Explore Montréal's classical performing arts scene

Flagship organizations

Founded in 1934 by Antonia Nantel, Wilfrid Pelletier and Athanase David, the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM) is internationally-recognized as one of the finest orchestras in the world. Its discography of more than 100 recordings has won more than 110 national and international awards. The OSM’s current music director is Maestro Rafael Payare.

Founded in 1981, the internationally-acclaimed Orchestre Métropolitain (OM) has grown alongside its Grammy-winning artistic director and principal conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin. The OM has performed on many of the world’s greatest stages.

Founded in 1939 by violinist, conductor and composer Alexander Brott and his wife Lotte Brott, the Orchestre Classique de Montréal (formerly McGill Chamber Orchestra) is one of Canada’s most renowned chamber orchestras, performing on five continents and recording numerous works, including their 2024 Juno Award-winning album Symphonie de la tempête de verglas.

Founded in 1980, the Opéra de Montréal ranks as one of the 15 largest opera companies in North America, showcasing Canadian and international singers, conductors and stage directors. World premieres include the blockbuster Another Brick In The Wall - The Opera adapted from Pink Floyd’s The Wall.

Founded in 1957 by Ludmilla Chiriaeff, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens has 45 Canadian and international dancers and as many musicians in Les Grands Ballets Orchestra. A cornerstone of the Canadian dance scene, Les Grands also presents their famed adaptation of The Nutcracker by legendary Québec choreographer Fernand Nault each December since 1964.

Founded in 2005 by Alexandra Scheibler, the Festival International Bach Montréal has established itself as North America’s leading festival celebrating the timeless musical genius of Johann Sebastian Bach. The festival presents local, national and international performers each November and December.

Other cultural organizations 

Founded in 1983 by Yuli Turovsky, the I Musici de Montréal chamber orchestra features 15 string musicians performing a varied repertoire from the 17th century to the present day.

Founded by cellist and conductor Denis Brott in 1995, the Montreal Chamber Music Festival presents artists from Canada and abroad every June.

Founded by Bernard Labadie in 1984, the Québec City-based Les Violons du Roy chamber orchestra’s Montréal season is renowned for its performances of Baroque and Classical music. 

Founded in 1972, famed contemporary dance company Ballets Jazz Montréal has performed before more than three million people in 60 countries, and is considered one of the world’s leading ambassadors of dance.

Montréal’s prestigious Danse Danse series programs a wide range of daring contemporary dance performances by local and international artists in various Place des Arts venues since the founding of the non-profit organization in 1998.

Top classical venues

Inaugurated in 2011, the Maison Symphonique classical music hall was built to the most exacting international standards of natural acoustics, stage design and architecture. The 2,100-seat venue can hold up to 200 chorists and 120 musicians onstage, and its Grand Orgue Pierre-Béique was made for the OSM by Casavant Frères, and consists of 109 registers, 83 stops, 116 ranks and 6,489 pipes.

Inaugurated in 1963, Canada’s premiere entertainment destination Place des Arts is located in the cultural heart of the city, the Quartier des spectacles which used to be Montréal’s historic Red-Light District. The complex houses six concert venues and theatres: the Maison Symphonique, Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, Théâtre Maisonneuve, Théâtre Jean-Duceppe, Cinquième Salle and the intimate 128-seat Salle Claude-Léveillée. The outdoor Place des Arts esplanade is home to festivals year-round, including the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal.

The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts’ intimate 462-seat state-of-the-art Bourgie Hall (Salle Bourgie) – the restored and reconverted nave of former Erskine and American Church, now a heritage site – presents more than 100 concerts each year: recitals, chamber music, vocal art, Baroque music, jazz, world music and family shows by top musicians from Canada and the world.

Other venues and institutions

More than a century after its inauguration in 1916, the iconic 2,180-seat Théâtre St-Denis was integrated into the new Espace St-Denis which is also home to the state-of-the-art Studio-Cabaret (formerly Théâtre 2 of Théâtre St-Denis). Located in the Quartier Latin, Espace St-Denis presents musicals, plays, concerts and comedy shows.

A historic theatre built in 1928, Théâtre Outremont presents a diverse range of performances including cinema, music, dance and theatre.

The Conservatoire de musique de Montréal offers high-level music education and features multiple performance spaces, including a concert hall and a recital hall.

The prestigious Schulich School of Music of McGill University is known for their comprehensive programs in orchestra, opera, jazz, early music and contemporary music. Tickets for paid and free events with reserved seating at various venues can be booked online and at the Schulich box office. Visit Schulich’s event calendar for a complete listing of concerts and events.