Now an essential part of the cultural summer, the Festival d’opéra de Québec offers thirteen days of total immersion in the world of opera. For this milestone edition, the program is rich, coherent, and firmly rooted in our community, showcasing the exceptional talent of the finest voices from the province.
Headlining the festival, Francis Poulenc’s tragic masterpiece Dialogues des Carmélites will bring together Hélène Guilmette, Frédéric Antoun, Julie Boulianne, Florie Valiquette, and Guylaine Girard. A landmark production imbued with courage and kindness, it will resonate deeply with the history and rich heritage of Quebec’s female religious communities.
Between memory, heritage and transmission, this 15th edition offers a unique journey through five centuries of music: from the origins of lyric art with Monteverdi to the contemporary creations of Laurence Jobidon (L’hiver attend beaucoup de moi) and Jean‑François Mailloux (Fables lyriques pour petits et grands enfants), the perfect family event, along with a vibrant tribute to the legacy of Lionel Daunais.
From the Grand Théâtre de Québec to partner venues, and through a free urban program deployed across all boroughs, the celebration takes over the city. Whether you are a devoted opera lover or simply curious to discover it, join us for an experience as grand as it is human.
The Festival d’opéra de Québec: so grand, so human.
July 28 at 7:30 p.m.
July 30 at 7:30 p.m.
August 1 at 2:00 p.m.
Inspired by a true story from the French Revolution, Francis Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmélites stands as one of the great pinnacles of French opera, regularly described by major houses and critics as a profound, existential work on fear, death, and faith. Through the story of Blanche de La Force, a young woman confronted with fear, doubt, and the burden of choice, the opera tackles with rare intensity questions that still speak to us today: inner freedom, individual conscience, faith, courage, and the struggle to remain standing in the face of political oppression.
July 28 at 7:30 p.m.
July 26 at 2:00 p.m.
L’hiver attend beaucoup de moi explores life in the magnificent yet harsh landscapes of northern Quebec. Léa, who is pregnant, tries to reach a safe haven as a storm approaches, guided by a mysterious stranger, Madeleine. The opera evokes the strength and solidarity of women in the face of unspeakable grief and tragedy.
August 1 at 10:30 a.m.
August 1 at 2:00 p.m.
August 2 at 10:30 a.m.
Blurring the lines between theater and opera, this production brings La Fontaine’s poetry to life through an animated, multisensory reading. The character of Maxime, whose name evokes the moral at the heart of the fable, guides the audience on this journey. It provides the narration while her colleagues lend their voices and gestures to the various characters, bringing them to life with brilliance.
July 23 at 7:30 p.m.
July 25 at 7:30 p.m.
Behind the scenes at the Monument National in Montreal, Lionel Daunais and Charles Goulet, the founding directors of Les Variétés Lyriques, are deep in discussion about their upcoming season. Should they present Offenbach’s good old classic operettas? Or would it be better to program more recent works by Romberg or Yvain? And how can they best showcase the two star singers, Olivette Thibault, the principal coloratura, and Caro Lamoureux, the leading lyric soprano, who both want roles worthy of their talents!?
July 29 at 7:30 p.m.
There is a fascinating turning point in the history of music: the moment when words, poetry, and song come together with a new intensity, giving rise to an entirely new art form. This program invites us to revisit that moment.
In Monteverdi’s work, human passions take on a striking new presence. The text becomes more immediate, more embodied; the vocal line follows the natural inflections of speech, and the music no longer merely accompanies emotion, but summons it into being. Through madrigals and landmark works, this concert leads us back to that crossroads where opera gradually began to emerge.
Brigades and Opera Circuit : Every day, from July 21 to 31, at 12:00 p.m and 5:00 p.m.
Sors tes grands airs ! Concert : August 2 at 7:30 p.m.
