OSM Classical Spree

Founded in 2012, Montréal’s annual OSM Classical Spree Festival celebrates classical music in a festive and laid-back five-day marathon of more than 30 affordable concerts that last 45 minutes each, featuring 500 artists from around the world.

The festival is a great way to discover classical music and new talent at free and ticketed concerts. The OSM Classical Spree Festival is also ideal for parents to introduce children to classical music and the concert hall experience.

The OSM’s famed Grammy-winning artistic director, Maestro Kent Nagano, takes great pride in the big free outdoor concert held on the Esplanade outside Olympic Stadium that launches the OSM Classical Spree (better known by locals by its French name, La Virée Classique) each year. Tens of thousands of classical music lovers bring their lawn chairs to see this concert, which truly reflects the festival’s spirit of democratization of classical music.

For the 2019 edition, Maestro Kent Nagano will conduct the OSM, a choir of some 500 singers plus guest soloists – soprano Leslie Ann Bradley, mezzo-soprano Ksenia Dudnikova, tenor Seungju Mario Bahg and bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green – performing Verdi’s Great Requiem at the grand opening concert outside Olympic Stadium on August 7 at 8 pm. Free admission.

Another highlight is the “Legend and Poetry With Marc Hervieux and Kent Nagano” concert at the Maison symphonique on August 9, featuring the celebrated Montréal tenor performing Britten’s song cycle Illuminations, setting to music the poetry of Rimbaud.

Concert ticket prices start at only $10 for youth 17 years and under. There are also free activities and workshops at Place des Arts and neighbouring Complexe Desjardins.