January 12, 2012
STEVEN HOWELL Press-RepublicanMONTREAL — Music, dance, film and theater highlight a busy season of stage creativity at the Segal Centre for Performing Arts.
"There's always so much going on at the Segal Centre," said CEO Manon Gauthier. "When you walk up the stairs, there's a concert in the Studio, a play in the main theater, a screening in our CinemaSpace, classes and rehearsals in the academy. And that's a normal day at the Segal."
Gauthier said the Segal Centre hosts some 450 events annually.
"There's really something for all cultural interests."
Making its return from last year's inaugural and successful debut is the "Women of the World" music series.
"That was an important discovery for us," Gauthier said. "We found that through music we're reaching out to more and more people of different languages and cultures. And we enjoy that role of bridge builder."
The series begins with Canadian singer-songwriter Coral Egan on Jan. 26.
"It's her first time here, so we're very excited," Gauthier said.
Egan is a jazz vocalist Juno Award nominee — the Canadian equivalent of the Grammy Awards.
Florence K follows with a show on March 1.
"Florence is enchanting," Gauthier said.
Incidentally, Florence is the daughter of Natalie Choquette, who herself takes to the Studio stage March 29.
"Oh, we operate like a big family here," Gauthier quipped.
Rounding out the series, Terez Montcalm enjoys her Studio stage time on April 19.
"It's a very versatile series," Gauthier said. And while some of the music is sung in French, Gauthier promises that "language is not a barrier at the Segal Centre. Music is a universal language, and it's there to open your mind."
"Women of the World" tickets start at $15.
Sunday evenings at the Studio belong to the "Power Jazz" series. The five jazz concerts run through April with guitarist Carlos Jimenez opening the event Jan. 22. Tickets start at $12.
Already under way is Musica Camerata Montreal, a chamber-music event which celebrates its 42nd season and its second season in residence at the Segal Centre. The unique chamber-music repertoire includes "Quebec, the Americas and Spain" on Feb. 26 and Euro flair with "Viennoiseries" on April 1. Both start at $12.
The newest genre to take to the Segal stage is the "Big Band" series. The University of Montreal Big Band debuts the event Feb. 29.
The Bravo Music banner showcases classical music and more with "Fiesta Flamenco," a concert and show featuring virtuoso guitarist Michael Laucke along with his dancers and musicians on Jan. 22 Tickets start at $12.
Dance gets its due with a collaborative project by dance company Sinha Danse and musician Kiya Tabassian. The event falls under the Danse Danse and Segal Centre choreographer-in-residence program.
"This was meant to involve the audience in the creative process," Gauthier said.
The work is rehearsed, gets presented on stage and then receives feedback from the audience. The first dance event is held Saturday. Tickets are free but must be reserved through the box office.
CinemaSpace hosts a number of events as well. The traveling tour of the 49th Ann Arbor Film Festival offers 17 short films from seven countries Jan. 19 through 22. Tickets cost $8.
Finally, "Love's Journey," a documentary by Plattsburgh filmmaker Rick Bechard, screens at CinemaSpace Feb. 5. The Canadian premier of the film is followed by a discussion with Bechard.
Steven Howell is the author of Montreal Essential Guide, a Sutro Media iPhone travel app available at iTunes.com.