ELORA – The Elora Festival celebrates its 46th edition beginning with the Opening Night Gala: The Genius of Mozart, featuring Canadian soprano Karina Gauvin, on July 11.
The festival features three incredible weeks of intimate chamber concerts, immersive musical experiences, special venues, and fun family events during this renowned international choral festival.
Officials say it will feature a stunning lineup of concerts and music experiences, featuring acclaimed international artists and talented soloists, including highlight performances by The Elora Singers, Jeremy Dutcher, Chanticleer, The Gesualdo Six, Autorickshaw, Junges Vokalensemble Hannover, and many more.
The Elora Festival, curated by artistic director Mark Vuorinen, takes place from July 11 to 27, in the villages of Elora and Fergus.
Tickets are selling quickly and can be purchased online at EloraFestival.ca or by calling 519-846-0331.
Highlight performances
Highlight performances include Opening Night Gala: The Genius of Mozart on July 11 at 7:30pm, billed as an “evening of incredible music” as the 46th Elora Festival opens with the brilliance of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Jeremy Dutcher in Concert is on July 12 at 7:30pm. Dutcher is a two-spirit song carrier, composer, activist, ethnomusicologist, and classically-trained vocalist.
Chanticleer: Without a Song is on July 16 at 7:30pom. The San Francisco-based Grammy Award-winning vocal ensemble is known around the world as “an orchestra of voices” for its dazzling virtuosity, official say.
Kaleidoscope: Autorickshaw, Penderecki String Quartet, The Elora Singers appear together on July 18 at 7:30pm for a special one-time-only concert event of north-south-east-west fusion.
The Elora Singers and Junges Vokalensemble Hannover perform on July 19 at 7:30pm as the Elora Festival welcomes the Junges Vokalensemble Hannover and their conductor, Prof. Klaus-Jürgen Etzold from Germany.
The Gesualdo Six: Fading is on July 24 at 7:30pm. This award-winning British vocal ensemble is directed by Owain Park and features some of the UK’s finest consort singers, officials say.
Unplugged is on July 25 at 7:30pm. Back by popular demand, The Elora Singers take on Broadway classics and pop hits – solo and in small ensembles.
The Festival Finale: Heroic Handel is on July 26 at 7:30pm when the 46th Elora Festival comes to a close with a concert of the music of George Frideric Handel.
Chamber concerts
Chamber concerts include Elinor Frey: Bach Cello Suites on July 12 at 3:30pm when the American-Canadian cellist, gambist, and researcher, Elinor Frey returns to Elora to play Bach’s Suites 1, 5, and 6 in the intimate acoustic of St. John’s Anglican Church.
The Elora Singers at Twilight with Bénédicte Lauziére is on July 17 at 9pm. Gather in candle-lit twilight for a program of beautiful and meditative music.
Rachel Fenlon: Winterreise is on July 19 at 4pm. Rachel Fenlon is a soprano and pianist who performs song recitals as both a singer and pianist accompanying herself. She performs as an operatic soloist, as well as being a frequent interpreter of contemporary and chamber music.
Of Light and Solace is on July 20 at 2:30pm. American saxophonist Paul Cohen teams up with organist Andrew Henderson to perform works featuring the combination of soprano saxophone, Conn-O-Sax, and organ.
Schmaltz & Pepper perform on July 26 at 1pm. Schmaltz & Pepper is redefining the traditional boundaries of Yiddish music, blending classical music with innovative compositions and soulful arrangements, officials say.
Janina Fialkowska in Recital is on July 26 at 4pm. For 50 years, Canadian concert pianist Janina Fialkowska has enchanted audiences and critics around the world, thus becoming “one of the Grandes Dames of piano playing” (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung), officials say.
Special immersive experiences
Special immersive experiences include Baroque Music by Candlelight on July 13 at 8:30pm when Elora’s Fieldstone Barn is transformed into a candlelit venue.
Wrapped in Love is on July 23 at 6 and 8:30om. It is an interactive, immersive concert experience where you are encouraged to move comfortably and freely through the Fieldstone Barn and interact with art installations as The Elora Singers surround you with choral music.
Music in the Woods is on July 24 at 8am. Join The Elora Singers and instrumentalists for an enchanting morning of music in the Sandy Hills Regional Forest.
Family events
Family concerts and experiences include the Elora Festival Choir Camp on July 2 to 4, which featured singing, arts and crafts, and plenty of outdoor activities.
Shoestring Opera: The Schoolyard Carmen is on July 12 at 1pm. Shoestring Operas are 45 minutes long, are accessible, relevant and a stretch to the imagination, officials say. It includes music, humour and storytelling for all ages.
And then the Elora Festival Barn Dance with the Barrel Boys is on July 27 at 5pm. The festival ends with a barn dance with live music, food trucks, square dancing, and games at this family-friendly event.
Free events
Free events include Music in the Village on July 11, 13, 18, 20, and 25 at 1pm, when chamber ensembles perform free 45-minute concerts in Elora Village Green every weekend throughout the Festival.
I Will Hold You film screenings are on July 10, 17, 18 and 25 at 2pm. The Elora Festival is hosting non-ticketed matinee screenings of I Will Hold You at The Gorge Cinema throughout the festival.
The Elora Singers will be at St. John’s Anglican Church on July 13, 17, 20 and 24.
As part of their long history of collaboration and friendship with St. John’s Anglican Church, The Elora Singers are pleased to provide the service music for Choral Matins and Choral Evensong during the Elora Festival.
Everyone is welcome. For more information about concerts, venues and to purchase tickets, visit elorafestival.ca.
