Midsummer Music Dream Virtual Festival
July 31 ~ August 9, 2020
In 2020 the 15th Midsummer Music Dream / Songe d'été en musique was virtual. During the week of July 31 to August 9, more than 90 videos contributed by over 40 artists from all over the world were posted each day on YouTube and Facebook. These videos were made mostly from the musicians' homes where they had self-quarantined.
There were videos about the history of the festival, a retrospective of past choral concerts and “Songs and Opera Arias” featuring past and present singers from the Vocal Studio. Although it saddened us not to be in Quebec last summer, the festival was extraordinary in that it included a much wider variety of international artists.
All events were free with some viewers generously making donations to the Centre d’action bénévole du Granit.
The “Songe d'été en musique” musicians and international guest artists are volunteering to send videos for the virtual festival 2020. We are asking that instead of purchasing concert tickets, you make donations to Centre d’action bénévole du Granit
We want to help those in need in the Eastern Townships during this time of Covid-19.
“We all shine on like the moon, the stars and the sun”
Some videos are no longer available
Friday, July 31, 1:00 pm
Opening Remarks: Harris Becker, Director
Documentary: “Beaux Souvenirs”. A Video History of the Festival by James Erickson
Friday, July 31, 7:30 pm
Virtual Concert
Performers include Maureen Hynes, cello; Jeffrey Marcus, piano; Laura Snowden, guitar; Ioannis Theodoridis, guitar
Music by Bach, Beethoven, Snowden, Llobet
Saturday, August 1, 7:30 pm
Virtual Concert
Performers include Ikhlaq Hussain, sitar; Maureen Hynes, cello; James Erickson, guitar; John Isenberg, digital harpsichord; Harris Becker, guitar; Schulich Singers; Chinnawat Themkumkwun, guitar
Music by York, Hovhaness, York, Beethoven, Williams, Spiroff
Sunday, August 2, 1:00 pm
Virtual Concert
Performers include Laura Lessard, guitar; John Isenberg, piano; Vincent Muscarella, guitar; Jeffrey Wahl, recorder; Michael McAndrew, piano; KINZAZA, various Instruments
Music by Mompou, Gabriel, de Falla, Beeftink, KINZAZA
Sunday, August 2, 7:30 pm
Virtual Concert
Performers include Paul Cesarczyk, guitar; Maureen Hynes, cello; Emily Klonowski, mezzo-soprano; Samantha Clarke, flute; Chinnawat Themkumkwun, guitar
Music by Narváez, Sor, Brower, Britten, Rodgers, Sondheim, Marais, Mangore
Monday, August 3, 1:00 pm
Interviews with Composers of World Premieres
Laura Snowden and Michael Spiroff
Monday, August 3, 7:30 pm
Virtual Concert
Performers include Jeffrey Marcus, piano; Frederic Hand, guitar; Ikhlaq Hussain, sitar; Michael Roberts, guitar; Jeff Wahl, recorder; John Isenberg, digital harpsichord; Christina Montalto, soprano; John Isenberg, piano; Huy Thanh Nguyen, guitar
Music by Schubert, Chopin, Schumann, Liszt, Sor, Marcello, Mozart, Granados
Tuesday, August 4, 7:30 pm
Virtual Concert
Performers include Chinnawat Themkumkwun, guitar; Emily Klonowski, mezzo-soprano; Huy Quang Tran, guitar; John Isenberg, piano; James Erickson, guitar; Rachel Fenlon, soprano; Leah Plave, cello; Amina Kecheroud, piano; Michael Roberts, guitar; Maureen Hynes, cello; Julia Bodian, guitar
Music by J.S. Bach, Debussy, Mertz, York, Spiroff, Roberts, Muczynski, Rose
Wednesday, August 5, 7:30 pm
Virtual Concert
