L’Harmonie des saisons: A winning vocal and instrumental ensemble

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This page is also available in / Cette page est également disponible en: Francais (French)

Not surprisingly, Quebec’s Mélisande ­Corriveau and New York’s Eric Milnes, co-founders of the ensemble L’Harmonie des saisons, were thrilled when ­Solfeggio won the Juno for Classical Album of the Year (Large Ensemble), saying the award “gives us even more energy and inspiration to offer the best of our talented musicians.”

Clearly, they’re doing something right. L’Harmonie des saisons won their first Juno in 2016 for Las Ciudades de Oro. This time, their album features Hélène Brunet, a young soprano who connoisseurs are already ­predicting will have a great national and ­international operatic career. Solfeggio marks a first in Juno history; Brunet is the first opera singer to take home this prize. And for her first solo album with ATMA Classique, she chose baroque and classical arias. L’Harmonie des saisons, directed by Milnes, accompanied her in this program where Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, Mozart and Leonardo da Vinci meet. Two of her arias were recorded as world premières, according to ATMA, who highlighted the ­“perfectly beautiful singing and the most ­radiant stage presence” of this rising star who “sings Bach, Handel, Mozart and a 20th– and 21st-century repertoire with equal pleasure.”

Multi-instrumentalist Corriveau and harpsichordist Milnes understand the importance of awards like the Junos; they helped ­establish the reputation and influence of L’Harmonie des saisons on the classical music scene in Canada. Corriveau cites the importance of the diverse ensemble members, who come from Quebec and the rest of Canada, the United States, Central and South America, as well as Europe. “This broadens the musical perspectives of our projects and gives them an ­international dimension,” she said. The ­ensemble, founded in 2010 in Granby, Que., has more than 50 performances to its credit. In addition to its series of concerts held in the Eastern Townships, the ensemble participates in such important festivals as Orford, Classica and Montreal Baroque, and it tours abroad in the United States and South America.

L’Harmonie des saisons will perform two concerts at the Music and Beyond Festival in Ottawa. Musique intime pour la chambre du roi is scheduled for July 12, focusing on the works of Marin Marais, with Corriveau on the viol and Milnes on the harpsichord, featuring tenor and Early Music specialist Philippe Gagné. On July 13, the ensemble will present Rencontre musicale chez J.S. Bach with Brunet, and featuring Anne Thivierge on ­traverse, with whom the ensemble is recording a new disc. This summer, the ensemble will also present Flamboyants concertos avec le guitariste David Jacques. “It’s a festive ­program ­dedicated to Vivaldi’s concertos, in which the guitar, violins, cellos, viola d’amore, the lute and the recorder will be featured,” ­Corriveau said.

www.musicandbeyond.ca
www.harmoniedessaisons.org

This page is also available in / Cette page est également disponible en: Francais (French)

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