June 27/10: Il Ritorno d'Ulisse in Patria

Another day of concerts, discovering new venues in Old Montreal. We stopped by the cafe and heard Les Voix Humaines playing from Bach's Art of the Fugue. We then went to Chateau Ramezay to hear Viva Biancaluna, whose concert so impressed us on Friday evening, talk about improvisation and Italian frottola. It was a fascinating look at how poetry and music have served each other.


Another Old Montreal find, the afternoon concert, Amor, Fortuna y Ventura, Spanish Renaissance music played by flute trio, Dyscantus, was held in the garden of the Pierre du Calvet Hotel. The trio played on matching flutes made by Boaz Berney, who was also a member of the group. Birds added to the soundtrack.

June 27/10: Il Ritorno d'Ulisse in Patria, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Monteverdi's opera, Il Ritorno d'Ulisse in Patria was performed in the atrium of a shopping area. The acoustics were too resonant and the fountain did not enhance the opera. But this was quite a spectacle! The musicians of the festival were joined by the Bread and Puppet Theater which provided the action to the musicians' voices. From the website "Monteverdi’s last opera: a story of the magic of the ancient Gods who play with the fate of humankind, their puppets!" It was close to three hours of glorious music, delightful puppets - a mix of historical performance, serious issues and a large dollop of humour.