Classical Singing / Contemporary

Nouvel Ensemble Moderne | New Songs for a New Era

by Judith Hamel

The Nouvel Ensemble Moderne (NEM) is writing the first pages of a new book in this 2024-2025 season, divided into three chapters and driven by the wind of renewal of Jean-Michaël Lavoie, who succeeds Lorraine Vaillancourt after 35 years at the helm of the chamber orchestra. For the second chapter of three this season, the NEM invites us to the Cinquième salle at Place des arts for a concert in collaboration with the Atelier lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal.

Entitled Chapitre 2 – Des airs nouveaux, this afternoon concert featured a repertoire equally divided between three Quebec composers and Korean composer Unsuk Chin. Upon entering the foyer, the audience was greeted by a mediation team led by Irina Kirchberg, visiting professor at the Université de Montréal, which included a recording device for superimposing spectators’ voices, as well as an interactive panel in the form of a memory game inviting them to discover more about the works on the program.

The concert then opened with José Evangelista’s Vision, a piece for small ensemble and mezzo-soprano with a mystical aura. Brazilian singer Camila Montefusco brilliantly interpreted this work, which highlights the composer’s Spanish origins and multiple influences.

This was followed by Claude Vivier’s Bouchara, a long love song sung entirely in an invented language. Soprano Chelsea Kolić, buoyed by the expressiveness of the writing, gave us the impression of understanding her message, even as it eluded us. So we don’t need to speak the language to understand love.

In the second half, Luna Pearl Woolf’s Orpheus on Sappho’s Shore impressed with the rich voice of countertenor Ian Sabourin, who deftly navigated his multiple registers.

Finally, the NEM offered Unsuk Chin’s Cantatrix Sopranica, the only piece outside Canada on the program. Written for two sopranos, a countertenor and ensemble, it was performed here by Chelsea Kolić, Ariadne Lih and Bridget Esler, three sopranos whose timbres intertwine perfectly in this texturally fascinating work. Chin explores the very act of singing, summoning vocal warm-ups, role-playing and unexpected reversals between singers and musicians. Its fragmented writing makes it a hyper-vocal work in which the orchestral ensemble extends and magnifies the voices. Accessible and complex at the same time, blending virtuosity, humor and emotion, this piece is a perfect match for the NEM’s new direction.

The collaboration between the Atelier lyrique and the NEM has been a success. The commitment of the young singers, with their expressive, precise voices, blends very well with the spirit of the NEM.

Jean-Michaël Lavoie conducts with such fluidity. When the lights illuminate the musicians’ work, we can at the same time deconstruct every little intention of the conductor, seeing with clarity the variations of suppleness in these gestures. In this way, the NEM is in good hands.

For their next concert, we’re lucky not to have to wait too long. On May 10, they’ll be at Salle Pierre-Mercure, presenting Chapitre 3 – Dérive 2 Pierre Boulez.

Latest 360 Content

FIJM | Kojo Melché Roney, Born to Drum

FIJM | Kojo Melché Roney, Born to Drum

FIJM 2025 | King Makaya triumphs again

FIJM 2025 | King Makaya triumphs again

FIJM | It’s About Time to Ackowledge Peter Evans Fabulous Playing

FIJM | It’s About Time to Ackowledge Peter Evans Fabulous Playing

FIJM | Yasmin Williams: Reinventing The Guitar!

FIJM | Yasmin Williams: Reinventing The Guitar!

FIJM | Natalia Lafourcade Sparks a Place des Arts Gone Mexican

FIJM | Natalia Lafourcade Sparks a Place des Arts Gone Mexican

FIJM 2025 | Clown Core: the theatre of extremes, between Pennywise and Krusty

FIJM 2025 | Clown Core: the theatre of extremes, between Pennywise and Krusty

Domaine Forget | A Summer of Discovery

Domaine Forget | A Summer of Discovery

FIJM | Wynton & JLCO: Something of an Opening Ceremony

FIJM | Wynton & JLCO: Something of an Opening Ceremony

SUONI | Kalmunity: STARS SHINE DARKLY in a night of powerful words, words of love and raging roars, healing grooves and dissent manners

SUONI | Kalmunity: STARS SHINE DARKLY in a night of powerful words, words of love and raging roars, healing grooves and dissent manners

Suoni 2025 | Farida Amadou ++: an apotheosis of adrenaline discharge

Suoni 2025 | Farida Amadou ++: an apotheosis of adrenaline discharge

Serge Fiori’s Imprint (1952-2025)

Serge Fiori’s Imprint (1952-2025)

Suoni 2025 | Bozzini + Sarah Hennies: contrasts in post-minimalism

Suoni 2025 | Bozzini + Sarah Hennies: contrasts in post-minimalism

Queenie | An Artist to Look Out For

Queenie | An Artist to Look Out For

Jazz at the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal explained by Modibo Keita

Jazz at the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal explained by Modibo Keita

FIJM 2025 | Programming Explained by Modibo Keita (part 2)

FIJM 2025 | Programming Explained by Modibo Keita (part 2)

Montreal Chamber Music Festival | But it was a nice concert…

Montreal Chamber Music Festival | But it was a nice concert…

Montréal Baroque 2025 | 4 seasons: welcome to the 21st century and the climate crisis, Mr. Vivaldi

Montréal Baroque 2025 | 4 seasons: welcome to the 21st century and the climate crisis, Mr. Vivaldi

Montréal Baroque 2025 | Zarzuela, my love

Montréal Baroque 2025 | Zarzuela, my love

Suoni | Contemporary Improvisation, Latin American Discovery

Suoni | Contemporary Improvisation, Latin American Discovery

Francos | The Candor and Kindness of Aliosha Schneider

Francos | The Candor and Kindness of Aliosha Schneider

Francos | Back in Time With Saïan Supa Celebration

Francos | Back in Time With Saïan Supa Celebration

Festival d’art vocal de Montréal | What’s On July 2-27 at Salle Claude-Champagne?

Festival d’art vocal de Montréal | What’s On July 2-27 at Salle Claude-Champagne?

Francos | Cardinal at The Foufs

Francos | Cardinal at The Foufs

Piknik Elektronic | Nadim Maghzal, Laylit Co-Founder : MTL Middle East Arabic Electronic Refinement, Pleasure, Fun!

Piknik Elektronic | Nadim Maghzal, Laylit Co-Founder : MTL Middle East Arabic Electronic Refinement, Pleasure, Fun!

Subscribe to our newsletter