Quebec Opera Festival: Young people are embarking, according to director general Grégoire Legendre

“When you make general rehearsals in front of secondary students aged 14-15. In addition, the comment that comes up most often is:” I didn’t think it was so good, the opera. However, “

No, the opera does not like an older audience. Moreover, In Quebec. Nevertheless, the interim director and founder of the Opera Festival Grégoire Legendre is delighted to note that, from year to year, efforts to popularize this lyric art born in Italy in the 18th^e century bear fruit.

It involves free outdoor services during the festival. Meanwhile, which took off on Wednesday noon to continue until August 3, and invitations to attend the very last rehearsal, before the first of a show, during the school year.

Families can familiarize themselves with the Opera during free performances organized during the Opera Festival. For example, Photo JESSICA LATOUCHE

“Most of these young people enter the Grand Théâtre de Québec for the first time. In addition, There is the orchestra, choirs on the stage. Similarly, Sometimes we say that there will be 15 artists. Nevertheless, We are 125. Meanwhile, It’s extraordinary, ”says Mr. However, Legendre.

Hoots for the villain

During the 2020 decade. the rate of spectators under the age of 35 who frequent the Quebec Opera increased from 4% to 11%, we learned in 2024.

Even better, raises Mr. Legendre, this quebec opera festival: young people new young audience has no a priori. “They don’t make the difference between The traviata or Carmen and a work by Bartok-Schöenberg. He finds the contemporary opera as good. ”

“They follow the action,” adds Grégoire Legendre. I remember: when the interpreter of Pinkerton. who is considered the villain in history, arrived to greet the public at the end of Madame Butterflyhe was huer. “

The “Madame Butterfly” opera was presented in Quebec in the spring of 2023. Photo d’archives

Cannibalization did not take place

Even quebec opera festival: young people new if its general management is in a transitional phase following the departure of Jean-François Lapointe. last January, Grégoire Legendre confirms that the opera festival is in excellent health.

The occupancy rate of most productions remains stable at 80%. and it percola during the rest of the year, he observes, satisfied with his blow.

Grégoire Legendre, interim managing director of the Quebec Opera Festival Photo Cédric Bélanger

“When I had the idea of this festival, in 2007, it was to create special events during the summer in order to quebec opera festival: young people new give visibility to the opera in Quebec and develop it. Some feared that we cannibalise the regular season. I said rather that we were going to be so talked about that people were going to come. see also during the season, and that’s what happened. ”

Forget the dress code

Grégoire Legendre wishes to recall a last thing. If you decide to attend a representation of Carmen, Pierrot between 3 Mondays, or Mr. Séguin’s goat During the Quebec Opera Festival, don’t panic: Gala holding is not compulsory.

quebec opera festival: young people new The artists of the opera “Pierrot between 3 moons” in rehearsal before the first of the show, on July 31. Photo JESSICA LATOUCHE

“People often ask what is the dress code. hesitate to go to the opera because they do not know how to dress. I answer them all the time to dress as they want, ”insists Mr. Legendre.

“At the Metropolitan Opera in New York. there are people who arrive in a long dress and others in short pants. They all see the same show. ”

On the bill at the Quebec Opera Festival

• Carmen: July 30 and 1^is August (7:30 p.m.), August 3 (2 p.m.) at the Grand Théâtre de Québec.
• Pierrot between 3 Monday: July 31 and August 2 (7:30 p.m.) at the Periscope Theater.
• Lakmé memories: July 26 (7:30 p.m.) at the La quebec opera festival: young people new Bordée Theater.
• Mr. Séguin’s goat: July 25 (7 p.m.), July 26 and 27 (2 p.m.) in the Henri-Gagnon room at Laval University.

Complete programming at Operadequebec.com