COMMUNITY CALENDAR of EVENTS 

Saturday, May 11 at 1:30 p.m. – The Morrin Centre is holding a symposium on The History of Emily Montague by Frances Brooke. Speakers include Donald Fyson, Linda M. Morra and Peter Sabor. The event will also feature theatrical readings and music. This activity is in celebration of Brooke’s 300th birthday as well as the LHSQ’s 200th anniversary. It is in partnership with the English literature program in the Département de littérature, théâtre et cinéma at Université Laval and with CEGEP Champlain-St. Lawrence. For more details and to register, visit morrin.org. 

May 11, 14, 16 at 7:30 p.m., and May 18 at 2 p.m. – Opéra de Québec presents La Chauve-Souris by Johann Strauss II at the Grand Théâtre, in French with French surtitles. This opera is considered Strauss’ masterpiece and most popular Viennese operetta. For more details and tickets, visit operadequebec.com. 

Until May 12 – Generations: The Sobey Family and Canadian Art at the Musée national des Beaux-Arts du Québec. This new exhibit focuses on 150 works by renowned artists owned by three generations of the Sobey family. For details, visit mnbaq.org/en/exhibition/generations-1305.  

Thursday, May 16 at 7:30 p.m. – Irish Heritage Quebec meets in McMahon Hall, of St. Patrick’s Church, 1145 de Salaberry. William Moss will give a presentation titled Where are the Irish? Ask an archaeologist! Chief archaeologist for the Ville de Québec for over 30 years and past president of the International Society for Historical Archaeology, Moss previously worked for Parks Canada and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and lectured at Université Laval. Refreshments will be served and parking stubs for Îlot St-Patrick will be validated. For more information call IHQ at 418-704-3404 or visit irishheritagequebec.net. 

May 17-20 – Afri’Ca Fest at Place George-V. Join us for a cultural celebration of Africa and the African diaspora, with music, food, workshops, a market and more! Daytime activities (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.) free and open to all; tickets (from $10) required for evening events. Visit issambacentre.ca to learn more.   

Saturday and Sunday, May 18 and 19 – Printemps de la musique presents its ninth edition with Parcours musicaux, a series of short concerts in heritage and sometimes unusual venues in Old Quebec, many outdoors and free of charge, some indoors with very affordable prices. For details and tickets, visit printempsdelamusique.ca.

Wednesday, May 22, at 8 p.m. – The Orchestre symphonique de Québec presents Paris à travers les siècles, directed by Clemens Schuldt, at the Grand Théâtre, with soprano Hélène Guilmette and the OSQ choir, prepared by David Rompré. On the program are Mozart’s Symphony No. 31 “Paris” as well as works by Massenet, Saint-Saëns, Boulanger and Poulenc. For details and tickets, visit osq.org/concerts/paris-a-travers-les-siecles.  

May 23 to June 8 – Discover Où tu vas quand tu dors en marchant…? at ExpoCité and the exciting program of the Carrefour international de théâtre. There are too many details to include in this small space. Visit the website for details (carrefourtheatre.qc.ca/programmation/ou-tu-vas-quand-tu-dors-en-marchant) and see the preview in this edition. 

May 24 at 7:30 p.m. and May 25 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. – The FILMharmonique Orchestra, under the direction of Francis Choinière, returns for the fourth instalment of their spectacular concert series Music at the Movies, with a special edition paying tribute to the masterful scores of John Williams, at the Grand Théâtre. Tickets are available at gfnproductions.ca. 

Saturday, May 25 at 7:30 p.m. – Les Rhapsodes choir, directed by David Rompré, presents Musique au cinéma devoted to the most beautiful music written for movies, including excerpts from scores composed by Ennio Morricone for Once Upon a Time in the West and Cinema Paradiso, by Nino Rota for The Godfather and by Bruno Coutais for The Choristers. Soprano Mary Bewitch, tenor David Souza and an orchestral ensemble will accompany the choir at the Palais Montcalm. For details and tickets, visit lesrhapsodes.com.

May 25 at 7:30 p.m. and May 26 at 2 p.m. – L’Ensemble de musique sacré de Québec, directed by Richard Duguay, presents Missa Vulgaris, a 21st- century mass by Scarlatti, with additional pieces by Duruflé, Brinsmead and Lauridsen at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity (on May 25) and at the Monastère des Augustines (on May 26). Tickets $20 on presale at the Cathedral and $25 at the door (free for children 12 and under). Tickets for the performance at the Monastère ($25 plus taxes and administration fees) are available on the website (monastere.ca). For details, visit emsq.org/concerts. 

May 25 at 7:30 p.m. – The Ensemble Vocal Dal Segno, directed by Guillaume St-Gelais and with the participation of soprano Jessica Latouche and mezzo-soprano Marie-Andrée Matheiu, celebrates its 15th anniversary with a concert at the Oratoire Saint-Joseph de Québec, 560 chemin Sainte-Foy, Quebec. For details and tickets, visit dalsegno.ca.

Visit the Voice of English-speaking Québec website at veq.ca for information about events for all ages. 

Visit the Morrin Centre website at morrin.org for information about more literary, artistic and educational activities for everyone.