Souvenirs de Lakmé

Based on the opera by Léo Delibes

 

Director: Constance Malenfant
Musical direction: Esther Gonthier

On tour from October 15 to November 16, 2025!

In this adaptation of Léo Delibes’s opera, Mallika takes on the role of narrator to evoke the memories of Lakmé, a young girl trapped in a rigid family and religious structure, trembling with love despite the cultural ban…

Premiering at the Opéra-Comique in Paris in 1883, the opera Lakmé by composer Léo Delibes tells a story of impossible love. Lakmé, the young daughter of a Hindu priest, and Gérald, a fickle British soldier, are passionate about each other. Supporting these two characters with the odds stacked against them is Delibes’ refined and poetic music, expressing every nuance of their tragic destiny. Whether it is through the warm harmonies of the “Flower Duet” or the impressive brilliance of the famous “Bell Song,” Lakmé is a rich work that conveys the inspirations of the late 19th century’s Orientalist movement.

 

A FIRST LOOK AT THE REPERTOIRE*

Air des clochettes 

LISTEN

Duo des fleurs

LISTEN

​Azur Simard

Azur Simard is a young soprano born in the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean region, in Québec. She is currently completing a master’s degree at Université Laval under the tutelage of Jean- François Lapointe. She was a chorist in a production of Le Comte Ory, presented by the Opéra de Québec in 2024. She also interpreted the role of Chevrette in La Grand’ Tante, composed by Jules Massenet, produced by the Opéra de Québec and presented at the 2024 Opera Festival. Her studies brought her to interpret Lischen in Offenbach’ operetta, Lischen et Fritzchen, in 2023, and then the role of the Governess in a French version of, The Turn of the Screw, composed by Benjamin Britten in 2025. Azur Simard also occupies a position in the Canadian Armed Forces’ First Reserve as a saxophonist since 2018. Her interest in wind instruments and composition brought her to complete a residency in experimental music creation at the Centre d’Expérimentation Musicale of Saguenay in the summer of 2020.

 

Julie Boutrais

​Julie Boutrais is a mezzo-soprano with a warm tone and great musical sensitivity. She graduated from the Conservatoire de Versailles with a degree in viola (2021) and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in classical singing performance from the University of Montreal (2024), where she is currently pursuing a master’s degree under Ariane Girard. Supported by the faculty, she has received several scholarships for excellence from the Université de Montréal. She has distinguished herself at the Opera Workshop, where she performed the Third Lady (Die Zauberflöte, 2024) and the Sandmann in Hänsel und Gretel (2025). For her, the stage represents precious moments where she can fully express her art. She attaches particular importance to interpretation, seeking to convey each emotion with sincerity. Involved in various classical and contemporary opera projects, she continues to enrich her career by exploring a varied repertoire with passion and rigor.

 

Joé Lampron-Dandonneau

A native of Richmond, Quebec, tenor Joé Lampron-Dandonneau quickly distinguished himself during his university studies, both through his performances in opera roles and in recitals. After earning a bachelor’s degree from the Université de Montréal, and a master’s degree in vocal performance from the University of Victoria in British Columbia, he completed his vocal studies at McGill University. There, he earned a Graduate Diploma in performance in the class of soprano Dominique Labelle and had the immense privilege of being a finalist for the prestigious 2019-2020 Wirth Vocal Arts Award. Since completing his university studies, Joé has continued to hone his skills with mezzo-soprano Ariane Girard and pianist Esther Gonthier, among others. He works regularly with La Chapelle de Québec and Les Violons du Roy and had the opportunity to record nearly twenty melodies in the Complete Melodies of Jules Massenet, on the ATMA Québec label. His most recent concerts include performing the tenor solos in Mozart’s Requiem with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Rafael Payare, last April.

 

Élie Lefevre-Pellegrino

Born in Amos, Élie began his musical journey at the Conservatory of Music in Val-d’Or. He was admitted at the age of 15, in classical guitar. His studies took him to Trois- Rivières, where he completed a DEC in 2019, still in the same instrument. In the fall of 2019, he moved to Quebec City to pursue a bachelor’s degree in guitar and began voice studies with Sonia Racine. Élie earned his bachelor’s degree in performance (Voice Specialty) in 2024 and is currently studying for a master’s degree in performance at the Université de Montréal in Ariane Girard’s class. As a chorister, he has performed with the Symphonic Orchestras of Longueuil, Trois-Rivières, Drummondville and Côte- Nord. He took part in Opéra de Québec’s choir, and with the Ensemble Vocalys. Élie has refined his vocal abilities under the guidance of Dominic Côté, Brett Polegato, Isabel Leonard, Bruno Laplante, Margo Garett, and Hélène Guilmette (with whom he studied between 2023 and 2024). He took part in the singing program in Domaine Forget in the summers of 2023 and 2024. As an Operatic soloist, he has performed the roles of Poeta in, Prima la musica e poi le parole, by Antonio Salieri, Figaro and Count Almaviva in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, Jupiter in Offenbach’s, Orphée aux Enfers, and the role of Bob in Gian Carlo Menotti’s, The Old Maid and the Thief. In February, Élie will add the role of der Vater in Hänsel und Gretel by Humperdinck to his repertoire, an Université de Montréal production.

Jean-Luc Therrien

Named one of the “30 hot Canadian classical musicians under 30” by CBC Music in 2020, it was said of pianist Jean-Luc Therrien that he ‘’[…] was able to stand out through his frank playing, […] not hesitating to go off the beaten track to reveal to us his personal reading of certain passages. A very refreshing performance.‘’ (La Scena Musicale) Finalist and prizewinner in several competitions including the NTD International Piano Competition in New York City, the Mauro Paolo Monopoli Prize in Italy, the Canadian Music Competition Stepping Stone and the Luigi Zanuccoli International Competition in Italy, Jean-Luc Therrien has stood out in many other notable competitions such as such as the Sendai International Piano Competition in Japan, the Lyon International Piano Competition, the Roma International Piano Competition, the Prix d’Europe Competition, the OSM Standard Life Competition, etc.

In addition to being active on the national and international scene, Jean-Luc has two albums to his credit; these are available on most online music platforms. He also shares his recordings in video format on his YouTube channel.