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Festival of two Worlds–dream comes true
BY FRANK NIXON
 According to
Brome Lake
Mayor Richard
Wisdom, it was largely
due to the
vision, dogged determination
and hard work of
Marco Genoni, past
president of Brome
Lake’s Chamber of
Commerce, that the Bel
Canto Festival will soon
become a reality. “A lot
of the credit must go to
Marco,” the mayor said.
Genoni’s dream,
which he calls a ‘festival of two worlds,’was just that –
a dream, just over two years ago. “The idea of a bel canto
festival for Knowlton, followed by one in Rome, was
first conceived when I met Maestro Kent Nagano, at a
restaurant in Munich,” recalls Genoni. “In fact, I still
have the napkin where we sketched out our first plan.”
As testament to the critical role he has played since
then, Genoni was made honorary president of the festival.
He is also intimately involved in the day-to-day
planning and logistics of the event. The Outlet recently
held an interview with Genoni.
The Outlet: Why do you think the Bel Canto Festival
will be good for Knowlton and Brome Lake?
Genoni: I anticipate that the festival will generate
major economic, tourist, cultural and demographic benefits
for the Town of Brome Lake and its surrounding region.
The festival will recognize Knowlton as a world
centre of excellence in lyric arts, and lyric arts education,
further promoting Theatre Lac Brome and the Tour des
Arts. It will also promote the Brome Lake region as a
high-class international tourism destination, with fine
local restaurants, culinary traditions and local vineyards.
The Outlet: Why was the St. Édouard summer church
chosen for the master classes and for most of the free
concerts?
Genoni: St. Édouard chapel was the best compromise
for its acoustics the interior is all in wood; its location –
downtown, with a parking lot; its capacity – we can seat
300 people. It is also shielded from street noise by the
main church. Moreover, it is available for our needs. We
also wanted the public to be able to attend the master
classes, and the chapel was perfect for that.
The Outlet: Will there be any “designated” areas for
parking? If so, will parking, at these designated areas, be
at no cost?
Genoni: Parking will be at no cost in Knowlton – at
St., Édouard, at the Community Centre, and at Lions
Park. We have received permission from St. Édouard to
eventually park cars on the soccer field (as they do when
there are large weddings.) The same holds true for the
West Brome church – parking is free.
The Outlet: Will there be concerts at the gazebo at
Mill Pond Park?
Genoni: Thanks for asking. Since we added two more
Operamania events at Centre Lac-Brome, we cancelled
the event at Mill Pond Park.
The Outlet: Even though there are free events, will individuals
be required to obtain a ticket or voucher before
each free event, or is it first-come, first-served at the
door (no pre-ticket required) for all of the free events?
Genoni: No pre-ticket is required. It will be firstcome,
first- served at the door, for all free events.
Montreal Symphony
Orchestra in Knowlton
The Montreal Symphony Orchestra and
its music director, Maestro Kent
Nagano will present a festival in
Knowlton Aug. 15 to 24 in Knowlton in partnership
with the Accademia Nazionale Santa
Cecilia in Rome. This partnership is the result
of an initiative of Kent Nagano and Professor
Bruno Cagli, president of the
Accademia Nazionale Santa Cecilia. Founded
in 1585, the Accademia is one of the world’s
most renowned music institutions, as much
for the exceptional role it plays in education as
for the excellence of its orchestra and chorus.
Watch The Outlet for the full schedule of concerts
and events.
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