Fourth Signature:
Ode to Joy
Concert Program:
Choeur Louisbourg joins Symphony NB for the “one and only” – Beethoven’s mighty 9th Symphony.
Capitol Theatre
811 Main St.
Moncton, NB
March 30, 2026 @ 7:30pm
The Playhouse
686 Queen St.
Fredericton, NB
March 31, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Imperial Theatre
12 King Sq. S
Saint John, NB
April 1, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Program
Jessie Montgomery (b. 1981)
Hymn for Everyone
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827)
Symphony No. 9
I. Allegro ma non troppo e un poco maestoso
II. Molto vivace - Scherzo & Trio
III. Adagio molto e cantabile
IV. Finale: An die Freude (Ode to Joy)
Special Guests
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Under the artistic direction of Monique Richard, Le Chœur Louisbourg is composed of twenty experienced choristers from all corners of the province. This choir was born from Réjean Poirier’s desire to create a professional ensemble specializing in early music. Its inaugural concert took place on October 15, 2006, at Saint-Anselme Church in Dieppe.
Since then, the choir has quickly earned a prominent place in New Brunswick’s cultural scene, regularly collaborating with other provincial organizations such as Symphony New Brunswick. Le Chœur Louisbourg holds a unique position in New Brunswick’s cultural landscape, both for its commitment to authenticity and refinement in early music interpretation and for its dedication to promoting contemporary music.
In 2018, the choir released its first album, Chansons d’amour d’Acadie et de France, under the ATMA Classique label. In 2020, it participated in Messiah/Complex, a project led by the theater company Against the Grain, in collaboration with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and over fifteen soloists and choirs from various Canadian communities. This project received critical acclaim from The New York Times, the BBC, and France Musique, among others. A new recording produced by Leaf Music, titled Tapisserie canadienne aux couleurs d'Acadie, was released on social media in 2023.
Guest Artists
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Described as a "major vocal revelation" (Le Devoir), soprano Kirsten LeBlanc is quickly becoming known for her rich, powerful voice, and engaging stage presence. Recent highlights include her mainstage debuts with the Canadian Opera Company, in the titular role of Bilodeau’s La reine-garçon, and with Calgary Opera as Lauretta in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi.
Other recent career highlights include Ines in Verdi’s Il Trovatore with Opéra de Montréal, her role debut as Roselinde in Strauss’ Die Fledermaus with Toronto Operetta Theatre, and her debut of Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 at Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall.
An alumna of Opéra de Montréal prestigious Atelier Lyrique, LeBlanc has returned to the company for assignments in Golijov’s Ainadamar (Margarita Xirgu, cover), and the world premiere of Bilodeau’s La beauté du monde (Esther, cover) and La reine-garçon (Christine, Queen of Sweden, cover). Other recent credits include Zweite Dame in Barrie Kosky’s Die Zauberflöte (Opéra de Montréal), Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte and Helena in A Midsummer Night's Dream (Université de Montréal).
On the concert stage, she has most notably worked with the Orchestre Métropolitain, Orchestre de l'Agora, and has participated in the Highlands Opera Studio, ICAV-CVAI, and the Halifax Summer Opera Festival.
Kirsten recently obtained her Doctorate in Performance at l’Université de Montréal, having already completed a Masters in Voice and Opera Performance from McGill University. She has been the recipient of both the Abbé Charles-Émile Gadbois and George-Cedric Ferguson scholarships and, in 2019, she was a finalist in the Canadian Opera Company’s Ensemble Studio Competition.
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Métis multi-disciplinary artist and mezzo-soprano Rebecca Cuddy is acknowledged as ‘the next generation who are going to do incredible things’ (The Whole Note). She is a two-time Dora Award nominated performer, the inaugural winner of the Rose-Ellen Nichols Award in the Performing Arts, and was named to CBC’s top classical 30 Under 30 List. This season saw Rebecca in Fawn Chamber Creative’s Cells of the Wind, and Silence, with NUOVA Vocal Arts. Recent highlights include the world premiere of Li Keur – Riel's Heart of the North with Manitoba Opera and, the world premiere of Bullrusher with West Edge Opera.
