Musique Royale

Name: Musique Royale
Address: 64 Townsend Street, Lunenburg, NS, B0J2C0, CA
Telephone: +19027030739
Price range: $
Rating: 5

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Musique Royale

A Festival of Music in Historic Nova Scotia Our work would not be possible without the generous support of each local community.
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Musique Royale is a not-for-profit organization based in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, dedicated to promoting traditional and early music in historic venues throughout the province. Since its founding in 1985, Musique Royale has continued to celebrate venues of architectural and historic significance, and bring world-class music to communities across the province. Founded in 1985 by John Grew and a smal

l group of dedicated friends, the French and English overtones in the festival's name were chosen specifically to refer to the presence of more than one cultural force in Nova Scotia’s development, and to pay tribute to the province's diverse musical heritage. Under the leadership of Barbara Butler the organization grew from a summer festival to include a year-round concert series on the south shore. One of our main successes is working with volunteers throughout the province in venues of all sizes and histories as well as to promote a sense of community and shared pride in Nova Scotia's rich heritage. It is as much about bringing great traditional and early music to local communities as it is about offering the visiting musicians a taste of Nova Scotia, its landscape, its people, and its historic venues. Volunteers are at the heart of each event, warmly welcoming local, national, and international musicians and audience members alike to the 20 plus communities partnered with Musique Royale. We gratefully thank them, and all our patrons and sponsors, named and unnamed. Musique Royale is generously supported by Federal Department of Canadian Heritage, the Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage, Arts Nova Scotia, Support4Culture, the Lloyd Carr Harris Foundation, The Craig Foundation, season benefactor Julia Smith and valued anonymous support. Whether you are a local resident in a seaside community on the South Shore, or a visiting traveller in the magnificent highlands of Cape Breton, Musique Royale has a concert for you!

12/12/2024

Advance reservations for "A Chorister's Christmas" are sold out. Some spots will be available at the door, subject to seating within the church on the evening of the performance.

Musique Royale presents Capella Regalis Men and Boys Choir performing their concert "A Chorister's Christmas" at St John's Anglican Church in Lunenburg on Saturday December 21st at 4pm, as the choir brings us a new edition of their cherished Christmas concert, now in its 15th season! Directed by Nick Halley, and featuring organist Paul Halley, the choir has prepared a unique musical celebration of Christmas that weaves together works from a 12th-century female mystic, folk songs arranged by 20th-century composers, traditional German and French carols, and hymns calling for hearty audience participation.

Capella Regalis is a Canadian charity dedicated to training singers and to offering excellent choral music presentations to the public. Founded in Nova Scotia by director Nick Halley in 2010 to build upon the best aspects of the centuries-old European tradition of church choirs and to revitalize this method of music training in Canada, Capella Regalis now comprises a Boys Choir, Girls Choir, and professional Men's Choir (including Young Men with recently changed voices). Our children's choirs are free and open to any child who passes a basic audition. (read more at capellaregalis.com/)

A free-will offering is accepted with proceeds going to the Lunenburg Interchurch Food Bank and Second Story Women’s Centre.

12/10/2024

Musique Royale announces Handel’s Messiah performed by emerging artists at historic St John’s Anglican Church in Lunenburg on Tuesday December 17 at 7 pm. For music lovers around the world, Handel’s Messiah brings families together to begin their Christmas celebrations. Annually, it’s the single most performed piece of classical music worldwide (The Guardian). Handel’s masterpiece in its original version was astonishingly written in three to four weeks.

While now it is performed with giant orchestras and choirs, Handel originally wrote Messiah for modest vocal and instrumental forces. Artistic director and singer Janelle Lucyk has congregated a troupe of young historical performance specialists from across Canada to create this pocket-sized Messiah which is aligned towards the original format, and she will be joined by soloists including soprano Sinead White, tenor Kerry Bursey, and bass Alexander Dobson.

