Arts & Entertainment News
New France festivities bring history to life in Lower Town
Published: August 8, 2018
Photo: Cassandra Kerwin
Elegantly dressed noblemen and noblewomen in 17th- and 18th-century attire, members of the bourgeoisie and simple peasants appeared throughout Quebec City’s Lower Town during the 22nd annual Fêtes de la Nouvelle-France (FNF), dressed as if they had just stepped from the pages of history.
Mozart’s Magic Flute enchants audiences
Published: August 8, 2018
NCAA competition for Rouge et Or
Published: August 8, 2018
Photo: Mathieu Bélanger, Rouge et Or
It’s becoming a preseason tradition for the Université Laval men’s basketball program. For the past 10 years, they have hosted a series of NCAA basketball teams at different levels every summer.
Community Calendar
Published: August 8, 2018
July 31 to Aug. 12 – Plein Art, le Salon des métiers d’art de Québec. Over 100 professional artisans display their wares at Quebec’s largest summer arts and crafts show, in large tents between the Marché du Vieux-Port and Espace 400e. See article on page 12.
Tempêtes & Passions serves up Viennese delights
Published: August 8, 2018
Photo: Photo courtesy of Jocelyn Gagné, Media des 2 Rives
On Aug. 5, in the chapel of the Musée de l’Amérique française, members of Tempêtes & Passions presented the second edition of their popular concert series, Viennoiseries musicales, as part of the Festival d’Opéra de Québec.
When Lindbergh came to town . . .
Published: August 10, 2018
Photo: Library and Archives Canada via Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain
Ninety years ago, on April 24, 1928, American aviator Charles Lindbergh made his only visit to Quebec City. This sensational happening occurred as part of a sequence of events which produced some memorable photographs.
The not-so-common traits of the common grackle
Published: August 8, 2018
Photo: Lise Lafond
Looking at these black birds, we can easily confuse them with their cousins from the icteridae family, which contains around 100 species, including blackbirds and cowbirds. When a ray of sun hits their plumage, however, a miracle happens. Shades of blue and violet appear on their head and neck, and copper coats the rest of their body.
Artisans show off their passions at Plein Art
Published: August 8, 2018
Photo: Ruby Pratka
Annie Dufresne was a motorcycle instructor, Georges-Alexandre Aubé-Brière was a literature student and Denis Belleau was an architecture technician. Former professional clowns, salespeople, restaurateurs, aspiring priests and construction workers were also among those manning the tables at Plein Art – le Salon des métiers d’art de Québec, which runs until Aug.
Festival des Journées d’Afrique features dances and rhythms from countries around the world
Published on: July 31, 2018 - 11:16
This singer from Artiz was definitely having a good time with the audience.
Photo by Danielle Burns
Festival des Journées d’Afrique features dances and rhythms from countries around the world
Published on: July 31, 2018 - 11:14
The Festival des Journées d’Afrique didn’t only include African countries. This Mexican dance troupe warmed up the crowd on Sunday evening with their colourful twirling dresses.
Pelléas et Mélisande commemorates composer Claude Debussy
Published: August 1, 2018
Photo: Danielle Burns
The Festival d’Opéra de Québec presented the concert version of Claude Debussy’s operatic masterpiece Pelléas et Mélisande to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the composer’s death. Under the direction of Jean-Philippe Tremblay, the youthful Orchestre de la Francophonie performed at the Palais Montcalm along with many of the brightest operatic voices in France and Quebec.
Offenbach’s La Belle Hélène is a hit with FOQ audience
Published: August 1, 2018
Photo: Shirley Nadeau
The Festival d’Opéra de Québec (FOQ) teamed up again this year with Jeunesses Musicales Canada to present Jacques Offenbach’s comic operetta La Belle Hélène at the Théâtre La Bordée. French and English surtitles helped the audience keep track of the complicated plot.
David Jacques handles antique baroque guitars with loving care
Published: August 1, 2018
Photo: Shirley Nadeau
Guitarist David Jacques was the solo performer at Chalmers-Wesley United Church on July 25 as part of the Musical Wednesdays concert series. He brought two unique baroque guitars with him, one of which was made in France in 1665 by the famous Voboam family of luthiers.
Emily Brontë remembered on her 200th birthday
Published: August 1, 2018
Photo: Portrait by Patrick Branwell Brontë from Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain
It’s difficult to imagine the rugged beauty of the Yorkshire moors without thinking of Heathcliff and his beloved Cathy in Emily Brontë’s only novel, Wuthering Heights.
