While sports fans were busy watching the Super Bowl Sunday spectacle, Quebéc’s classical music community gathered to celebrate their own at the 24th annual Opus Prize Gala via the Conseil québécois de la musique broadcast from Montréal’s Bourgie Hall.
Due to pandemic restrictions, the gala was all virtual format this year, making it accessible for the first time to the general public.
Hosted by the tenor Marc Hervieux, the awards ceremony recognized 26 laureates for musical projects this past season. Thanks to the magic of the editing, the online format made it possible to keep speeches short and include special interview segments with winners conducted by Catherine Perrin.
A few musical performances were also on the menu, including Karina Gauvin and Marie-Nicole Lemieux performing an emotional rendition of the famous ‘Flower Duet’ from Delibes’ Lakmé, accompanied on the piano by Olivier Godin.
“We can all be proud of the music professionals of Quebéc, who demonstrate exceptional competence within their discipline, while bringing us hope and comfort in this singular period in our history,” said Nathalie Roy, Minister of Culture and Communications. […] “Well done to all the award winners and thank you for bringing the magic of music back to life in each work, each composition, and in each performance”.
Award Highlights
Tribute Award: Kent Nagano
Performer of the Year: Elinor Frey
Composer of the Year: James O’Callaghan
Discovery of the Year: Ariane Brisson
Artistic Director of the Year: Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Orchestre Métropolitain
Concert of the Year – Classical, romantic, post-romantic, impressionist music: Joyce DiDonato & Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Orchestre Métropolitain, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, conductor, Joyce DiDonato, mezzo-soprano, November 19, 2019.
Musical Event of the Year: Mini-Concerts Santé — Ensemble Caprice, Ensemble vocal Arts-Québec, June to September, 2020.
Album of the Year – Classical, romantic, post-romantic or impressionist music: Chopin: Ballades et impromptus, Charles Richard-Hamelin, Analekta
Congratulations to the finalists and winners of this 24th edition of the Opus awards!
See here for a full list of winners.
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