The concert includes a sing-a-long Hallelujah chorus, where our audience is invited to join us, with a rehearsal preceding the performance at 6:30 pm to go over the music. Scores are provided at the door.
With the Hallelujah chorus as its centerpiece, Messiah can charm any listener, and drawing together some of Canada’s brightest emerging stars, Handel’s powerful music will light up Lunenburg this December.

Tickets: musiqueroyale.com
Admission: $30 at the door, $25 advance, youth free (18 and under)

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12/10/2024

A Rose in Winter is a joyous celebration of Christmas that brings the audience and performers fully into the profound beauty and poignancy of the holiday. The concert is a presentation of readings and music that showcases The Choir of the Cathedral of All Saints directed by Paul Halley. Join us at St John's Anglican Church (64 Townsend St) in Lunenburg on Saturday December 14 at 4pm.

A Rose in Winter, now in its third year, is the successor to fifteen years of A King’s Christmas, presented while Paul Halley was director of the King’s Chapel Choir. This in turn was the successor to fifteen years of Christmas Angelicus concerts in Connecticut with Chorus Angelicus and Gaudeamus, choirs Paul and his wife founded in 1992. And before that, A Chorister’s Christmas was the celebration of the season at The Cathedral of St. John The Divine in New York where Paul was Director of Music.

In this long tradition, a guest artist/narrator was engaged to help select and present the readings, but this year, Halley will select from among his choir to handle the narration of poetry and stories, since among these accomplished singers lay the not-so-hidden talents of actors, comedians, and poets.

This Christmas concert has been described by The Chronicle Herald as “annual magic”, and the celebration continues this year, with carols old and new, including four with audience joining in, and readings from the quietly expressive to the hilarious.

🎟 Tickets: musiqueroyale.com
$30 at the door, $25 advance, students $10

12/10/2024

Musique Royale announces Handel’s Messiah performed by emerging artists at historic St John’s Anglican Church in Lunenburg on Tuesday December 17 at 7 pm. For music lovers around the world, Handel’s Messiah brings families together to begin their Christmas celebrations. Annually, it’s the single most performed piece of classical music worldwide (The Guardian). Handel’s masterpiece in its original version was astonishingly written in three to four weeks.
While now it is performed with giant orchestras and choirs, Handel originally wrote Messiah for modest vocal and instrumental forces. Artistic director and singer Janelle Lucyk has congregated a troupe of young historical performance specialists from across Canada to create this pocket-sized Messiah which is aligned towards the original format, and she will be joined by soloists including soprano Sinead White, tenor Kerry Bursey, and bass Alexander Dobson.
The concert includes a sing-a-long Hallelujah chorus, where our audience is invited to join us, with a rehearsal preceding the performance at 6:30 pm to go over the music. Scores are provided at the door.
With the Hallelujah chorus as its centerpiece, Messiah can charm any listener, and drawing together some of Canada’s brightest emerging stars, Handel’s powerful music will light up Lunenburg this December.
Tickets: musiqueroyale.com
Admission: $30 at the door, $25 advance, youth free (18 and under)

Musique Royale is an organization based in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, dedicated to promoting traditional and early music in historic venues throughout the province. Since its founding in 1985, Musique Royale has continued to celebrate venues of architectural and historic significance, and bring world-c...

12/08/2024

Musique Royale is delighted to present Capella Regalis Men and Boys Choir in Lunenburg on December 21st at 4pm for “A Chorister’s Christmas”, as the choir brings us a new edition of their cherished Christmas concert series, now in its 15th season! Directed by Nick Halley, and featuring organist Paul Halley, the choir has prepared a unique musical celebration of Christmas that weaves together works from a 12th-century female mystic, folk songs arranged by 20th-century composers, traditional German and French carols, and hymns calling for hearty audience participation.

Admission: Seats may be reserved in advance online (musiqueroyale.com), or by email ([email protected]). Attendees are welcome at the door for remaining spots. A free-will offering goes to Lunenburg Interchurch Food Bank and Second Story Women’s Centre.

