Music
Montréal has a vibrant music scene. Here are a few highlights that we experienced.
Chamber Music at La Salle Bourgie
La Salle Bourgie is a concert hall affiliated with the Montréal Museum of Fine Art. It is located in a historic church building across from the main museum building.
We attended a concert of the later works of the French composer Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924). The musicians were from the Montréal Symphony Orchestra. They performed a piano trio, a string quartet, and a piano quintet, all by Fauré. I don't think they were his best works, but the musicians were so masterful in their performances that it made for an enjoyable evening.
As in most classical music concerts, photos of the performance were not allowed, but this photo of the interior shows the intimate beauty of the hall.
La Salle Bourgie
Inside La Salle Bourgie
Jazz at the Upstairs Bar & Grill
Montréal has several jazz clubs, and in the summer they have some big festivals. For our short visit, I was able to get to just one jazz club.
The Upstairs is one of the better jazz clubs in town, hosting jazz every night of the week. I attended a show by the Kate Wyatt trio with special guest trumpeter Itamar Borochov from New York. It was a great venue, with good sound and a great piano. They performed original compositions by pianist Wyatt and Borochov.
Jazz at the Upstairs Bar & Grill
Buskers
When we travel I am always interested in the buskers (street musicians). After all, if they cut Social Security in the U.S., I might have to start busking myself! I think the cold temperatures of early spring were probably a deterrent, but we did see these two guys in front of the Notre Dame Basilique.
This guy was doing a great job playing pop tunes on a classical guitar.
This guy played a hammer dulcimer with a foot pedal thumping on his suitcase, which he also used for a seat. His "tap to tip $4" thing was unique (to me)!