The Festival International Bach Montréal marks its 20th anniversary with an opening concert that pairs two towering composers of the 18th century: Johann Sebastian Bach and Georg Friedrich Handel. The evening unfolds as a triptych of landmark baroque works under the baton of guest conductor John Butt.
The programme opens with Bach's Magnificat, showcasing the full brilliance of sacred choral writing, followed by Handel's Water Music, a suite evoking the splendour of the English royal court. The concert concludes with Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, celebrated for its vibrant energy and the virtuosic interplay of its string ensemble.
John Butt, director of the Dunedin Consort, leads the Orchestre International Bach Montréal. The vocal soloists are Myriam Le Blanc (soprano I), Elisabeth Boudreault (soprano II), Marie-Andrée Mathieu (alto), Petr Nekoranec (tenor), and Jonathon Adams (bass). Choir member-soloists include Len Torrie, Charlotte Corwin, Stéphanie Pothier, Joé Lampron-Dandonneau, and William Kraushaar.
The concert takes place on Friday, November 20, 2026 at 19:30 at the Maison symphonique in Montreal. Tickets are available through the Festival Bach ticketing portal.