble. Off the Wall - Contemporary opera at the Buxton Festival, reviewed by Mike Wheeler

CD Spotlight. Vocal Artistry - Vivica Genaux sings Handel and Hasse, enjoyed by Maria Nockin. '... a wonderful trip back in time ...'

Ensemble. Great music making - Cheers for a riveting Canadian dance company at Jacob's Pillow and more music from Tanglewood, reported by Lawrence Budmen