A LOOK BACK AT 2024: comedy, nostalgia, symphonies, and surprises at Place des Arts
This year was a celebration of the most precious offerings the performing arts can give us: moments suspended in time, vivid emotions, and a connection with artists. Take a front row seat as we look back at 2024 to find out which shows Place des Arts employees listed as their favourites!
JANUARY
Credit : Najim Chaoui
A few weeks before winning the Olivier Award for Comedy Show of the Year for Enfant du siècle, Philippe Audrey Larrue-St-Jacques performed in Place des Arts’ largest venue!
Credit : Ludovic Rolland-Marcotte
Jean-Michel Blais concluded a world tour of over 80 concerts by presenting Aubades symphonique with the award-winning Orchestre de l’Agora under the direction of Nicolas Ellis.
FEBRUARY
Credit : Vivien Gaumand
The duo of Julien Bilodeau and Michel Marc Bouchard was back with a new “made in Quebec” operatic work, La Reine-Garçon, presented by the Opéra de Montréal.
Credit : Benoît Rousseau
David Goudreault presented his second solo show, En marge du texte, a favourite for Catherine from the Programming team. “The authenticity of the content, the vulnerability with which David delivered his performance, was absolutely impressive and was good for the soul.”
MARCH
Credit : Benoît Rousseau
Who would have thought that Lisa Leblanc would one day sing a symphonic version of Ma vie c’est d’la marde? It happened as part of Montréal en lumière this year!
Credit : Thibault Carron
It was impossible to know last March that it would be the last time that the great Zakir Hussain would bring his tablas to life on a Montreal stage, an unforgettable memory for those in attendance.
APRIL
Credit : Danny Taillon
Alone on stage, Émilie Perreault was able to completely captivate her audience—which included one of our colleagues—by speaking of her love of the performing arts in La suspension consentie de l’incredulité: “The subject, the finesse of the writing, the emotion it aroused—it brought me to tears… through the sensitive and believable acting of Émilie Perreault.”
Credit : François Goupil
For the first time, the Philadelphia Orchestra joined its conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin on his home turf in Montreal for a truly exceptional concert.
MAY
Philippe Katerine added some colour to Place des Arts by installing a few cute Monsieur Roses and presenting his lecture-concert Ce que je sais de la mort, ce que je sais de l’amour.
Credit : Tam Photography
From Jaws to Star Wars, via Jurassic Park and Harry Potter, the FILMharmonique Orchestra explored the symphonic world of cinema in A Tribute to John Williams, which evoked some vivid memories for a member of our team: “Each piece of music performed by the orchestra brought up the emotions I feel when watching these great films that have left their mark on cinema history. A true journey into the imagination.”
JUNE
Credit : Mario Beauregard - Agence QMI
Lara Fabian’s fans were given the opportunity to shout Je t’aime from the bottom of their hearts in Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier! “She’s my idol!” – Souaad from the Security team.
Credit : Victor Diaz Lamich
Mixtape: A Musical Tribute to Jean-Marc Vallée opened the Festival international de Jazz de Montréal. “Good music, great artists, really unexpected and interesting artist/song mixes. Lots of emotions!” – Sophie from the Information Management department.
JULY
Probably two of the most anticipated performances of the summer, those of Norah Jones and Martha Wainwright as her opening act… two Festival international de Jazz de Montréal regulars.
Credit : Rasha Bedeir
After the cancellation of Just for Laughs, the comedy void in our summer was filled with a special edition, ComédiHa! Hello Montréal.
AUGUST
Credit : Kevin Calixte
August was the month for musicals, with the Broadway classic Les Misérables, the return of Don Juan (celebrating its 20th anniversary), and a second series of performances for Pub Royal, la comédie musicale des Cowboys Fringants. “I was amazed by the music, the songs, the dancing, the circus arts, and the incredible staging, but also by the story which, in my opinion, tells of a quest for absolute freedom. I thought of that of the great Karl Tremblay who, until the end of his life, fought to rise above his illness, through the masterful works of Les Cowboys Fringants.” – Yolande from the Reception team.
SEPTEMBER
Credit : Randy Cole
Caity Giorgy and the Orchestre national de jazz. “The Cinquième Salle was the perfect venue for this show. A full house and a very festive atmosphere. It was a very well-performed, dynamic, and unifying concert.” – Léanne from the Reception team.
Choir! Choir! Choir! had the entire crowd in Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier singing Hallelujah by late Montreal poet and singer Leonard Cohen.
OCTOBER
Credit : Francine Duquette
A month of novelty and nostalgia, as Simon Delisle and Louis T made their premieres, and the Fondation Yvon Deschamps held its show, with the comedy icon joined by several big names of Francophone song, including Gilles Vigneault.
Not to mention the 35th anniversary of Hélène and BEAT tours, as well as Engelbert Humperdinck’s farewell tour, and a tribute to Les Grands Ballets’s Ludmilla Chiriaeff. “How lucky I was to see BEAT, great legends of progressive rock, with my son who is now discovering them too.” – Astrid from the Marketing, Sales, and Communications team.
NOVEMBER
Credit : Danny Taillon
Two notable plays returned to different stages than those on which they were first performed: Incendies and 5 balles dans la tête, presented by DUCEPPE. “5 balles dans la tête is a favorite—against all odds… because the subject basically doesn’t appeal to me! An extremely well-crafted show that makes you think, that confronts you with ideas that are not always what you have in mind, without imposing them on you.” – Marie-Kim from the Marketing, Sales, and Communications team.
Damien Robitaille gave a surprise performance to passersby and spectators at Place des Arts on November 28, just before one of the performances of a show that was a favourite of both audiences and Place des Arts employees: Patrick Watson and the FILMharmonique Orchestra. “The show was magnificent! The sound was really good, and our seats gave us a great view of the orchestra.” – Rosalie from the Box Office team.
DECEMBER
Credit : Sasha Onishchenko
After Place des Arts’ anniversary festivities, it was time for Les Grands Ballets’ The Nutcracker to celebrate its 60 years of wonder! “I had the privilege of attending The Nutcracker for the first time with my 7-and-a-half-year-old son and we were swept away by the magic and enchantment of this grandiose ballet! What a wonder!” – Géraldine from the Marketing, Sales, and Communications team.
The final word goes to a member of our bar staff: “What struck me were the spectators: people, all of them smiling, with emotion in their eyes. Like the customer who told us he had driven all the way from Lac-Saint-Jean just to see Pub Royal; the audience for La traversée du siècle, by the legendary Michel Tremblay, ready for 12 hours of theatre; the renewed audience at DUCEPPE for plays like Les gens, les lieux, les choses; or the spectators wearing kitsch Christmas sweaters to go see Pierre Lapointe. We’re lucky to be around people enjoying such memorable outings, even if only for a brief moment.”
