News

Découvrez la programmation 2013-2014 de la Série Croque-Baroque!

Let yourself be inspired by the joie-de-vivre and the infinite finesse of Italian and English composers of the 17th and 18th centuries!

On Friday April 12, dance on a Dowland Galliard and abandon yourself in a timeless Mealli sonata at the hands of Vincent Lauzer, recorder player and Sylvain Bergeron, lute player.

We welcome you to listen to a short video of Mahan Esfahani. The iranian born harpsichordist will be in Montreal for the concert The Full-blooded and the Melancholic on March 11, 12 and 13th.

Reserve your tickets now!

Arion presents the Happy Hour Concert at the Gallery and the Croque-Baroque Concert : Intimate C.P.E. Bach, which will take place Thursday, March 3 at 12:30 pm in Tudor Hall (Ogilvy) and Friday, March 4 at 6:30 pm in the McClure Gallery (Westmount).

Dear friends of Arion,

We would like to inform you that ticket purchases through our Internet site for the Velvet concert will be deactivated 48 hours before the concert.  It will still be possible to get tickets by phone or directly at Saint-Viateur Church, one hour before the start of the concert.

Last night at 7 :30, I went to listen to an excellent two and a half hour concert of early music:  Alla Tedesca by the Arion Baroque Orchestra directed by Mathieu Lussier, at the Saint-Sixte Church at 1895 Church Street (at the corner of Marcel-Laurin), in Saint-Laurent, following an invitation from Charles Rollet.

"Arion plays admirably with precision and expression [...]  The recording captures all the details of both the solo instruments and the accompanying ensemble.
Tom Moore
Early Music America, summer 2011

"Gary Cooper [...] 'gets' Bach, placing every note perfectly [...]  Claire Guimond gives a performance that is at once demure and virtuosic."
Brian Clark
Early Music Review no. 139, December 2010

Beginning October 13, Arion opens its 30^th season in style with a major tour throughout the island of Montreal, in collaboration with the Montreal Arts Council.  Our team of musicians will take a tour of the island throughout the year to present the Alla Tedesca, Wind-Born Baroque concert in 10 different arrondissements.  

The critic for La Presse, Claude Gingras, appreciated last night’s concert “whose success is due in large part to the musicians’ involvement and virtuosity and especially to Mathieu Lussier who, himself a great bassoon virtuoso, succeeds in indicating entrances and nuances to his colleagues without ceasing to play and in communicating to them, as well as the listener, the great pleasure he takes in doing so.”

Dear friends of Arion,

We would like to inform you that the ticket purchases via our website will be deactivated 48 hours before the next concert (Alla Tedesca! Wind-borne Baroque!). It will be possible to get tickets by phone or directly at Redpath Hall, an hour before the concert. 

Dear friends of Arion,

We would like to inform you that the QST tax fees will be changed on January 1^st 2011. The tax charges will be increased from 7.5% to 8.5%. The tickets and subscriptions prices will be changed

Demonstration of Passion's greatness

Soloists were strong, orchestra was authentic

By Richard Todd, The Ottawa Citizen November 29, 2010

It is with great pleasure that our new web site will be on line just at the moment we will be celebrating our 30^th anniversary! This new site will not only be a reflection of the dynamism and passion of our orchestra but it is also meant to create a link between you, our dear public, and Arion’s wonderful musicians.

Classical Concerts - Une Passion crescendo

By Christophe Huss, Le Devoir, November 29, 2010,  Music

Arion Baroque Orchestra opened its 30th season and the Bach Festival Friday and Saturday with St. John’s Passion.  The work was already performed at an earlier festival with Kent Nagano in the impossible vessel of Wilfrid-Pelletier, with the improbable choice of Christpohe Prégardien as the Evangelist,  in which, at the end of his voice, as if to break him more, he was asked to sing the tenor’s airs.

Dear Arion subscribers,

After many months of preparation, the Orchestra is very excited to start this amazing 30^th season with you. This season 2010-2011 is going to be awesome and thrilling! I prepared the programming with the intention of transporting you towards new universes, to allow you to discover or rediscover works, composers, interpreters and even musical instruments. You will travel through the world of J.S. Bach, Fasch, Telemann, Mozart, Haydn, C.P.E. Bach and many others, while listening to our talented musicians and world renowned soloists and guest conductors, such as, Suzie LeBlanc, Gary Cooper and Jaap ter Linden.

Classical Music- Arion’s new ambitions

By Christophe Huss, Le Devoir, November 20, 2010

Next Friday and Saturday, at the Saint-Viateur Church, the Arion Baroque Orchestra will open Montreal’s Bach Festival with St. John’s Passion, directed by Alexander Weimann.  This will also be the first performance of the ensemble’s 30th season, of which the flautist Claire Guimond serves as artistic director.

At the beginning, in 1981, Arion was a quartet made up of Claire Guimond (flute), Chantal Rémillard (violin), Betsy MacMillan (viola de gamba) and Hank Knox (harpsichord).  Now, and for a dozen years, Arion is fully a baroque orchestra playing on period instruments.ets 514 581-8637.

Much to savour between the extremes of Bach performances

By Arthur Kaptainis, The GazetteNovember 20, 2010

More than 250 people, coming from Dorval, Côte Saint-Luc, and the Southwest district attended Arion’s Alla Tedesca concert.

Arion reserves many surprises… A new concept for the 30^e anniversary of the Orchestra ! The chamber music serie will take place in an intimate atmosphere that will allow you to appreciate the talent of a reduced group of musicians. Another opportunity to be blasted by the prettiest music, baroque music!

Commedia dell'arte: inspired by theater!
These comical plays, born in the 15th century, always used the same stock characters to weave its narrative, characters that we still know and love: Harlequin, Pierrot, Colombine, Pantaloon, among others.

Fast-forward a few hundreds of years later: Arion Baroque Orchestra is getting inspired by the same characters to create a flamboyant concert!

Dive into the Zimmermann's Coffehouse spirit with Arion Baroque Orchestre and Nocochi:  coffee and Nocochi cookies are free!

Free cookies only on Saturyday, March 17: reserve your tickets today!

Interview with a young, up-and-coming musician

Vincent Lauzer, recorder player and winner of the "Revelation of the Year 2012" Opus Prize  will be joining Arion Baroque Orchestra for the concert Baroque Celebration. We reached him by phone to talk to him about this collaboration and his big win at the Opus Awards. At the other end of the line is a young man with a warm voice, passionate about the recorder.

This year's Benefit Event is quickly approaching.  Enjoy a majestic evening at the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec with Montreal businessmen and businesswomen, sublime soprano Karina Gauvin, and master harpsichordist, Alexander Weimann.

Among other activities, the evening includes a silent auction of more than 100 items:  from a ViaRail trip to Toronto, to gift certificates to delicious restaurants and Sidney Crosby and Guy Lafleur jerseys.  There are sure to be items to meet all tastes and all budgets.

Get ready for a world-class evening!  For a taste of what's to come, we invite you to visit the catalogue.

Would you like to make a bid in advance?
Beat the crowd by sending an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with your name, item number, bidding price and the best phone number to reach you.  Jeannie Lemieux, Arion's production manager, will follow up with you !

* We apologize, but the catalogue is available in French only.

The online brochure for the upcoming 2012-2013 concert series is here!  Arion Baroque Orchestra's 32nd season promises to exceed your highest expectations with utmost passion and exuberance.  

We would also like to announce that since last May, subscriptions are now open to everybody.  Call for reservations at 514.355.1825 to reserve your place now!