Chœur Métropolitain
François A. Ouimet and Pierre Tourville are the chorus masters for the preparation of various programs and the conducting of certain concerts.
Comprising around 100 members, the Choir joins the Orchestre Métropolitain during its regular seasons to perform the great works of the repertoire.
Along with the Orchestre’s musicians under the baton of Yannick Nézet-Séguin, the Choir has delivered memorable performances of Rachmaninoff’s The Bells, Janáček’s Glagolitic Mass, Bruckner’s Mass No. 3 in F minor and Wagner’s operas Lohengrin and Parsifal at the Festival de Lanaudière, Dvořák’s Stabat Mater, Bach’s Saint Matthew Passion, Handel’s Messiah, Verdi’s Requiem, Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 2, “Lobgesang” and Mozart’s Great Mass in C minor. These performances have earned the Choir critical acclaim.
Over the years, the Choir has performed with many internationally renowned singers, including Mihoko Fujimura, Peter Rose, Christian Elsner, Diana Damrau, Renée Fleming, Karina Gauvin, Maria Guleghina, Marc Hervieux, Hiromi Omura, Henriette Schellenberg, Bryn Terfel, Julie Boulianne, Heidi Melton, Andrew Foster-Williams, Karen Cargill, Philippe Sly and other great voices from here and elsewhere.
In addition to its work with the Orchestre, the Chœur Métropolitain began organizing its own Opus series of concerts several years ago, under the direction of Pierre Tourville and François A. Ouimet, at which it has performed, among other works, Brahms’ Liebeslieder Walzer, Rossini’s Petite Messe solennelle, Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil, Duruflé and Fauré’s Requiems, and more recently, Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb and Dvořák’s Mass in D major.
