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PHOTO Jacques Laurent
FESTIVAL KNOWLTON
TAKING FLIGHT
Paul Robinson
The Knowlton Festival – formerly the Bel Canto
Festival – will take place August 4-16 in the
Eastern Townships, with Kent Nagano as artistic
director and the Montreal Symphony the resident
orchestra; in fact, the MSO has cancelled their
Mozart Plus series in Montreal to avoid conflicts.
International level events include Bellini’s La
Sonnambula starring Sumi Jo, all four Brahms
symphonies and performances by Ben Heppner,
Thomas Hampson and Stephen Kovacevich. The
president and CEO of the Knowlton Festival
Marco Genoni answers our questions.
WHY THE NAME CHANGE?
Like many other successful festivals,
we wanted to link the
name of the festival to its location.
The bel canto component
in our festival remains very
strong with the performance
of a Bellini opera and we are
maintaining a close connection
with the Accademia
Nazionale di Santa Cecilia and
its president Bruno Cagli, to
offer master classes in bel
canto. But this year we are
offering more diversity.
THE FESTIVAL IS STILL IN
KNOWLTON BUT WHY HAVE
YOUR MOVED THE ACTUAL
LOCATION FOR THE CONCERTS?
Last year’s location was not
available on a permanent
basis, and the road in front of it had to be closed for
the period of the festival, which was not ideal for
local residents.We have now found a similar setting
nearby and this land has been bought by a benefactor
as the permanent location for the festival.
THE TENT USED LAST YEAR COULD SEAT ABOUT
800 PEOPLE BUT THIS YEAR YOU WILL HAVE A
TENT SEATING 1,050. WHAT WAS YOUR THINK-
ING ABOUT THE VENUE?
Last year we were lucky with the weather but we
may not always be so lucky. We now have a tent
structure that can be taken down and stored after
the festival. It will provide cover for the patrons
not only in the performance area but also in the
bar and in the area where the shuttle buses arrive
and depart. Once the festival is well established
we will start thinking about a permanent home.
TELL ME ABOUT THE ORGANIZATIONAL
STRUCTURE OF THE FESTIVAL.
We tried to mirror the cooperation between the
London Philharmonic and the Glyndebourne
Festival. We have a five-year agreement for
Knowlton to be the official summer residence of
the MSO. Most of the board of the festival is comprised
of Knowlton residents but this board also
includes three members of the board of the MSO.
GIVEN THE CURRENT RECESSION, HOW IS IT POS-
SIBLE FOR THE KNOWLTON FESTIVAL TO EXPAND
AND APPARENTLY INCREASE ITS PERFORMANCES?
Even in this severe recession many companies are
still doing well. We have a unique product and I
think we will be able to draw people from the
Knowlton area, Montreal and even from major
American cities.
WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THE FIRST
SEASON ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
THE COMMUNITY AND THE FESTIVAL?
Last year, to save money we put our guest artists
in private homes. At first, some artists were
apprehensive about this arrangement, but the
experience proved so successful that some of
these same artists are looking forward to this
arrangement and bringing their families.
Knowlton is a community of givers. If they can,
they give money, time or accommodation.
www.knowltonfestival.com
Juin 2009 June 39