12/08/2024

A Rose in Winter is a joyous celebration of Christmas that brings the audience and performers fully into the profound beauty and poignancy of the holiday. The concert is a presentation of readings and music that showcases The Choir of the Cathedral of All Saints directed by Paul Halley. Join us at St John's Anglican Church (64 Townsend St) in Lunenburg on Saturday December 14 at 4pm.

A Rose in Winter, now in its third year, is the successor to fifteen years of A King’s Christmas, presented while Paul Halley was director of the King’s Chapel Choir. This in turn was the successor to fifteen years of Christmas Angelicus concerts in Connecticut with Chorus Angelicus and Gaudeamus, choirs Paul and his wife founded in 1992. And before that, A Chorister’s Christmas was the celebration of the season at The Cathedral of St. John The Divine in New York where Paul was Director of Music. In this long tradition, a guest artist/narrator was engaged to help select and present the readings, but this year, Halley will select from among his choir to handle the narration of poetry and stories, since among these accomplished singers lay the not-so-hidden talents of actors, comedians, and poets.

This Christmas concert has been described by The Chronicle Herald as “annual magic”, and the celebration continues this year, with carols old and new, including four with audience joining in, and readings from the quietly expressive to the hilarious.

Admission: $30 at the door, $25 advance, students $10
Tickets: musiqueroyale.com

11/18/2024

On Saturday December 7 at 2 pm, hear Tiffany Liu's trio performing at the Lunenburg School of the Arts for our Cookie Concerts! Originally from China, Tiffany Liu is an accomplished P**a player with over two decades of dedicated practice and performance experience. The P**a is a traditional Chinese musical instrument, which has been played for almost two thousand years in China and is one of China's most popular instruments. Sometimes called the "Chinese lute", it has a pear-shaped wooden body with a varying number of frets.

Based in PEI, Tiffany was nominated this year for "Global Recording of the Year" at the ECMA's, and has performed at the Winnipeg Folk Festival, Stan Rogers Folk Festival, and Under The Spire in PEI. With an open heart and an unwavering spirit of exploration, she aims to share the beauty of the P**a and Asian music culture with a global audience. Tiffany is joined on stage by buitarist Ivan Garnica and percussionist Mark Carr-Rollitt. All ages are welcome at this hourlong performance, followed by a sweet treat!

📍 Lunenburg School of the Arts , 6 Prince St, Lunenburg
📅 Saturday December 7 at 2 pm
🎟️ Admission: $10 at the door (youth free, ages 18 and under).

details at musiqueroyale.com

11/14/2024

Musique Royale welcomes listeners for a morning of jazz as featured artist Peter-Anthony Togni will mesmerize and inspire with an hourlong piano performance on Saturday November 23 at 11 am.

🕊️ With music that is spiritually rooted and reaches up to the divine, he will bring us a series of his own compositions, with other jazz and some creative interpretations of Bach to round out the program. Peter-Anthony Togni's music ragnes from the ethereally quiet to the explosive outer limits of contemplation.

✈️ Togni has been heard everywhere from Toronto’s Roy Thompson Hall and the Moscow Conservatory, to the Oriental Arts Centre in Shanghai and the Vatican in Rome for His Holiness Pope John Paul II. His music is broadcast regularly in Canada on CBC, as well as internationally, including on the BBC, Classic FM, Deutsche Wella and Radio France.

📍 Join us in the intimate setting of Cecilia's Retreat in Mahone Bay (1199 Oakland Rd, RR2) to hear Peter up close.

🎟️ Admission is $35, by advance reservation due to limited seating at the venue. Please email [email protected] if you would like to attend.

