How to get out of your comfort zone? The Montreal Bach Festival

Posted on by MSHomestay

Do you like classical music? Have you listened to classical music before? Maybe you think you don’t like it and it might be because you haven’t listened to it. Classical music just as electronic music is about feelings and interpretation.

Each year in Montreal there is a big festival called “The Montreal Bach Festival”, which is inspired in the timeless musical genius of Johann Sebastian Bach. Through a series of concerts and educational programs, this festival showcases elite musicians from over the world, and it also contributes significantly to Montreal’s international reputation as a cultural metropolis, attracting both local and international audiences of different music tastes.

The performances this festival offers are world-wide known and word-class in classical music, however, there is a specific event that is outside the box and had a huge success in the last edition: Red Bull Flying Bach, a mix of breakdance with Bach’s classical music based on the Well-Tempered Clavier, with the jazz performances of Uri Caine, Steve Kuhn and Moni Cinelu, recitals of uncommon instruments took places with mandolinist Avi Avital, guitarist Goran Göran Söllscher, fortepianist Kristian Bezuidenhouts, and violist Nils Mönkemeyer.

This year the festival will be held from November to December in different places in Montreal. You can check the programs and buy the tickets on the official website, click here.

We recommend this festival, is a different and unique experience in Montreal. Try new things and get out of your comfort zone, that’s the point of studying abroad! Remember: you will always find something new that you may like and you just didn’t know because you had not tried it before. Go out and try new things!

 

Montréal en Lumière

Posted on by Yesica

Founded by Alain Simard, Montréal en Lumière is a unique festival which makes Montréal the ultimate gourmet destination. At the very beginning, the ideas that inspired the founder were to energize Montreal during winter months and bring some warmth through festivities, lights, and magic. This year it will be held from February 21st to March 3rd.

This festival is so important for the ones who like to enjoy culinary experiences. Since the very 1st edition, some 575 renowned chefs, wine producers and speakers have taken part of it. It doesn’t matter how much your budget is, there are countless culinary activities for every budget and taste.

Also this festival offers a multitude of free outdoor activities for all, like an incredible program circuit of interactive and luminous works by Illuminart, a wild 110-meter descent in the Milk Urban Slide, free shows, food kiosks and more.

And don’t forget the most awaited night of the year: the Nuit blanche, which assembles 300,000 nighthawks to fully experience a wild urban adventure in more than 150 places throughout the city with 200 cultural activities. What are you waiting for? For more information about events and locations place visit its oficial website here.

How does Quebec warm the people’s hearts?

Posted on by Yesica

Did you know that Quebec is the world’s snow capital? It is because the first major Winter Carnival was born there in 1894. This is a massive event and free month-long carnival which celebrates from the end of January until mid-February. This year the carnival will be held from February 8th to 17th 2019.

The winter in Quebec is rough but it doesn’t mean you can’t go out and enjoy it. The Winter Carnival of Quebec will warm your heart throughout many activities, you can participate in a canoe race, enjoy the beautiful carnival parade or if you prefer going to le bal des glaces. Check the full programming here.

This is the 65th edition of this incredible carnival. Let the magic begin and keep your spirit up until spring begins.

But this is not be all. We know you’re looking for different experiences and if you’re studying abroad, you might prefer crazier and unforgettable experiences. For this, we recommend you the Igloofest, an electronic music festival held in Montreal. For over a decade they have been hosting some of electronic’s music biggest names, like Above & Beyond, Diplo, Maceo Plex, Four Tet, and others, to perform over consecutive weekends in the city.

The festival will be held from January 17th to February 2nd, 2019 in The Quai Jacques-Cartier in Montreal’s Old Port. This is the 13th edition of the event. For more information about the prices and programming click here.

Each year everyone at the festival has the chance to compete in the “Iglooswag” competition. What is this? Well, the “best-dressed” but with plenty bonus points for creativity and originality will win this competition.

These events will warm both your heart and spirit. We hope you have the chance to experience these amazing winter events in Montreal and Quebec.