Press Room 
Arion Baroque Orchestra’s 2011-2012 Season
From spark to flame
Montreal, Monday, April 11, 2011 – There are plenty of new developments in store for Arion Baroque Orchestra’s 31st season—a season that will see the ensemble settle into its new residence in Bourgie Hall at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. A new concert hall with ideal acoustic qualities for the great baroque repertoire, music of extremely high-calibre, renowned guest soloists and conductors, some appearing in Montreal for the 1st time… How can anyone resist?
“We are absolutely enchanted to take up residence in the all-new, magnificent Bourgie Hall. This room has a soul! Its acoustic qualities are exceptional, it’s got modern facilities, it’s warm, and it brings the audience close to the musicians. Arion will host some highly renowned artists, many of whom will be making their first appearances in Montreal, to perform a program that combines ‘classics of the repertoire’ with enjoyable works to explore. Our 31st season offers guaranteed excellence, pleasure, passion, and discovery,” declared Claire Guimond, Arion’s Artistic Director.
In brief:
• 5 music programs presented 3 times each, from Friday to Sunday
• A total of 15 concerts in the Montreal Series
• Some 40 musicians with great international guest soloists and conductors, including soprano Karina Gauvin, violinist Rachel Podger, alto Meg Bragle, violinist Elizabeth Wallfisch, harpsichordist Christophe Rousset, and cellist Jaap ter Linden
• 2 new recordings, one for Atma classique and another for Early-Music.com
• A 6-concert tour of Belgium and Spain
• A chamber music series in Ogilvy’s Tudor Hall; details will be announced at a later date
• Power Corporation: principal sponsor of the 11-12 Montreal Series
• A renewed partnership with Société Générale (Canada) and its President, Mr. Pierre Matuszewski
• Many subscription benefits
ARION’S MONTREAL SERIES IN DETAIL
All concerts are presented from Friday to Sunday in the new Bourgie concert hall at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, located at 1339 Sherbrooke Street West.
French overtures and dances
October 28 and 29 at 8pm, October 30th at 2pm
Jean-Philippe Rameau : Overtures and Suites from Dardanus and Castor et Pollux
Jean Fery- Rebel : Les Éléments – opera-ballet
Guest Conductor: Christophe Rousset, harpsichord (France)
The genius of Rameau, a master of harmony, will be revealed in overtures from his great tragédies lyriques, while Rebel will show his command of styles both eccentric and graceful. In his masterwork Les Elements, describing the creation of the world, he uses dance to illustrate the emergence of order out of chaos. Under the direction of the renowned French harpsichordist Christophe Rousset.
Bach – Searching Soul
November 18th and 19th at 8pm, November 20th at 2pm
Johann Sebastian Bach: Cantatas BWV 54 and 170, Brandenburg Concerto no 3, BWV 1048, Oboe concerto to be determined
Guest Conductor: Jaap ter Linden (Netherlands)
Soloist : Meg Bragle, alto (United States)
Closing concert of the Montréal Bach Festival
For Johann Sebastian Bach, the soul longs above all for eternity in the presence of the Beloved. Bach always succeeded in translating this aspiration of such universal scope into a language that speaks to all, and which remains of contemporary significance. Whether it be in the realm of the sacred—two beautiful cantatas for alto voice—or of the profane—in his suites and concertos—he chooses the forms and sonorities that best express his faith in God and humanity. Under the direction of Jaap ter Linden, the “memorable, raw-silk voice” of Meg Bragle will share the
stage with the soloists of Arion.
Commedia dell’arte
February 17th and 18th at 8pm, February 19th at 2pm
Johann David Heinichen: Concerto from the Dresden Concerti – in the Venetian style
Luigi Boccherini : Symphony « La Casa del Diavolo »
Giovanni Battista Pergolesi: Sinfonia « Lo Frate ‘nnamurato », for strings and basso continuo
Unico Wilhelm van Wassenaer : Concertino from the Concertini Armonici
Georg Philipp Telemann : Don Quixote Suite
Guest Conductor: Elizabeth Wallfisch, violin (Australia)
Festival Montréal en lumière
Music and theatre have always gone hand in hand to elicit from audiences the whole gamut of emotions. In this program, however, no room for glumness—only pleasure! With her usual panache, violinist Elizabeth Wallfisch is back to fire up the Arion troupe for whom, as the protagonists of the Commedia dell’arte, there will be no holds barred. Almost all of musical Europe has come together to tread the same boards for this most lively and colorful concert.
Music at Zimmermann’s Coffee-House
March 16th and 17th at 8pm, March 18th at 2pm
Johann Sebastian Bach: Concertos for violin, strings and basso continuo BWV 1041 and 1042
Georg Philipp Telemann: Tafelmusik (excerpts of the first presentation)
Guest Conductor: Rachel Podger, violin (United Kingdom)
Welcome to the friendly surroundings of Zimmermann’s Leipzig Coffee-House, where refreshments and fine fare are to be had, especially in the form of the best new music. After Telemann, Johann Sebastian Bach directed a Collegium musicum there, bringing together musicians from the university and sometimes from his own family. Over a hot cup of coffee, come listen to English violinist Rachel Podger offer a menu of choice German violin concertos.
Heroines and Femmes Fatales
April 27th and 28th at 8pm, April 29th at 2pm
Excerpts from operas and other instrumental pieces by Handel, Leo, Porpora, Porta, Vinci and Vivaldi
Guest Conductor: Alexander Weimann, harpsichord (Canada)
Soloist : Karina Gauvin, soprano (Canada)
From the end of 1729 to the summer of 1737, the Italian soprano Anna Maria Strada sang in every one of Handel’s London operas and oratorios, making her his most loyal stage collaborator and likely his favorite soprano. She was above all highly regarded for her expert blend of dramatic flair and heartfelt expressiveness. The wonderful Karina Gauvin will bring these qualities to life in a selection of dazzling and more tender arias by the Saxon composer, as well as by some of his colleagues and rivals. For the occasion, Arion will be led by the inspired and imaginative Alexander Weimann.
Subscribe to Arion’s 2011-2012 season now
and take advantage of the many benefits available!
514-355-1825 / arionbaroque.com /
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• First pick at seating in the new Bourgie Hall, and the opportunity to keep your seats next season
• Free pre-concert lectures and post-concert chats
• 27% less than the price of single tickets (the equivalent of a free concert)
• 15% off additional single tickets
• The freedom to exchange your tickets up to 4 times, free of charge
• 1 florin ($5 value, reserved exclusively to Section A subscribers)
• Invitations to exclusive events
• Monthly newsletter
• Opportunity to invite a family member under the age of 18 for only $10
Power Corporation, a loyal Arion patron
“We are privileged once again to join forces with Power Corporation, the official sponsor of this new season in Bourgie Hall. I would like to acknowledge its generosity and commitment towards Arion,” states Ms. Guimond.
Société Générale, proud partner of Arion
Arion is very proud to continue its partnership with Société Générale. “We are very pleased and very proud to have Mr. Pierre Matuszewski, President of Société Générale in Canada, as Arion’s Chairman of the Board. His leadership and visionary spirit gives Arion wings to soar,” declares Claire Guimond.
Pierre Matuszewski continues: “Whether one is a seasoned music lover or simply a novice, Arion’s brilliance and virtuosity are immediately enthralling. The music that Claire Guimond and her musicians have offered us over the past thirty years has been a pure delight for the ears, the spirit, and the heart. Société Générale therefore had every reason in the world to once again join forces with Arion, and it does so with all its heart!”
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