🎵 Details at musiqueroyale.com

11/13/2024

Mount Allison University students studying vocal performance present “The Early Music Show”, an engaging and historically informed program of vocal repertoire from the Baroque period. This special performance is aimed at family audiences and those who are new to experiencing this rich and dramatic repertoire. Hear dazzling works by Antonio Vivaldi, Johann Sebastien Bach, Georg Frideric Handel, Henry Purcell, Catarina Assandra, Jean-Baptist Lully, and many more! Join Musique Royale on Thursday November 14 at 7 pm at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church (65 Fox St) in Lunenburg for this one-of-a-kind event!

Students from the Baroque Performance class and the Elliott Chorale ensemble have created an exciting performance, inviting audiences into the mesmerizing world of early music from the European art music realm. For this unique concert experience, students will collaborate with professional mentors, Ryan Gallagher (gamba and Baroque cello), Jonathan Stutchbery (lutes and guitars), Jimin Shin Dobson (Baroque violin), and Dr. Kiera Galway (conductor).

Admission: pay what you can, seats can be reserved in advance (http://tiny.cc/2t4vzz)

This concert is possible in partnership with Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning Canada (CEWIL Canada).

11/01/2024

Musique Royale welcomes mezzo-soprano Camila Montefusco and pianist Yolanda Tapia to perform "Aire y Tierra" at Cecilia's Retreat (1199 Oakland Rd, RR2) in Mahone Bay on Saturday November 9 at 3 pm.

With classical music, sound effects, and storytelling, Obsidiana Duo has crafted a program inspired by ancestral stories, the search for home, and a journey to self-discovery through our shared humanity.

Drawn together to celebrate the vibrant tapestry of Ibero-American musical culture, the duo's accolades speak volumes: a First Prize win at the Puerto Rico Collaborative Piano Competition, a prestigious fellowship with the Toronto Summer Music Festival, and an artistic residency at the renowned Banff Centre.

Admission is $35 by advance reservation. Please email [email protected] if you would like to attend.

10/27/2024

Very exciting news for youth on the south shore! Our friends at Capella Regalis Choirs are starting a new South Shore Program, launching on November 14!

This will be a FREE series of group singing workshops for kids ages 8 - 12, directed by Nick Halley, a celebrated music educator.

Here are some details:
Every Thursdays from 3:30 - 5 PM at St John’s Anglican Church, Lunenburg.
Open to any child ages 8-12 keen to learn music. No prior singing experience necessary!
Workshops will include instruction on singing, reading music, developing a sense of rhythm, and the study of music from the past 1,000 years, from Gregorian Chant to Baroque composers, and from Renaissance polyphony to folk songs from around the world.
Free transportation assistance is available for choristers from local elementary schools to workshops and back home. Details arranged upon registration.

Registration required. Sign up at www.capellaregalis.com/south-shore

10/27/2024

Very exciting news for youth on the south shore! Capella Regalis Choirs is starting a new South Shore Program, launching on November 14! This will be a FREE series of group singing workshops for kids ages 8 - 12, directed by Nick Halley, a celebrated music educator.

Here are some details:
Every Thursdays from 3:30 - 5 PM at St John’s Anglican Church, Lunenburg.
Open to any child ages 8-12 keen to learn music. No prior singing experience necessary!
Workshops will include instruction on singing, reading music, developing a sense of rhythm, and the study of music from the past 1,000 years, from Gregorian Chant to Baroque composers, and from Renaissance polyphony to folk songs from around the world.
Free transportation assistance is available for choristers from local elementary schools to workshops and back home. Details arranged upon registration.
Registration required. Sign up at www.capellaregalis.com/south-shore

10/21/2024

On Saturday November 2 at 2 pm, hear Conundrum Duo perform a Cookie Concert at the Lunenburg School of the Arts (6 Prince St)! Conundrum Duo features the vibrant and creative programming of flutist Jack Chen and harpist Ellen Gibling. Conundrum Duo is one of Nova Scotia’s most versatile ensembles, performing classical, folk, and popular genres, with a great passion for Canadian new music too. Jack and Ellen will take us on a rollercoaster of music for all the senses with works by JS Bach, Ravi Shankar, Claude Debussy, CW Gluck, and Marcel Tournier! All ages are welcome at this hour long concert of original music, followed by a sweet treat.

