It’s been 21 years since the Festival International Hautes-Laurentides (FIHL) first offered high-level concerts to residents of the Upper Laurentians. For 2019, throughout the month of July, this unique cultural event offers 14 exceptionally high quality concerts to allow us to explore various musical directions in ten different locales.

Virtuoso violinist Alexandre Da Costa, the FIHL artistic director for the past eight years, has created a program of his own favourites featuring musicians he loves and with whom he has worked or is working on a variety of projects.

As is usual, most of the concerts are presented free of charge to respond to the FIHL mission, which is to allow as many people as possible to have privileged access to culture.

“My wife, Martine Cardinal [ed: general manager of the festival], and I have made this a highly significant personal project,” explains Alexandre Da Costa. “We are investing an enormous amount of energy in it and the festival is currently experiencing remarkable growth,” he adds.

Variety in the musical offering

The festival was called the Festival Classique des Hautes-Laurentides for many years, before changing its name to Festival International Hautes-Laurentides to emphasize its wish to provide many musical styles and offer its audiences a range of musical discoveries.

It continues to draw us to the classical, but no longer only that. From now on, hip-hop, jazz, electro-pop and world music will be on the program to provide a more widely accessible repertoire.

“It’s a more accurate representation of me as a musician,” Alexandre Da Costa confides. “While my training is classical, my musical choices are varied. I like mixing styles, and this is reflected in our program, which is highly eclectic,” he adds.

Three concerts in the GALA Series, featuring the Orchestre Symphonique de Laval, the Orchestre Symphonique de Longueuil, Mario Pelchat and Alexandre Da Costa have pride of place for this section of the festival. The eleven other concerts are free, although with the opportunity to purchase VIP access.

Six concerts featured in the Mont-Tremblant area

On July 5, renowned pianist Matt Herskowitz and his jazz trio are at the Village Church playhouse in Mont-Tremblant village.

On July 7, at the parc de la Gare (park of the railway Station) in Saint-Faustin-Lac-Carré, King Melrose is presenting his all-new show in duo format.

On July 13, Brigitte Boisjoli will be onstage at the Labelle Dôme with her show Signé Plamondon.

In the GALA Series, on July 18, Mario Pelchat will interpret his greatest classics as well as recent pieces from his repertoire, in the Saint-Jovite church (downtown district, Mont-Tremblant). Alexandre Da Costa will join him to offer works from their recent collaborative CD.

On July 19, again in Saint-Jovite church, the concert will be Musique du Royal 22^e Régiment. This internationally known wind and percussion orchestra will play works from the greatest composers of movie music.  Alexandre Da Costa will join the orchestra to top off the concert.

On July 20, the Outdoor Concert at the Domaine Saint-Bernard will feature La Bronze for a pop and electro-pop extravaganza. To start things off, Alexandre Da Costa will join her to testify to their musical partnership and demonstrate their work together on their recent album.

On July 21, in the Saint-Faustin-Lac-Carré church, renowned soprano Giorgia Fumanti will interpret classic pop songs, themes from movies, musicals and great classical successes that go straight to the heart.

The closing concert on July 30 will be part of the GALA Series. Held at Sainte-Agathe’s Le Patriote theatre, it will feature the Orchestre Symphonique de Longueuil, and the director and soloist will be Alexandre Da Costa. Wonderful music: the Eight Seasons of Vivaldi and Piazzolla.

For the full program and to purchase tickets, go to: fihl.ca