Performers include John Isenberg, piano; David Elyaho, violin; Nick Tursi, guitar; Tri Phan, guitar; Dale Stuckenbruck Baroque Ensemble; Frank Cassara, percussion; Maureen Hynes, cello; Huy Thanh Nguyen, guitar; Nien Le, guitar; Huy Quang Tran, guitar; Michael McAndrew, piano; John Isenberg, piano; Nien Le, guitar; KINZAZA, various instruments
Music by Papadimitriou, Paganini, Albeniz, Vivaldi, Glass, Dyens, Arlen, Regondi, KINZAZA
This program was originally scheduled for Friday night
Thursday, August 6, 7:30 pm
Virtual Concert
“Songs and Opera Arias” featuring past and present singers from the Songe d’été en musique Vocal Studio
Music by Head, Schubert, Donizetti, Rimsky-Korsakov, Rachmaninoff, Bridge, Saint-Saëns, W.A. Mozart, Puccini, Dvořák, Bizet, Donizetti, Tosti, Liszt, Verdi
Friday, August 7, 7:30 pm
Virtual Concert
Performers include Saigon Guitar Ensemble; Vuong Quoc Anh, guitar; Huy Thanh Nguyen, guitar; Huynh Ba Tho, guitar; David Elyaho, viola; Harris Becker, guitar; Matthew Goodheart, tenor; Laura Lessard, guitar; John Meschi, accordion; Jeffrey Wahl, recorder; John Isenberg, piano; Nick Tursi, guitar; John Isenberg, piano
Music by Hougton, Llobet, Gangi, Hovhaness, Piaf et Guglielm, Donizetti, Cardoso, Webster
This program was originally scheduled for Wednesday night
Saturday, August 8, 7:30 pm
Virtual Concert
Songe d'été en musique retrospective choir video. Festival Chorus 2009-2019
Music by Puccini, Mozart, Fauré, Bizet, Vivaldi, Schubert, and Frassetti
Sunday, August 9, 1:00 pm
Virtual Concert
Performers include Dale Stuckenbruck, recycled instruments; Nick Tursi, guitar; Francesco Iadevaia, guitare; Tri Phan, guitar; Vincent Muscarella, guitar; Nick Tursi, guitar; Jeffrey Marcus, piano
Music by Stuckenbruck, Giuliani, Schubert, Meschi, Turina, Tárrega, Bach
Sunday, August 9, 7:30 pm
Virtual Concert
Performers include Julia Bodian, guitar; Jeffrey Wahl, recorder; John Isenberg, piano; Nick Tursi, guitar; Francesco Iadevaia, guitar; Dale Stuckenbruck, saw; Harris Becker, guitar; Laura Lessard, guitar; Rebecca Schifilliti, flute/piccolo; Zach Larimer, flute/piccolo; Lauren Scanio, flute; Lisa Dean, alto flute; Zach Hicks, bass flute
Music by Debussy, Pernambuco, Piazzolla, Handel, Stuckenbruck, Savage, Spiroff
** Saigon Guitar Ensemble. Huy Thanh Nguyen, Director: Le Cong Nam Anh, Nguyen Duong, Quach Thai Hung, Huy Quang Tran, Le Phuong Nam, Vo Hoang Long, Nguyen Dang Trai, Nguyen Dinh Quang, Tran Anh Quan, Tran Le Don, Pham Thanh Phong, Tong Duy Tien, Nguyen Cat Phong
At Midsummer Music Dream / Songe d'été en musique musicians and community collaborate in an environment committed to excellence in musicianship and performance.
A Midsummer Music Dream / Songe d'été en musique began in 2006 founded by Guitarists Harris Becker, Pasquale Bianculli and flutist Kathleen McDonald.
We wish to warmly thank the MRC of Granit, the municipalities and the people who help us in Lambton, Stornoway, Saint-Romain, Lac-Drolet, Stratford, Mont Megantic Observatory and the deputies, François Jacques de Lac- Mégantic and Samuel Poulin de Beauce-Sud. We would also like to thank the Cultural Committee of Lac-Mégantic as well as Hydro-Québec for their participation.
We also want to thank all the people of the region for their generous support and encouragement for the last fifteen years. We are looking forward to many years to come filled with great music.
