LES RUGISSANTS
Les Rugissants
ABOUT
Innovation, Excellence, and Wonder
These are the watchwords of Les Rugissants (the Roarers), a professional vocal ensemble based in Montreal.
Founded by its conductor and artistic director Xavier Brossard-Ménard, the ensemble deploys projects that explore current themes and new formats for vocal and choral art. For Les Rugissants, music knows no limits and they rejoice to sing classical, folk, and popular works. All this to account for the world in which we live!
Les Rugissants love to incorporate other disciplines (dance, theatre, architecture, culinary arts) and a variety of cultures (Spanish, Italian, Ukrainian, Jewish) in their performances. They also love to forge alliances and partnerships (FIFA, the Canadian International Organ Competition, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Montreal Museum of the Hospitallers, Casa d'Italia, Italian Cultural Institute of Montreal).
HISTORY
In May 2017, Les Rugissants made their first appearance during the Festival Classica at the Westmount Victoria Hall, in an a cappella project inspired by the letter B. Voces de España, the second project of the group, first took shape in December 2018, and reappeared in the Festival Classica in 2019 as well as a 10-show tour during winter 2022, in the middle of the pandemic!
In December 2020 and 2021, the ensemble performed Haendel's Messiah with the Orchestre classique of Montreal at Saint Joseph's Oratory.
In 2021, the ensemble launched their series ARCHES which adjoins music and architecture. Between 2021 and 2023, more than twenty video capsules and no less than 15 ambulatories saw the light of day, covering geographical locations such as the city of Westmount, the South-West borough and downtown Montreal, or cultural communities such as italo-montrealers and their built heritage.
In 2022, Les Rugissants create their first theatrical production, (nu.e.s), a contemporary exploration of vulnerability, intimacy, and sexuality.
In spring of 2023, the ensemble will have the pleasure of presenting Égéries, a program for women's choir and string quartet, as well as performing Fauré and Duruflé's Requiems at the Festival Classica.
