Arts & Culture

Since March 30, Winnipeg has been alive with the sounds of Baroque music, thanks to the Winnipeg Baroque Festival. Among its many offerings, a particularly special concert this Sunday, April 6, will explore how early music remains deeply relevant today. Polyphony Meets the Prairies, presented by Dead of Winter, will take place at 3 p.m.

With so many year-end concerts taking place at the University of Manitoba over the next couple of weeks, it seems logical that ensembles would combine forces to create memorable musical and learning experiences. Such is the case for the University of Manitoba Singers and Wind Ensemble, who will pitch in on each other’s concerts over the next few days. 

April is a wonderful time for Baroque music here in the city of Winnipeg. The spring sounds from the iconic The Seasons from Antonio Vivaldi and the unmistakable beauty of the late-March birthday boy J.S. Bach make perfect soundtracks for this time of year. Closer to home, the Winnipeg Baroque Festival is taking the city by storm with sixteen Baroque music offerings over the course of three weeks. 

Remembering Val Kilmer (1959–2025) 

On April 1, 2025, the world lost Val Kilmer, a truly one-of-a-kind talent. From his breakout roles in the ’80s to his unforgettable performances in classic films, Kilmer left an indelible mark on Hollywood. His fearless approach to acting, combined with his dedication to his craft, made him a beloved figure among fans and colleagues alike.  

Visual artists of all mediums will descend on the Red River Exhibition Park this weekend for the Winnipeg Fine Art Fair. The event, which first welcomed audiences last year, will see over 70 artists showcasing a wide range of mediums and methods over the course of three days.

The latest exhibit at the University of Winnipeg’s Gallery 1C03 is an act of reclamation and decolonization. 

Reclaimed: Indo-Caribbean HerStories tells the story of Indo-indentureship from the mid-19th to early 20th centuries through a feminist lens. The many her-stories contained within the exhibit are shared through mixed media based in ceramics and photography created by Toronto-based artist Heidi McKenzie. 

Spring in Winnipeg means the return of the Winnipeg Baroque Festival, and with it, one of its signature events—the Bach Marathon Concert. Organized by the Winnipeg Centre of the Royal Canadian College of Organists (RCCO), this beloved event takes place on Saturday, April 5, at Young United Church, running from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. 

 The Winnipeg Baroque Festival continues this week with a brand-new ensemble set to introduce itself to the city’s classical music audience.

The Trio Leonarda, consisting of violinist Elation Pauls, cellist Alyssa Ramsay and keyboardist Leanne Regehr Lee, owes their name to the Ursuline nun and composer Isabella Leonarda from the early 17th century. Leonarda’s music will play a key role in their debut concert called Heaven Will Always Return.

As we embrace the Winnipeg Baroque Festival (March 30th to April 19th), we here at Classic 107 will be exploring Rosary Sonatas of Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber.  This is a rare chance to immerse yourself in Biber’s profound storytelling.

The premise of the latest play being presented by the University of Manitoba’s Department of English Theatre, Film and Media Studies program is encapsulated in its title: Our Country’s Good. 

It’s a premise that Dola Atkintan has been engaging on a far deeper level than most of her classmates in Timberlake Wertenbaker’s 1988 adaptation of the novel The Playmaker by Thomas Keneally. Atkintan came to study at the University of Manitoba from Nigeria and knows how the power of story can impact people’s lives.