Admission: $10 at the door (ages 4 and under are free).
Details: musiqueroyale.com

About Conundrum Duo
Conundrum is the dynamic flute and harp duo of Jack Chen and Ellen Gibling, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. A versatile and exploratory ensemble, Conundrum balances classic repertoire with challenging and innovative recent compositions, in particular new works by Canadians. The duo has expanded its horizons by collaborating with many other artists, including Sue Sayle (viola), Janice Jackson (soprano), Shawn Mativetsky (tabla), Fifth Wind (woodwind quintet), and Susanne Chui (dance). In addition, the duo has performed with Musikon Concert Society, the Music Room Chamber Players, Inner Space Concerts, Wired! (Acadia New Music Ensemble), and in 2017 created its own multi-disciplinary children’s show: Deep Sea Conundrum.

10/21/2024

On Saturday November 2 at 2 pm, hear Conundrum Duo perform a Cookie Concert at the Lunenburg School of the Arts (6 Prince St)! Conundrum Duo features the vibrant and creative programming of flutist Jack Chen and harpist Ellen Gibling. Conundrum Duo is one of Nova Scotia’s most versatile ensembles, performing classical, folk, and popular genres, with a great passion for Canadian new music too. Jack and Ellen will take us on a rollercoaster of music for all the senses with works by JS Bach, Ravi Shankar, Claude Debussy, CW Gluck, and Marcel Tournier! All ages are welcome at this hour long concert of original music, followed by a sweet treat.

Admission: $10 at the door (ages 4 and under are free).

About Conundrum Duo
Conundrum is the dynamic flute and harp duo of Jack Chen and Ellen Gibling, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. A versatile and exploratory ensemble, Conundrum balances classic repertoire with challenging and innovative recent compositions, in particular new works by Canadians. The duo has expanded its horizons by collaborating with many other artists, including Sue Sayle (viola), Janice Jackson (soprano), Shawn Mativetsky (tabla), Fifth Wind (woodwind quintet), and Susanne Chui (dance). In addition, the duo has performed with Musikon Concert Society, the Music Room Chamber Players, Inner Space Concerts, Wired! (Acadia New Music Ensemble), and in 2017 created its own multi-disciplinary children’s show: Deep Sea Conundrum.

10/12/2024

Here are some pictures from the wonderful concert yesterday at Cecilia's Retreat featuring the fabulous musicians of Payadora Ensemble! Many warm thanks for having brought your beautiful music to Mahone Bay.

10/03/2024

From our concert on Sunday, this superb recording captures all the beauty of Xaver Varnus' organ playing, the iconic setting of St John's Church and the captivated listening in the audience. Thank you to all who joined us on Sunday afternoon for this performance.

Turning to this Saturday, we are delighted to feature Blue Lobelia at a special Cookie Concert celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Lunenburg School of the Arts. Known for her mesmerizing live performances that blend improvised soundscapes with intricate arrangements, Blue Lobelia has enchanted audiences across Canada and beyond.

Join us at 2 pm on Saturday, and read further details on the October 5th Open House activities celebrating the Lunenburg School of the Arts’ 10th year anniversary at lunenburgarts.org. Admission is $10 at the door, ages 4 and under are free.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g5KLr11RpY&ab_channel=XaverVarnus

•●The Official Video Site of Concert Organist Xaver Varnus●•Xaver Varnus' first piano teacher was Emma Németh, one of the last pupils of Debussy. He has play...

