Arts & Entertainment News
Aspiring artists from CQSB schools shine at PAF
Published: April 11, 2018
Photo: Cassandra Kerwin
Every spring, high school students of the Central Quebec School Board gather in Quebec City for an amazing day of learning and performance.
Pick your home on wheels at the Quebec City RV show
Published: April 11, 2018
Photo: Lise Lafond
If you dream of having your own home on wheels, a visit to the annual Quebec City Recreational Vehicle Show is an absolute must. This year’s show of mini rolling homes was held from March 22 to 25 at ExpoCité. The show was separated into three themes: vehicles, camping gear and accessories, and places to visit.
Aspiring artists from CQSB schools shine at PAF
Published: April 11, 2018
English and French language speakers come together to perform with the QAC
Published: April 11, 2018
The Quebec Art Company (QAC) and its community theatre performances are well known in the English-speaking community of Quebec City. Serving as both a creative outlet and a social gathering place for anglophones in the city, the company has put on at least one English-language play or musical each year for the last 40 years.
Jesus Christ Superstar coming soon to a church near you!
Published: April 4, 2018
With just over a week before the Quebec Art Company (QAC)’s latest production hits the stage, the cast and crew of the rock-opera Jesus Christ Superstar were treated to something very special last Thursday.
It was a great day for the Irish in Quebec City
Published: March 28, 2018
Thousands of Irish eyes were smiling as the ninth annual Défilé de la Saint-Patrick made its way through the Montcalm district and into the heart of Old Quebec on March 25, a week after St. Patrick’s Day. The parade is always held a week later in Quebec City, as many of the bands participate in the Montreal parade the previous weekend.
Three Bach cantatas presented by Les Violons du Roy and guest soloists
Published: March 28, 2018
Photo: Shirley Nadeau
Les Violons du Roy, directed by Jonathan Cohen, presented Cantates de Bach, l’Étoile du Matin – three glorious cantatas by Johann Sebastian Bach at the Palais Montcalm on March 22.
Local athletes fly high at Big Air World Cup Finals
Published: March 28, 2018
Photo: Cassandra Kerwin
From March 22 to 25, warm spring weather, even some snow, welcomed the arrival of over 100 athletes from 20 countries for the FIS Ski and Snowboard Big Air World Cup Finals. Quebec Olympic snowboarders Max Parrot and Laurie Blouin and skier Alex Bellemare stole the show.
PAF! Presenting the 15th CQSB Performing Arts Festival
Published: March 21, 2018
At the Central Québec School Board, we believe the arts are fundamental for developing our identities, fostering empathy and sparking creativity. We treat culture not simply as entertainment but as an important tool for educating healthy students and healthy citizens. That said, our students produce some of the most creative and entertaining work in the province!
The Shannon Irish Show kicks off St. Patrick’s celebrations
Published: March 14, 2018
Photo: Cassandra Kerwin
March has arrived and “green season” is in full swing! Members of the Irish community of the Quebec City region and their relatives and friends filled the Shannon Community Centre for the annual Shannon Irish Show twice on March 10. Like all good Irish shows, this one was filled with humour, Irish dancing and a kitchen party.
Welcome to my Kitchen
Shamrock Fudge for St. Patrick's Day
Published: March 14, 2018
Photo: oanne Kyvetos
You might well be wondering, why does a Greek have any business talking about St. Patrick’s Day? Well, guess what? My roots are Irish on my mother’s side.
Jay Sewall launches Payin’ My Dues: 50 Years of Blues
Published: March 7, 2018
Photo: Cassandra Kerwin
Fans of the blues had a pleasant evening in the District Saint-Joseph bar in Saint-Roch on Feb. 27 as Quebec blues legend Jay Sewall launched his seventh album, Payin’ My Dues: 50 Years of Blues, to commemorate his 50-year career.
Violons du Roy present Handel and Haydn
Published: March 7, 2018
Photo: Shirley Nadeau
Les Violons du Roy and the La Chapelle de Québec choir gave a very impressive concert at the Palais Montcalm March 1, under the direction of the ensemble’s founding director, Bernard Labadie.
Disney on Ice brings the Big Dream to the Centre Vidéotron
Published: February 28, 2018
Photo: courtesy of Feld Entertainment Inc.
Wondering what to do during March Break? Take the kids to see Disney on Ice’s Big Dream at the Centre Vidéotron from March 8-11. There are two shows per day: Thursday at 3 and 7 p.m. and Friday to Sunday at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Tickets from $20 are available at gestev.com or ticketmaster.ca.
More about the Big Dream
"Jesus Christ Superstar" tickets are now on sale!
Published: February 28, 2018
Photo: courtesy of Quebec Art Company
With opening night just eight weeks away, tickets for the Quebec Art Company (QAC) production of the smash rock opera hit Jesus Christ Superstar can now be reserved. There will be six showings, April 12, 13, 14 and 19, 20, 21, at 8 p.m. in historic Chalmers-Wesley United Church in the Old City.
A wind quintet from Marseille blows the audience away!
