By STEVEN HOWELL
MONTREAL — It's time for a Montreal spring music and theater fling.
Arion Orchestre Baroque presents a fanciful program with "J.S. Bach: Cantatas and Concertos" tonight and Friday at Salle Claude Champagne of the University of Montreal.
The orchestra celebrates its 29th season with a Bach cantata program featuring soprano Christine Brandes and 15 musicians under the direction of harpsichordist Alexander Weimann. Tickets start at $10 and are available at (514) 355-1825 or www.arionbaroque.com.
'SIMON BOCCANEGRA'
Continuing its season's theme of education, the Segal Centre for Performing Arts presents "Old Wicked Songs" now through March 21. The Pulitzer-Prize nominated drama by American playwright Jon Marans tells the tale of a young American piano prodigy who's in need of a little musical inspiration. The play, set in post-Nazi Austria during the 1980s, portrays a difference of musical opinion between the struggling prodigy and the temperamental music professor.
The play is a co-production of Montreal's French-language Theatre du Rideau Vert. "Old Wicked Songs" made its Montreal premiere in French. Actors Jean Marchand and Emile Proulx-Cloutier reprise their roles in English for the Segal production.
Tickets range from $31 to $44. Student and senior discounts available. At 5170 Cote Ste. Catherine just off the Decarie Highway (Route 15N). Call (514) 739-7944 or visit www.segalcentre.org.
L'Opera de Montreal presents the Verdi classic "Simon Boccanegra" this Saturday and March 17, 20, 22 and 25 at Place des Arts. Boccanegra, the main character, rises in the ranks from pirate to local magistrate in the days of the Renaissance. The twist — and there's always a twist in opera — is that his long-lost daughter reappears on the scene after years away, only to have fallen in love with her father's archenemy.
Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier of Place des Arts is at 175 St. Catherine St. W. Tickets range from $46 to $127. For more information, call the Place des Arts Box Office at (866) 842-2112. Also visit www.pda.qc.ca or www.operademontreal.com.
MIDDLE EAST MAYHEM
The spring Infinitheatre production is the world premiere "Father Land" by playwright Arthur Holden. Directed by Montreal theater alum Guy Sprung, "Father Land" follows Eric Brook, a young Westmount, Montreal, high-school student who, along with his father, comes to the aid of his uncle — a down-and-out character on the run from the local mob. Brook's history essay on Uday and Qusay, the sons of Saddam Hussein, soon comes to life with father and uncle trapped in their house while waiting for the enemy to arrive.
"Father Land" continues now through March 28 at Bain St. Michel, 5300 St. Dominique St. Tickets cost $20 for adults and $15 for students and seniors. Call (514) 987-1774 or visit www.infinitheatre.com.
Middle East mayhem continues with the Tableau D'Hote Theatre production of "A Line in the Sand" now through March 21 at the Segal Centre Studio. A Canadian army colonel aims to uncover the truth about the torture and death of a Palestinian teenager, possibly at the hands of the teen's former friend, a young Canadian soldier.
Tickets cost $22 for general admission; $15 for students and seniors. At 5170 Cote Ste. Catherine. Call (514) 739-7944 or visit www.segalcentre.org.
QUEBEC DEBUT
Centaur Theatre presents an updated version of the William Shakespeare classic "The Comedy of Errors" now through March 28. The current version is directed by Peter Hinton, the artistic director of Ottawa's National Arts Centre English Theatre who received the prestigious Officer of the Order of Canada award last fall.
While the Shakespearean narrative stays the same, the updated take on the classic romantic farce includes mod lighting, electric scooters, leather-clad drag and iPods.
Adult tickets cost $38.50. Senior, student and under-30 discounts available. The Centaur Theatre is at 453 St. Francois Xavier St. in Old Montreal. Call (514) 288-3161 or visit www.centaurtheatre.com.
The Montreal Symphony Orchestra enjoys a busy spring season with a number of productions. German violinist Christian Tetzlaff makes his Quebec debut with a Tchaikovsky concerto conducted by Sir Andrew Davis March 15 and 16 at Place des Arts. Adult tickets range from $29 to $175.
Next, the orchestra ventures out of this world. "Escape into Space" includes excerpts from Holst's "Planets," Mozart's "Jupiter Symphony" and John Williams's "Star Wars" music. The all-ages show is presented in two matinee performances March 21. Adult tickets range from $13.55 to $33.86. Visit www.osm.ca.
