Festival season in Montreal is henceforth upon us: on February 18, the fifth edition of the Montreal/New Music International festival begins, running until February 26. Arranged by the Société de musique contemporaine du Québec, this year’s series will showcase unique contemporary compositions in the form of 28 concerts, three after-hour events and several conference and round-table discussions. One such symposium, Musique et danse: dialogues en movement will bring together international panelists over four days to investigate the expansive relationship between music and dance; fittingly, McGill and Concordia will host the event.
Of special note, on February 20, conductor Walter Boudreau and composer Yves Daoust host the event Bring Your Cellphone, in which audience members are encouraged to participate in the ‘symphony’ by sounding their personal ringtones at key moments. An audience rehearsal will even be held in-theatre, prior to the show.
Concert ticket prices generally hover between $10 and $25, and activities and performances will take place at numerous venues around the city. This, coupled with the increasingly spring-like weather, is the perfect incentive to jump head (ear?)-first into Montreal festival season. Sun dress not (yet!) required.
A full list of the artists participating in this year’s event, here!
Wanna purchase some tickets?

~ Tyler Yank