Published: February 28, 2018
Photo: Shirley Nadeau
A wind quintet is a group of five musicians playing (most commonly) flute, oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon. Add one bass-baritone and you’ve got quite a windy combination!
Tempêtes et Passions’ Viennoiseries musicales II
Published: February 28, 2018
Photo: Shirley Nadeau
Tempêtes et Passions once again immersed their audience in the music and culture of early 20th-century Vienna with their second Viennoiseries musicales concert, held at the Chapelle du Musée de l’Amérique francophone on Feb. 24.
Florida high school choristers sing with St. Pat’s students
Published: February 28, 2018
Photo: Shirley Nadeau
Choristers from LaVilla High School in Jacksonville, Florida, visited Quebec City on Thursday evening, and gave a charming concert in Chalmers-Wesley United Church. Before coming here, the tour organizers asked if there were any local high school choirs who would like to join them for part of the concert, and St. Patrick’s High School accepted the offer.
Acting Out! at the improv workshop
Published: February 21, 2018
Photo: Shirley Nadeau
You have to think fast to “survive” at an improvisation workshop! Quick, give me a list of your five favourite vegetables. Next! The names of your five best friends. Next!
Going for baroque with the Violons du Roy at the Palais Montcalm
Published: February 21, 2018
Photo: Shirley Nadeau
Les Violons du Roy, directed by Leonardo García Alarcón, an Argentinian conductor specializing in baroque music, gave a breathtaking concert at the Palais Montcalm on Feb. 15.
Carnival parade delights Upper Town spectators
Published: February 14, 2018
Photo: Cassandra Kerwin
The heart of Quebec City’s Upper Town was closed to traffic for the Winter Carnival Parade on Feb. 10. Parked cars stretched far beyond the roadblocks; parents pulled their young children on sleds and adults and teenagers blew their Carnival trumpets.
Hidden English history in Portneuf Part I: Le rêve de Shevrikay
Published: February 14, 2018
Photo: courtesy of Gaétan Morissette
Musician Gaétan Morissette’s album took nearly five years to see the light of day, but its roots go back much further. Le Rêve de Shevrikay pays homage to the valiant labour and carefully maintained musical traditions of the English-speaking Irish community of Portneuf.
A warm Calgarian breakfast on a cold Carnival morning
Published: February 7, 2018
Photo: Cassandra Kerwin
Bright sun and cold weather brought crowds out to Place d’Youville on Feb. 3 for the 61st annual Calgary Stampede Flapjack Breakfast. More than 4,000 sausages were roasted and as many flapjacks were flipped, to the delight of everyone.
Strong current, wind, big floes and snow? No problem for ice canoe paddlers
Published: February 7, 2018
Photo: Cassandra Kerwin
On Feb. 4, at first glance, the weather felt just right: cloudy sky, snowing and warmer weather than the day before. Things were a tad rougher out on the St. Lawrence River. Nearly 50 teams of ice canoe paddlers were ready to face everything in the Winter Carnival Ice Canoe Race.
The Philanthropist, just as fascinating the second time around
Published: February 7, 2018
Photo: Shirley Nadeau
The theatre of the newly-named Jeffery Hale Student Centre hosted the encore and final showings of The Philanthropist, a multimedia theatre presentation about the life of the man himself – Jeffery Hale – on Feb. 2 and 3.
OSQ and its choir perform a heart-to-heart concert
Published: February 7, 2018
Photo: Cassandra Kerwin
Many hearts beat as one last Thursday, Feb. 1, as the Orchestre Symphonique de Québec (OSQ) under the direction of Alain Trudel, and the choir of the OSQ, led by choirmaster David Rompré, presented the première performance of Coeur (heart).
Of course, in French, a choir is a choeur (just add an “h” to coeur). In this case, the choir was truly at the heart of this concert.
Calling all music lovers: Club musical de Québec announces exciting 2018-2019 season line-up
Published: February 7, 2018
Photo: Shirley Nadeau
The new season of the Club musical de Québec began on a high note this past Sunday afternoon, with a concert by esteemed French pianist Philippe Cassard. To commemorate the 100-year anniversary of Claude Debussy’s death, the pianist performed several pieces by the late composer. Other composers whose works he performed included Edvard Grieg and Franz Liszt.
VEQ transportation to encore performance of The Philanthropist
Published: January 31, 2018
Voice of English-speaking Québec will provide free bus transportation from Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier and Shannon to CEGEP Champlain–St. Lawrence for the performance of The Philanthropist on Saturday, Feb. 3.
* Departure at 5:30 p.m. from Valcartier Community Centre (1743 boulevard Valcartier).
* Departure at 6 p.m. from Shannon City Hall (50 rue St-Patrick).
Winter Carnival candle campaign enters final stretch
Published: January 24, 2018
Photo: Cassandra Kerwin
Since last November, the duchesses have been working hard to promote Winter Carnival. They completed the final stretch over the weekend of Jan. 20, as the campaign of the bougie (the iconic candle) came to an end on Sunday. All of their efforts and sales increased their odds at being crowned queen of the 64th Winter Carnival.
