Name: Symphonic Tales of British Cinema: From Hercule Poirot to Harry Potter
Start: 2026-01-23T19:30:00
Location: Place des Arts

Embarking on a symphonic journey, Orchestre Métropolitain presents a series of compelling events in 2025-2026, each a unique celebration of music and culture. From the charm of Belle Époque Paris to the thrilling rhythms of Sibelius and the cinematic scores that define British cinema, each event offers a distinctive experience. Renowned conductors and soloists join forces to bring these compositions to life, highlighting both classical and contemporary masterpieces. Dive into this rich tapestry of sound that transcends boundaries and captivates audiences across the globe.

An Odyssey of Sound: A Year of Musical Mastery with Orchestre Métropolitain

Prepare to embark on a musical journey through the cultural landscapes of the past and present with the Orchestre Métropolitain's 2025-2026 season. From Paris's Belle Époque charm at the turn of the 20th century to the vibrant dreams of young artists shaping the future, this season promises a rich tapestry of experiences. With performances spanning continents and centuries, audiences will be treated to works by Mahler, Sibelius, and Bach, among others. Join us as we explore the profound connections between music, history, and human emotion.

Orchestre Métropolitain's 2025-2026 Season: A Symphony of Cultural Narratives

The Orchestre Métropolitain's upcoming season promises an extraordinary journey through a diverse musical landscape. From Beck's live orchestral performances to a heartfelt tribute to André Gagnon, each event offers unique experiences. Enjoy the symphonic artistry of Mahler, the exploration of Sibelius's legacy, and thrilling cinematic scores. Join us in celebrating the timeless influence of classical music and its innovative fusion with contemporary works, all while embracing cultural diversity. Discover how these performances aim to entertain, inspire, and connect audiences with art and heritage.

Orchestre Métropolitain: A Symphony of Creativity and Culture

Andrew Crust

Orchestre Métropolitain

Some figures endure through the centuries, inspiring the greatest artists. Manon Lescaut, the heroine of the Abbé Prévost novel, embodies tragic passion: smitten and seductive, yet doomed to a cruel fate. Soprano Sarah Dufresne brings this legendary figure to life by combining arias from two famous adaptations, by Auber and Massenet, to map out her psychological journey.

Heroines and Lyrical Passions

Église catholique Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs

Mercier Public Library

Place des Arts

Paroisse St-Joachim de Pointe-Claire

This grand choral concert takes audiences on a winter journey blending celebration and enchantment. From the first notes of Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel to Rimsky-Korsakov’s captivating Christmas Eve, the music transports the audience to a magical world. Berlioz, Vaughan Williams and Price add pastoral warmth and comfort with timeless melodies like “Greensleeves.” With Mendelssohn and Rutter, audiences are enveloped in radiant music that celebrates the spirit of Christmas.

Choral Christmas at the Basilica

Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal

The highly anticipated Holiday Melodies returns to the OM! Conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin, this festive program explores the meaning of the holidays across generations, from timeless classics to today’s standards, including jazz, gospel and Christmas melodies. Featuring exceptional artists such as Louis-Jean Cormier, Dominique Fils-Aimé and Elisabeth St-Gelais, this joyful and moving concert celebrates all the magic of the season.

Holiday Melodies

Can love withstand the inevitable passage of time? Absent from Montreal stages for more than thirty years, Richard Strauss’s operatic masterpiece Der Rosenkavalier returns in a concert version co-produced with the Opéra de Montréal and the Orchestre Métropolitain. Nostalgic for Viennese waltzes as well as for Mozartian comedy, Strauss unfolds music of elegance and emotional richness that continues to captivate audiences.

Der Rosenkavalier

Step into the world of Drôlement débrouillards with biologist and comedian Vikie Pedneault, as the Maison symphonique becomes the beloved Télé-Québec host’s next playground. For the first time, she will conduct a symphony orchestra, her ultimate dream, leading the OM in a performance filled with emotion. Will she succeed? With her quick wit and scientific precision, Vikie will work with Benoit Gauthier to make 60 musicians vibrate as one… and avoid any wrong notes! Combining classics and brilliant surprises, this concert will delight audiences of all ages.

Drôlement débrouillards

Step into the world of Drôlement débrouillards with biologist and comedian Vikie Pedneault, as the Maison symphonique becomes the beloved Télé-Québec host’s next playground. For the first time, she will conduct a symphony orchestra—her ultimate dream—leading the OM in a performance filled with emotion. Will she succeed? With her quick wit and scientific precision, Vikie will work with Benoit Gauthier to make 60 musicians vibrate as one… and avoid any wrong notes! Combining classics and brilliant surprises, this concert will delight audiences of all ages.

Drôlement débrouillards (School matinees)

Beethoven’s “Pastoral” Symphony celebrates human wonder in the face of nature’s joy and grandeur. More than 200 years after this work’s revolutionary premiere, its message remains powerful and modern, reflecting the deep bond between humans and their environment.  

Pastorals: Beethoven and New Canadian Creations

Scène de Quartier

Centre Leonardo Da Vinci

Paroisse Notre Dame de l'Annonciation

Schubert’s “Trout Quintet” is one of the composer’s most popular and appealing works. Its title comes from a song that serves as the basis for a set of delightful variations. Twenty years later, French pianist and composer Louise Farrenc followed in Schubert’s footsteps, adopting an equally lyrical and refined style in her piano quintets.

Schubert and Farrenc: The Art of the Quintet

Théâtre du Marais

Desjardins Cultural Centre

Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

Cégep de Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu

Beethoven’s “Pastoral” Symphony celebrates human wonder in the face of nature’s joy and grandeur. More than 200 years after this work’s revolutionary premiere, its message remains powerful and modern, reflecting the deep bond between humans and their environment.

Beethoven’s Pastoral (School Matinees)

Though best known for his film scores, John Williams is also among the most prolific concerto composers of our time. His Trumpet Concerto brilliantly showcases this dazzling instrument, performed here by virtuoso Matilda Lloyd. The suite from Far and Away creates a bridge with European traditions, drawing on Irish musical colours.

John Williams and Rachmaninoff

Sportmax Day Camp

Cégep Marie Victorin

Edward Elgar’s Enigma Variations reveal a world where intimacy meets grandeur: each variation is a musical sketch of one of the composer’s close friends, in an exceptionally elegant style where tenderness meets orchestral majesty. As for the piece’s hidden theme, it remains a carefully guarded secret that  has inspired the imagination for over a century.

Enigmatic Variations

Acclaimed during her 2023 OM appearance, María Dueñas returns with a cornerstone of the repertoire: Saint-Saëns’s Violin Concerto No. 3. A masterpiece of elegance and lyricism, it showcases the composer’s classical refinement and gift for memorable melodies. Under her bow, these lines become a space where virtuosity turns to poetry.

María Dueñas, Yannick and Saint-Saëns

St. Sixtus Catholic Church

The most powerful soundtracks can stand alone without any visual support. They come alive, becoming characters in their own right, and hearing a few bars can instantly transport us back to a favourite scene.

Symphonic Tales of British Cinema: From Hercule Poirot to Harry Potter

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