Now a must-see of the cultural summer season, the Québec Opera Festival offers thirteen days of full immersion in the world of opera. For its 15th edition, it presents a rich, coherent program that is firmly rooted in its local identity, showcasing the exceptional talent of some of the finest voices from here.
Headlining the season, Francis Poulenc’s tragic masterpiece Dialogues of the Carmelites will bring together some of Québec’s leading operatic voices in a flagship production imbued with courage and humanity. Deeply resonating with the history and rich legacy of Québec City’s female religious communities, this work promises a moment of rare intensity.
Balancing memory, heritage, and transmission, the program offers a unique journey through five centuries of music: from the origins of opera with Monteverdi to contemporary creations by Laurence Jobidon and Pascale St-Onge (L’hiver attend beaucoup de moi) and by Jean-François Mailloux (Fables lyriques pour petits et grands enfants), a perfect family-friendly offering, not to mention a vibrant tribute to the legacy of Lionel Daunais (Ma belle opérette!).
From the Grand Théâtre de Québec to partner presenters, and through a free urban program deployed across all boroughs, the city comes alive with celebration.
To close this anniversary edition, the Festival launches a new tradition on Sunday, August 2 at 7:30 p.m.: Sors tes grands airs! This large-scale free outdoor concert will bring together more than 100 artists from near and far. Whether you are a devoted opera lover or simply curious to discover it, join us for an experience that is both grand and deeply 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.
Date: Sunday, August 2, 2026
Time: 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Brigades and Opera Circuit: From July 21 to 31, at 12:00 p.m and 5:00 p.m.
