Saturday, January 25, at 2:30 p.m.

Most historians have heard of the “Auld “alliance between France and Scotland dating back to the early 13th century. Others are familiar with the Scottish settlement of the New World after the Seven Years’ Years’ and Irish immigration during the potato famine in the mid-19^th century. This presentation is groundbreaking in that it identifies new and essential points of Scottish immigration to the New World, primarily to what is present-day Quebec.

Nova Scotia claims the home of the first Scottish immigration to Canada, with the arrival of the ship The Hector in 1773. This presentation dispels this myth, based on nine years of research and genealogy. The music of Quebec, the place names, and the history of many French Canadian families are intertwined with the Scottish immigrants who settled in Quebec, helping to make the province what it is today. This presentation offers a different perspective on our history and explains many things hidden in time that are only now being uncovered; it is only the tip of the iceberg.

Ewen Booth “Le Chardon et la Fleur de Lys”

Ewen Booth is a historical researcher who uses genealogy as a tool to explore areas uncommonly ventured into by others. He and his wife, Kathleen McKen, have lived in Montmagny since relocating in 2017. Ewen is a former police officer and museum volunteer who is passionate about history. He uses his experience to unfold history that was never discovered by others previously. With over 140 active family trees, Ewen’s work continues to grow. Intending to put these stories on paper and develop mini videos for a YouTube audience, Ewen has also created a Scottish history tour of Quebec City and the south shore of the St. Lawrence River based out of Montmagny.

Ewen was the recipient of the 2020 Gordon Atkinson Memorial Prize in Highlander Military History by the Quebec Thistle Council and is the owner of “Le Ch “rdon et la Fleur de Lys,” a history project that turned into a business which captures all that he does: research, genealogy, history tours, public presentations, YouTube videos and written short stories. In addition, Ewen and Kathleen are restoring their 1767 home while researching previous homeowners, many of whom are relatives of Kathleen. Kathleen is a French-Canadian descendant of a Scottish soldier who remained in Quebec after 1763 and is the Quebec Commissioner for the Clan MacKinnon Society. Join us on our journey!

The 1824 Historical Gala project, part of our LHSQ200 celebrations, presents the history and culture of the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec’s early years in a charming setting: a costumed gala with music, museum theatre, activities, and food. You are invited to participate in the 1824 Historical Gala activities in your best clothes inspired by the years 1820 to 1860!

The Afternoon

2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The afternoon will include games, dance, poetry, music, and a small buffet, along with short museum theater presentations.

60 tickets available.

The Banquet

6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

This evening banquet features a historically inspired three-course meal along with presentations from food historian Catherine Ferland.

40 tickets are available.

Please note that the number of available tickets for the banquet is smaller than the number of tickets available for the afternoon.

For more information about the event, please visit morrin.org/1824gala.

Saturday, April 12, 7 p.m.

This special concert on the theme of Romanticism invites the audience members to discover two magnificent and historical spaces at the Morrin Centre as well as chamber music works composed by Beethoven, Schubert, and Ravel.

The evening program will be presented in three parts and will feature 16 musicians of the Orchestre symphonique de Québec who will take turns performing in different chamber music ensemble combinations.

While a string trio will play in the Library, a septet will play in the College Hall, thus dividing the audience in two. Two texts from Quebec and Canadian poets will be read by actor Maureen Roberge. After the first part, every artist and audience member will meet in the College Hall where the evening will continue with performances by an octet, quartet, and septet, and the reading of Beethoven’s touching Letter to the Immortal Beloved (Brief an die Unsterbliche Geliebte, 1812). To round off the evening, the audience will once again be divided between the two spaces to listen to the other of the two programs performed at the beginning: the trio in the Library or the septet in College Hall.

During the evening, music director Clemens Schuldt will address the audience and present the theme of romanticism in Beethoven’s works.

PLEASE NOTE: The audience will not be seated during the concert in the Library, and will need to stay standing during this part of the performance (20 minutes).

ARTISTS

Maureen Roberge, actor
Clemens Schuldt, music director
Catherine Dallaire, violin
Julie Tanguay, violin
Caroline Béchard, violin
Anne-Sophie Paquet, violin
Frank Perron, viola
Mary-Kathryn Stevens, viola
Étienne Chénard, viola
Blair Lofgren, cello
Ryan Molzan, cello
Carmen Bruno, cello
Jean Michon, double bass
Jacinthe Forand, flute
Stéphane Fontaine, clarinet
Marlène Ngalissamy, bassoon
Mikhailo Babiak, French horn
Thomas Zimmer, harp

PROGRAM

Beethoven: Serenade in D major for String Trio, Op.8, Marcia
Reading: Soir d’hiver by Nelligan (in French)
Beethoven: String Trio in E-flat major, Op.3, Adagio
Reading: After Rain by Lampman (in English)
Beethoven: Serenade in D major for String Trio, Op.8, Allegretto alla polacca
—
Beethoven: Septet Op.20, Adagio et Scherzo
—
Schubert: Octet in F major, D.803, Allegro Vivace – Trio
Reading: Letter to the Immortal Beloved by Beethoven
Beethoven: String Quartet Op.59 No.1, Adagio molto e mesto
Ravel: Introduction et Allegro

To learn more about the Orchestre symphonique de Québec and the Festival Beethoven, click here.