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64 Townsend Street
Lunenburg, NS
B0J2C0

Telephone

+19027030739

Website

http://www.musiqueroyale.com/

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Musique Royale presents Ensemble Urmawi on a concert tour of Nova Scotia, with performances remaining this afternoon on Bell Island (LaHave Islands), Monday in Port Williams and Tuesday at Peggy's Cove. The quartet of musicians features Lebanese singer and oud player Lamia Yared, qanun player Naeem Shanwar, kamancheh player Showan Tavakol, and percussionist Ziya Tabassian. Part of Musique Royale's 39th Summer Festival, the musicians will interpret Syrian traditional songs, as well as sacred chants from the early Christians of the Orient in Aramaic, and some ancient Persian music. Admission is $25 at the door, $20 with advance reservation, and students pay $10 at the door. 🎟️Get tickets at musiqueroyale.com

The captivating music and dance of Nic Gareiss is not to be missed this week on the Best of Boxwood tour. Performances remain in Shelburne, Blandford, Iona and Tatamagouche, part of our 39th Summer Festival. Visit musiqueroyale.com for tickets and info. @nicgareisslfi @boxwoodfestivals @ospreyartscentre #novascotia

From June 18th til June 22nd, Musique Royale is delighted to present the Mexican trio Al Golpe del Guatimé, part of our 39th Summer Festival. The performance celebrates a musical journey between traditional Son Jarocho music from 18th century Veracruz in Mexico, and oriental music of the east. The oriental influences are evident in Jarocho melodies, such as the Fandanguito, Cascabel, and Petenera, reflecting minor modes and the Arab-Andalusian heritage that traveled to Mexico during the conquest. The trio features a family of performers: José Ángel Gutiérrez, Teresita Islas and José Enrique Gutiérrez, with singing, dance, and playing guitarra jabalina, jarana, and guitarra bombona. 📆Tour Itinerary: Tuesday June 18, 7 pm • St John's Centre for the Arts, Arichat Wednesday June 19, 7 pm • Inverness Arts Centre, Inverness Thursday June 20, 7 pm • High Tides A&C Centre, Maitland Friday June 21, 7 pm • St John’s in the Wilderness, New Germany Saturday June 22, 4 pm • North Baptist Church, Yarmouth 🎟️Tickets: musiqueroyale.com Admission: $25 at the door, $20 by advance reservation, students $10. #Mexico #novascotia #tour #traditionalmusic #historicvenues

Thank you to Capella Regalis and their director Nick Halley for yesterday's captivating and absolutely magical performance. This music makes our spirits soar to the heavens and what sweeter fortune than to hear it in Lunenburg. A packed house yesterday at historic St John's with many even standing to hear the singers, we managed to raise over $6,400 thanks to everyone's donations which will be given to the Lunenburg Interchurch Food Bank and the Second Story Women's Centre in town. Still to come this week, Musique Royale features Handel's Messiah in Baddeck, Wolfville and Lunenburg from December 21-23. Performed by Ensemble Ménestrel, the performance features a mix of young historical performance specialists from across Canada with soloists including soprano Ariadne Lih, mezzo-soprano Sarah Myatt, tenor Kerry Bursey, and bass Matthew Li. Tickets and details at musiqueroyale.com @capellaregalis #lunenburg #novascotia #mahonebay #music #choir #choralmusic

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Our Story

Musique Royale is a prolific, province-wide presenter of music in Nova Scotia. Since its founding in 1985, Musique Royale has brought world class music to venues of architectural and historic significance across the province. With upwards of 75 concerts each year, enjoy Symphony Orchestras and Chorus’ in beautiful churches to salon-style events, and children-friendly shows encompassing jazz, world, classical, and more. Whatever your appetite for music is, Musique Royale has something for everyone!

Musique Royale gratefully acknowledges the Federal Department of Canadian Heritage, the Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage, Arts Nova Scotia, Julia Smith - major season sponsor, the Lunenburg School of the Arts, the Lloyd Carr Harris Foundation, the Craig Foundation, Nova Scotia Health Board, anonymous contributors, corporate and individual sponsors, committed volunteers and all patrons for their kind and generous support of Musique Royale. We remember with gratitude Peggy Corkum, longtime major season benefactor of Musique Royale, who passed away December, 2018.

LuYoun