It is today at the Hôtel du parlement that Prime Minister Jean Charest will salute the excellence of 34 citizens with the Ordre national du Québec. You may remember that François Mario Labbé, president and founder of the Analekta label as well as cellist and conductor of I Musici de Montréal Yuli Turovsky are among the people to be honoured. Congratulations are in order!
Jean Charest, Prime Minister of Quebec, announced yesterday the names of the 34 people to receive one of the Ordre national du Québec, the most prestigious distinction awarded by the Quebec government. Among those, three essential promoters of classical music in Quebec will be saluted: cellist and conductor Yuli Turovsky (who, next season, will celebrate 25 years at the head of I Musici de Montréal), François Mario Labbé, founder and president of the Analekta label and Louise Forand-Samson, associated with the Festival de Lanaudière and the Club musical de Québec.
The recipients will received their award from the hands of the prime minister on June 3, at an official ceremony to be held at the Hôtel du Parlement.
Congratulations to all!
The excellence of two Analekta albums was recognized this weekend at the JUNO Awards in St. John (Newfoundland).
Indeed, in the category “Classical album of the year: solo or chamber ensemble”, double bassist Joel Quarrington’s Garden Scene beat the competition (which included two other Analekta recordings, Philip Glass, Portrait and Souvenir de Florence). In the “Classical album of the year: large ensemble or soloist(s) with large ensemble accompaniment”, the Mathieu, Shostakovich and Mendelssohn recording by Alain and David Lefèvre, accompanied by the London Mozart Players, won the JUNO. Congratulations to the winners!
You can listen to Joel Quarrington here…
… and to Alain & David Lefèvre and the London Players here…
It was yesterday afternoon that was held the 13th edition of the Prix Opus, salle Claude-Champagne. This annual gala recognizes the remarquable vitality of the Québécois classical music milieu. Several Analekta artists went home with five of the twenty-seven prizes awarded at the event, hosted by Mario Paquet and André Papillon.
Pianist André Laplante was the first Analekta artist to walk up the stage to receive the “Concert of the Year - Regions” Prize for his Chopin and Liszt recital, given at the Orford Arts Centre June 20, 2009. To listen to André Laplante in Chopin…
A few minutes after, Matthias Maute, artistic director of the Ensemble Caprice, joined Christopher Jackson from the Studio de musique ancienne de Montréal to receive a joint prize for the concert “Le Faste de la France”, given on May 3, hailed as “Concert of the Year - Medieval, Renaissance and baroque repertoire”. The Ensemble Caprice also performed a frenzied Folia and ponctuated the awards with tidbits of music in the second half of the program. To listen to Gloria! Vivaldi and its angels (nominated in the category “Recording of the Year - Medieval, Renaissance and baroque repertoire”…
The Orchestre symphonique de Montréal’s Youth Concerts program “Adventure at sea” won the “Young Public Production” prize. The OSM was also nominated for the concert version of Messiaen’s opera Saint François d’Assise and in the category “Recording of the Year - Modern and Contemporary repertoires”, for its album devoted to Unsuk Chin’s works. To listen…
Pianist Louise Bessette’s talent was recognized twice, first as “Performer of the Year” then for the remarkable work done to bring to life the “Messiaen Fall”, a unique event in which several Montreal musical organisations joined forces together to celebrate the French composer’s 100th anniversary. In a moving acceptance speech, she thanked Olivier Messiaen but also all the Canadian composers, many of which offered her works through the years. To listen to her latest album, devoted to Messiaen…
The Ensemble Caprice has just received the “Audience Choice” Prize from the Conseil des Arts de Montréal. The musicians were chosen among 50 companies that took part in 2008/2009 in the “Conseil des arts de Montréal en tournée”. Between 400 and 500 presentations are touring each year through this program that extends the life of recent creations. Ensemble Caprice was enthusiastically received by all for its Vivaldi and the Baroque Gypsies program. Congratulations!