Tea Time at the Morrin Centre is steeped in history
Published: July 25, 2018
Photo: Lorie Pierce
There’s something enchanting about sitting in the Morrin Centre library sipping tea, watching warm summer light stream through the windows, surrounded by books and steeped in history. This is Tea Time, and the Morrin Centre pulls out all the stops to make it an enjoyable party.
Oboist Emma Ahern delights residents at Saint Brigid’s Home
Published: July 25, 2018
A group of residents attended a lovely summer concert in the Kildare Lounge of Saint Brigid’s Home on July 19. This was the third year that talented young oboist Emma Ahern has performed at the home; this time she was accompanied by pianist Kasia Borkowska.
Travels through the Townships
Published: July 25, 2018
Photo: Shirley Nadeau
Want to get away for a few days and enjoy the countryside? Why not hit the road and head east, to the Eastern Townships, that is.
Emerging artists come to the Surface
Published: July 25, 2018
Cyndi Lauper proves that girls still wanna have fun!
Published: July 18, 2018
Foo Fighters on fire in return to FEQ stage
Published: July 18, 2018
Photo: Cassandra Kerwin
On July 10, the tens of thousands of people gathered on the Plains of Abraham most likely felt a strong sense of déjà vu as heavy rain pelted the Plains ahead of the scheduled Foo Fighters concert at the Festival d’Été de Québec (FEQ). Fortunately for the fans, there would be no repeat of the tempest that derailed the band’s 2015 FEQ performance after just four songs.
A regal performance for Lorde on the Plains
Published: July 18, 2018
Photo: Cassandra Kerwin
Lorde required three airplanes to bring her all the way from New Zealand to Quebec City with her entourage to perform at the Festival d’Été de Québec (FEQ) on July 13. She and her backup dancers were the closing act of an evening of concerts showcasing female artists.
Sum 41 close the 51st FEQ with a punkish bang!
Published: July 18, 2018
Photo: Cassandra Kerwin
Sum 41, a punk rock, pop punk, alternative rock and grunge band from Ajax, Ont., is playing in three Canadian cities while on their current tour. On July 16, they swung by the Festival d’Été de Québec (FEQ). Grunge and punk fans filled the Parc de la Francophonie and surrounding streets to hear their favourite Canadian band.
Art Walk in the Vieux-Port
Published: July 18, 2018
Photo: Lorie Pierce
This month’s walk is an enjoyable trek around Lower Town to take in the recently unveiled works of art in EXMURO’s Passages Insolites (unusual passages) outdoor exhibition. For more information, see “Unusual works of art decorate passages in Quebec City,” by Cassandra Kerwin, in the July 4, 2018 edition of the QCT.
Place Limouloise: a place to see and be seen
Published: July 11, 2018
Photo: Danielle Burns
It all started in 2015 with Plaza Limoilou, which became Place Limoilou in 2016. A few years later, after lots of consulting with the public and private sector and a few different designs, permanent roots were finally laid down at Place Limouloise in 2018 – named after the people who live in the Limoilou area.
Pixar’s Incredibles 2 lives up to expectations
Published: July 11, 2018
Photo: Disney/Pixar
Fourteen years after The Incredibles came to theatres, patient animated movie fans welcomed the release of Pixar’s sequel Incredibles 2 on June 15.
Quebec City celebrates Canada Day – 151 years and counting!
Published: July 4, 2018
A cool start turned red hot in Quebec City on Canada Day. Morning clouds left over from heavy rains overnight and a cool breeze waved the Canadian flag in front of the Château Frontenac. By the time the giant birthday cake was served on Dufferin Terrace, the heat and humidity of the day had started to kick in.
FEQ 2018 opens with big name stars, new features
Published: July 4, 2018
Photo: Renaud Philippe, provided by FEQ
With a lineup that includes a rare appearance by Canadian rock legend Neil Young, the much-anticipated return of the Foo Fighters and young sensations Lorde, Shawn Mendes and The Weeknd, the 2018 edition of Quebec’s massive 11-day Festival d’Été (FEQ) aims to meet the annual and increasingly difficult challenge of outdoing itself.
Shaken! Mixes music and cocktails
Published: July 4, 2018
Photo: Shirley Nadeau
Like a game of musical chairs, the music went round and round during a concert held at the Morrin Centre on June 27. “Shaken! Mixologie et Minimalisme” was the first of a series of four Escapades musicales de la Cité concerts last weekend by local string musicians, many of them members of the Orchestre symphonique de Québec (OSQ).
