× A glorious evening of opera favourites full of warmth, passion and sheer vocal brilliance featuring Isabel Bayrakdarian and three stars of the Canadian Opera Company Stage with full orchestra and chorus. This performance will be followed by fireworks and reception.

× “Shoestring revisits Mozart’s most famous opera and offers an ideal introduction to the glory of this art form. Through the power of music and the magic of make-believe, Allegra and Papageno embark on an adventure of sharing and self-discovery.”

http://shoestringopera.com/pdf/MagicFluteGuide.pdf

Bring a picnic lunch, visit the Library, then tour the Museum for free at 1pm

× Isabel makes a triumphant return to Elora with her strikingly colourful and embracing voice. She has sung in the top opera houses and concert halls the world over.

× Hear Montréal’s finest early music vocal ensemble. This program features three stunning and emotional Lamentations from the 16th century—by Tallis, Morales, and de Lassus.

× Welcome back Ben Heppner, one of the world’s greatest tenors with the Toronto Mass Choir, a highly rhythmic and engaging gospel ensemble, lots of fun and full of life!

× These two Lutheran masses are music that Bach has reused from the best of his cantatas. This is music from the high Baroque, rhythmic, sensual and highly devotional.

× A national treasure, the Vancouver Chamber Choir invites you on a journey through joy, piety, intensity, playfulness, sorrow and humour. With works by Bach, Dvořák, Beckwith, Bernstein, Dowland, and Josquin, among others, this concert honours VCC founder, artistic director and conductor Jon Washburn, who plans to step down following the 2018/19 season. Don’t miss your chance to see this master of choral technique and interpretation and the choir he helped form.

× As of June 15/2018 tickets to the dinner are sold out.

Reserve dinner and enjoy a pre-concert meal prepared by Fergies Fine Foods.

× Last summer, Lesley brought the house down with her rendition of “River.” This year, she’s back in an intimate setting to bring you more powerful songs from Joni Mitchell and other pop icons.

× Come celebrate our 39th anniversary in style! We are thrilled to invite you to dine with us in the newly inaugurated Wellington Room of the Elora Mill. What better way to toast the past and build the future than an intimate evening of fine dining and comic opera antics with Millan & Faye in this world-class venue.

Cocktails 5:30 PM | Dinner 7 PM

× These are non-ticketed events at St. John’s Church with a recommended free-will offering of $20. Choral Evensong and Festival Sunday Services are sung by The Elora Singers.

× On the 50th anniversary of his death, The Elora Singers remember Healey Willan, the “Dean of Canadian Composers,” through song, word and images.

× Kids Camp is transforming this year. Please call the Elora Festival office for information.

× Come and hear a world-class singer who will soon be in all the top opera houses. Remember you heard her here first. Simona Genga won hearts and first prize at the COC’s recent Ensemble Studio Competition.

× The Sultans’ “global sonic tapestry” combines Spanish flamenco, Arabic folk songs, Cuban rhythms, East Coast fiddling, and Gypsy-jazz in a musical fusion that thrills.

× Violin sensation Chris McKhool, of Sultans of String fame, gets children and families moving. Scat-sing, strike up a rhythm and join Chris on stage to play rare percussion instruments from around the world! Chris and his spectacular band introduce kids to Gypsy-jazz, blues, classical, flamenco, funk, world beat, East Coast fiddling and more. Perfect for the young and the young at heart.

Bring a picnic lunch, visit the Library, then tour the Museum for free at 1pm

× To celebrate the centenary of Leonard Bernstein’s birth, your Singers perform a selection of the master’s choral works, including the Chichester Psalms, a composition that combines Christian and Judaic traditions in music that ranges from dramatic and agitated to lyrical and consoling.

× Hear our beloved Festival concertmaster in recital. An award-winning violinist at home and internationally, Bénédicte Lauzière enjoys a prolific career on the Canadian stage, notably as concertmaster of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony and our own Festival Orchestra, but also as soloist, chamber musician and recitalist.