In concert she returned to Soundstreams for their Electric Messiah and joined Symphony New Brunswick for Mozart’s Requiem. Past seasons include her debut at Pacific Opera Victoria for Braunfels’ Die Vögel, with Soundstreams (premiere - Frehner’s L.E.X.), the New Orford String Quartet, the Toronto Consort, as well as a performance with members of the TSO and Yo Yo Ma in support of Toronto’s CAMH Centre. In 2020-21, she appeared in multiple digital releases including her Canadian Opera Company debut in Voices of Mountains, singing the titular role in OperaQ’s Medusa’s Children, Soundstreams’ Garden of Vanished Pleasures, as well as Encounters: Indigenous Voices and Shatter with Toronto Concert Orchestra. Rebecca has sung in the premieres of several new Indigenous opera works across Turtle Island, including Two Odysseys; Pimootewin and Gállábártnit (Dora Award; Outstanding Ensemble), Shanawdithit (Dora Award; Outstanding New Opera), and Flight of the Hummingbird.
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Scott Rumble is an emerging dramatic talent making his mark on Canadian stages. Career highlights include Steuerman in Wagner’s Der fliegende Holländer (role debut) with Vancouver Opera, the world premiere of Li Keur - Riel’s Heart of the North with Manitoba Opera, and Verdi’s Requiem with Chorus Niagara. Most recently, he made his role and company debut as Siegfried in Wagner’s Die Walkure with Edmonton Opera, and enjoyed engagements with the Kingston Symphony, and Orchestra Toronto. In previous seasons, Scott joined Opéra de Montréal for the world premiere of La reine garçon (cov. Descartes), and the Canadian Opera Company for cover assignments in Cherubini’s Medea.
He appeared with Voicebox: Opera in Concert as Arrigo in Verdi’s La battaglia di Legnano, and Toronto Operetta Theatre for Kalman’s Countess Maritza. On the concert stage, he performed Beethoven’s Ninth with Montréal’s Ensemble Caprice and joined Orchestra Toronto for a program of operatic favourites. Recent seasons saw multiple reengagements for Scott, including returns to the Vancouver Bach Choir for Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis, Toronto Operetta Theatre for Strauss’ Die Fledermaus (Alfred), and VoiceBox: Opera in Concert for Cherubini’s Médée (Jason). He also sang Beethoven’s Ninth with the Kingston Symphony, and Mozart’s Requiem with the Vancouver Bach Choir.
Other credits include Bacchus in Ariadne auf Naxos (Highlands Opera Studio), Bob Boles in Peter Grimes (Vancouver Symphony Orchestra), and Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly (La Musica Lirica in Novafeltria, Italy). Mr. Rumble has also performed the tenor solos in Mozart's Requiem, Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, and Handel's Messiah.
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A native of Québec, Alexandre Sylvestre studied at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal where he was awarded the “Premier Prix avec Grande Distinction.” Recent engagements include Thomas’ Hamlet with Opéra de Montréal, Mozart’s Requiem with Orchestre symphonique de Trois-Rivières, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Newfoundland Symphony, a program of Bach cantatas with Orchestre Métropolitain, and a program of operatic favourites with Orchestre symphonique de Laval.
Recent appearances include Opera Lafayette’s performances and filming of Beethoven's Leonore, Capulet in Roméo et Juliette for Calgary Opera, Baron Douphol in La traviata for Pacific Opera Victoria, Morales in Carmen for Opéra de Montréal, and Handel’s Messiah in Thunder Bay.
In past seasons, Alexandre was heard in Opéra de Québec’s L’enfant et les sortilèges, as Bartolo in Edmonton Opera’s Il barbiere di Siviglia, Brahms’s Requiem with Symphony Nova Scotia, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with Orchestre symphonique de Sherbrooke, Mozart’s Requiem for Orchestre symphonique de Lac St. Jean, Kevin Puts’s Silent Night for Opéra de Montréal, Brander in La damnation de Faust for Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Haly in L’italiana in Algeri for Calgary Opera, and Colline in La bohème for Manitoba Opera.
Active on the concert stage, engagements include Beethoven’s Choral Fantasia at Festival Lanaudière, Die Schöpfung for Symphony Nova Scotia, L’enfance du Christ and Jeanne d’Arc au bûcher for Kent Nagano and Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Charpentier’s Messe de minuit and Haydn’s Stabat Mater with les Violons du Roy and Rossini’s Petite messe solennelle for the Taiwan National Choir in Taipei.