By: Marcia Abramson
Montreal, Quebec City and Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario are the venues for some of my favorite things. There is the International Jazz Festival in Montreal, the New France Celebrations, and the Shaw Festival, the only theater in the world specializing in works written or set in George Bernard Shaw's lifetime (1856-1950).
Over 11 days and nights, from noon to the wee hours, June 29 to July 8, the music
happening will be in downtown Montreal. The four-block radius of the center city will be the site for the 500 planned concerts for this festival with as many as 50 concerts a day. About 350 of these will be outdoors and free to the public. There will be l5 outdoor stages and 10 indoor locations. According to Travel & Leisure Magazine, this event dwarfs all other jazz concerts and has been called the best party on the continent.
The series will kick off with Canada's ambassador of jazz vocalism, Diana Krall, on June 28 for two shows. Wynton Marsalis brings his trumpet and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra to our neighbor to the north with his marvelous swing sounds on July 1. The series will bring together the revolutionary acoustic Indo-jazz fusion of British guitarist John McLaughlin and Indian tabla master Zakir Hussain. Saxophonist Wayne Shorter will perform with an all-star quartet consisting of bassist John Pattucci, pianist Danilo Perez and drummer Brian Blade in what promises to be one of the highlight events in the world of jazz. I am told that things will get considerably funkier as the one and only artist known as Prince will get the audience on their feet to join him on the dance floor. More than 2,000 musicians from 20 countries including Algeria, France, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Austria, Norway, Spain and Cuba will bring their melodic music to the more than 1.6 million visitors who are expected to attend Montreal's annual celebration of the vitality and history of jazz. It is the 22nd year for this festival which is also a family affair. Street performers, acrobats, makeup artists and an interactive musical playground make this event a joy for children and their parents. Information on performers, dates and ticket availability can be obtained on the Internet at www.montrealjazzfest.com.
I am looking forward to returning to Quebec City for the New France Celebrations August 8 to 12. Last year, I enjoyed the transformation of Old Quebec back to the days of the early French settlements in Quebec city. The tableaus in the streets representing the Aboriginal Peoples and the French colonists during the 18th century were very colorful. This year, I learned that a special tribute will be staged to relations between the Aboriginal or First Nation People and the French colonists at the beginning of the 18th century. Fur traders, farmers, city dwellers and the aboriginals will come together again in harmony, bringing alive important moments in history. The streets in the Old City will be taken over again by the living theater of the New France Celebrations. They will be the setting for the historical festivities including the reenactment of courtroom trials. There are also many opportunities for family participation. I spent a good deal of my time enjoying the sing- along with the Canadian children and the costumed entertainers. History comes alive again during the four days of the event and can be a rewarding learning experience for the children and grandchildren. Information is available by calling (4l8) 694-3311 or by e-mail: fetes@nouvellefrance.qc.ca or the website: www.nouvellefrance.qc.ca.
I am also looking forward to attending the Shaw Festival, located only 20 minutes from the thunder of Niagara Falls in Ontario. Niagara-on-the Lake is an historic town dating back to the American Revolution when it became a haven for homeless American refugees who were loyal to Britain. It was also a battleground in the War of 1812. The Americans lost in their first invasion, but were victorious in their second invasion until they were forced out. They burned down the whole town of Niagara-on-the-Lake in defiance when they vacated the area. And now the Shaw Festival has one of the largest repertory theatre companies in North America and the only theatre in the world that specializes exclusively in plays of Bernard Shaw and his contemporaries in addition to plays set in that period. Their summer schedule will include "Fanny's First Play" by Shaw written in 1911 and called a "religious farce." It is the story of a young author indulged by her wealthy Irish Count father. Unbeknownst to him the London critics whom he has invited to a private performance find the play realistic, funny and a comedy of middle-class morals. This will be presented from June 7 to September 22. The other Shaw play scheduled through October 28 is the "Millionairess."
Information is available from the Shaw Festival Box Office at 1-800-511-SHAW (7429).
Copyright by Marcia Abramson
E-mail:mascribe@aol.com