× In her newest show, Canada’s first lady of musical theatre weaves together story and song to explore the music made famous by the incomparable Judy Garland. Treat yourself to memorable show tunes such as “Over the Rainbow,” “The Man That Got Away,” “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows,” “Embraceable You” and “I Can’t Give You Anything but Love.”

× Stack together a few movements from Mendelssohn’s organ sonatas. Lay on a selection of his anthems, motets, and folksongs for choir. You’ve got yourself a club sandwich of some of the most melodic and dramatic choral and organ music ever penned. A concert not to be missed!

× Sounding Thunder is a musical journey into the life of Francis Pegahmagabow, renowned Ojibwe WWI sniper and decorated officer in the Canadian military. Composed by Timothy Corlis and written by Ojibwe poet Armand Garnet Ruffo, Sounding Thunder is a work in three acts: Pegahmagabow’s early years in a world imbued with Anishinaabe spirits, his extraordinary accomplishments in the trenches, and his career as political activist and Chief of the Wausauksing Ojibwe. Written for multiple roles, both human and non-human, Sounding Thunder offers Canadian history that is not well known, a fascinating story and a dynamic musical experience.

× As of May 31/2018 tickets to the dinner are sold out.

Reserve dinner and enjoy a pre-concert meal prepared by Fergies Fine Foods.

× As of June 12/2018 this performance is sold out.

The Singers let their hair down in this rocking “house party.” Performing Broadway tunes and other personal favourites, they present a casual “this is us” showcase that will bring you closer to your Singers than ever.

× These are non-ticketed events at St. John’s Church with a recommended free-will offering of $20. Choral Evensong and Festival Sunday Services are sung by The Elora Singers.

× Elora and Canada welcomes one of the newest and most popular male ensembles to come out of England. After the big splash they made in Europe, Gesualdo Six is testing our waters with this Canadian début. Let’s hope they like the climate!

× Paul Novotny and Robi Botos | Look Ahead with special guest Jackie Richardson

Canadian jazz stalwarts bassist Paul Novotny and pianist Robi Botos, with special guest Jackie Richardson, in this musical celebration. This intimate evening of stories and songs of community and Canadian culture features selections from the artists’ own recordings as well as from some of our greatest Canadian songwriters.

× Take a musical expedition across continents and centuries to help a discouraged bird discover her voice. This beloved Platypus Theatre family concert will have young audiences laughing, chanting and singing along with the Gimquat and her wizard guide as they explore musical styles from Gregorian chant to rap.

Bring a picnic lunch, visit the Library, then tour the Museum for free at 1pm

× Our festival director has a favourite Canadian pianist, and he joins us again tonight. Noel doesn’t care what André Laplante plays as long as he plays it here. Laplante returns to Elora with stirring renditions of Ravel’s Menuet antique, Schubert’s Sonata in A minor, D. 66, and Brahms’ epic Sonata in F Minor, Op. 5. It’s a recital bent on making Laplante your favourite Canadian pianist too.

× The accolades keep coming in for Canada’s leading young quartet: In 2016 they were named CBC’s “Hot Canadian Classical Musicians Under 30.” They took first prize at the 12th Banff International String Quartet Competition (BISQC) and numerous international contests. They’ve just become the first international ensemble to receive the prestigious Cleveland Quartet Award. Their beautiful programme includes Beethoven’s Op. 18, No. 3, an d Tchaikovsky’s String Quartet No. 1.

× Somewhere, somehow, everybody has heard of Chantal Kreviazuk. She’s an internationally renowned solo artist. She’s collaborated with Drake, Pitbull, Christina Aguilera, Carrie Underwood, Kendrick Lamar and Pink. But have you seen her perform live? Elora is overjoyed to welcome this JUNO awardwinning Canadian singersongwriter as she makes her Festival début.

× This year’s Festival closes with two dramatic choral-orchestra works. Handel’s Dettingen Te Deum is majestically thrilling, and Mozart’s Mass in C is sheer brilliance. Don’t miss this final performance with internationally renowned coloratura Claire de Sévigné. It will be a musical triumph.