As opening night approaches, a group of McGill students are preparing to bring a rarely heard work to life for its North American premiere. Les fêtes de Ramire, an 18th-century opéra-ballet by Jean-Philippe Rameau, will be presented April 24 and 25 in the chapel of the Musée des hospitalières in a student-led production that blends scholarship, performance and collaboration.
Organized by graduate voice student Paige Boulet, the project grew out of a shared desire among Early Music students at McGill’s Schulich School of Music to create something of their own. Informal conversations last summer quickly evolved into an ambitious undertaking once funding was secured and a core team assembled.
“We wanted to make our own artistic decisions and work collectively,” Boulet said. “There’s a strong sense of collaboration in the Early Music community here, and this felt like a natural extension of that.”
A student production in every sense
Unlike many student productions, Les fêtes de Ramire is not tied to a course or academic credit. Every aspect of the production, from grant writing and promotion to costuming and performance, is being carried out by students on a volunteer basis. The cast and orchestra, numbering about 30 performers, are joined by a student production team that includes stage managers, designers and administrators, many of whom are students
in McGill’s Department of English, enrolled in the Drama and Theatre program. According to Boulet, it may be the first time students from the Music and English Faculties have partnered on a production of this kind.
At the helm are music director Haodong Ma (D.Mus. ’27) and stage director Tristan Pritham (B.Mus. Voice Performance ’26). They are supported by three specialists in French Baroque performance practice: violinist Olivier Brault and harpsichordist Dorothéa Ventura, both course instructors in the Department of Music Performance, and Marie-Nathalie Lacoursière, a choreographer and specialist in early dance.
Reviving a rarely heard work
Boulet says organizers are committed to a historically informed performance, an approach that seeks to recreate the sound and style of the period. For the students involved, many of whom specialize in Early Music, that foundation is already part of their training.
“Most of us are already working with historical techniques and instruments,” Boulet said. “This project gives us the opportunity to apply that knowledge in a fully staged setting.”
As an opéra-ballet, Les fêtes de Ramire combines sung drama with instrumental dance sequences, a hallmark of French Baroque opera. In this production, the integration of music and movement will include both specialized choreography and adapted staging, with singers taking on some of the dance elements themselves.
The choice of repertoire was both practical and artistic. The one-act structure made the work manageable for a student ensemble, while its distribution of roles offered opportunities for a wide range of performers. Just as compelling was the obscurity of the piece.
“There’s no recording of it, and it’s very rarely performed,” Boulet said. “Part of the excitement is discovering what it sounds like together as we rehearse.”
That sense of discovery has been matched by logistical challenges. With participants balancing academic schedules, performances and outside commitments, organizing rehearsals has required careful co-ordination. Weekly music rehearsals began in January, with an intensive daily rehearsal period planned in the 10 days leading up to opening night.
Despite the demands, Boulet said the experience has been rewarding.
“It’s shown me how much work goes into producing opera, but also how worthwhile it is,” she said. “Seeing people collaborate and bring this music to life has been incredibly rewarding.”
The choice of venue adds another layer of historical resonance. The chapel of the Musée des hospitalières offers an intimate setting well suited to the aesthetic of French Baroque performance.
For audiences, the goal is immersion.
“We want people to feel like they’ve stepped into a different time,” Boulet said, “to experience this music in a way that’s both engaging and historically grounded.”
As the final rehearsals begin, the production stands as a testament to student initiative and the possibilities of interdisciplinary collaboration. For those involved, it is not only a performance, but a hands-on exploration of music history brought vividly into the present.
Les fêtes de Ramire, April 24 at 7:30 p.m. and April 25 at 3 p.m. Ticket information