Biography

Arion Baroque Orchestra is a leader in the world of early music on period instruments in Canada.

The clarity and freshness of Arion’s performances were noticed from its very first concerts, and the finesse of its readings of selected and varied Baroque works has never wavered. Constant attention to detail has placed the orchestra among the most recognized early music groups in North America and around the world.

The Orchestra, a true ambassador of the Baroque musical heritage, offers a prestigious Montreal series of concerts at the Salle Bourgie of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts with the participation of internationally renowned guest conductors and soloists such as Jaap ter Linden, Chistophe Rousset, Enrico Onofri, Stefano Montanari, and Elizabeth Wallfisch to name a few.

The winner of several awards, Arion regularly performs on tour in Quebec, Canada, the United States, Mexico, Asia, and Europe.

Many youth and educational projects, notably in collaboration with the Université de Montréal, have been created to share the passion and enthusiasm that drives the musicians of Arion and their new artistic director Mathieu Lussier.

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PRIZES AND AWARDS

2021

- Opus Prize for the ­­« Telemann à Paris » concert awarded by the Quebec Music Council in the category Concert of the Year - Medieval Music, Renaissance and Baroque

2020

- Opus Prize to Claire Guimond for « Artistic Direction of the Year » awarded by the Quebec Music Council 

- Opus Prize for the ­­« Musica Noturna » concert awarded by the Quebec Music Council in the category Concert of the Year - Medieval Music, Renaissance and Baroque

- Nominated for a Opus Prize awarded by the Quebec Music Council for the concert « Portraits of Purcell » coproduced with the Studio de musique anciene de Montréal in the category Concert of the Year - Medieval Music, Renaissance and Baroque

2019

- Betty-Webster prize « Awarded to Claire Guimond, Arion Baroque Orchestra artistic director, for her leadership, her actions and her contribution to share knowledge. She left a lasting musical legacy to the canadian orchestral community », Orchestras Canada

- Nominated for a Opus prize awarded by the Quebec Council in the category ''Album of the Year - Medieval Music, Renaissance and Baroque" for the album « Vivaldi »

- Nominated for a Opus prize awarded by the Quebec Council in the category ''Concert of the Year - Montreal" for the concert « From comic to tragic with Mozart and Haydn »

- Nominated for a Opus prize awarded by the Quebec Council in the category ''Concert of the Year - Medieval Music, Renaissance and Baroque" for the concert « Virtuosi! »

2018

- Diapason d’or winner for the album « Vivaldi » awarded by the prestigious European media, Diapason.
- Nominated for a Juno prize in the category ''Classical Album of the Year - Large Ensemble'' for the album « Rebelles baroques »

- Nominated for a Opus prize awarded by the Quebec Council in the category ''Concert of the Year - Medieval Music, Renaissance and Baroque" for the concert « Les Plaisirs! »

- Nominated for a Opus prize awarded by the Quebec Council in the category ''Concert of the Year - Medieval Music, Renaissance and Baroque" for the concert « L'Estro Armonico »

2017

- Opus Prize for the « Bach and the Bernardinis » concert awarded by the Quebec Music Council in the category "Concert of the Year - Medieval Music, Renaissance and Baroque" (Quebec)

- Nomination for an Opus Prize for the « Beyond the Four Season! » concert awarded by the Quebec Music Council in the category "Concert of the Year - Medieval Music, Renaissance and Baroque" (Quebec)

2016

- Nominated for a Juno in the category "Album of the Year - Vocal/Choral" for the album « Bach : Magnificat BWV 243 »

- Opus Prize for the "Cuckoo!" concert awarded by the Quebec Music Council in the category "Concert of the Year - Medieval Music, Renaissance and Baroque" (Quebec) 

2015

- Opus Prize for "Les Trésors cachés d'Italie" awarded by the Quebec Music Council in the category ''Medieval Music, Renaissance and Baroque" (Quebec)

2014

- Opus Prize for "Prima Donna" awarded by the Quebec Music Council in the category "Medieval Music, Renaissance and Baroque" (Quebec)

2013

- Félix Prize "Album of the year - Classical Vocal Album" for "Prima Donna" awarded by ADISQ (Quebec)

- JUNO Award in the category "Album of the year - Vocal/Choral" for the album "Prima Donna"

2012

- Nomination for the album "La Passion selon Saint Jean" for the Félix in the category "Album of the year - Orchestras and large ensembles", ADISQ (Quebec)

2007

- Opus Award for "Concert of the year in Montreal" for the concert "Plaisirs champêtres" awarded by the Conseil Québécois de la Musique (Québec)

-Opus Award for "Concert of the year" for "Plaisirs champêtres", awarded by the Conseil québécois de la musique in the category "Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque Music" (Quebec)

- Nomination for the album "Vivaldi - Chiaroscuro" for the Felix in the category "Album of the year - Soloists and small ensembles" by ADISQ (Quebec)

2006

- Audience award - Concert of the year, received from the Conseil des Arts de Montréal for the tour "Vivaldi - Chiaroscuro" in Montreal during Fall 2005 as part of the CAM on tour

2005

- Nomination for the album "Telemann: Tutti Flauti!" for the Felix in the category "Album of the Year - Orchestras and Large Ensembles," from ADISQ (Quebec)

- Nomination for the album "Telemann: Tutti Flauti!" at the JUNO Awards in the category "Album of the Year - Classic Music, Large Ensembles"

2004

- "Best Canadian Early Music Recording of the Year" Distinction for "Maria Madre di Dio" awarded by Toronto Opus Magazine (Canada)

- Nomination for the album "Maria Madre di Dio" at the OPUS Awards awarded by the Conseil québécois de la musique in the category "Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque Music" (Quebec)

2003

- Felix Award for "Album of the Year - Soloists and Small Ensembles" for "Handel - Love Duets" awarded by ADISQ (Quebec)

- OPUS Award for "Record of the Year" for "Handel - Love Duets" awarded by the Conseil québécois de la musique in the category "Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque Music" (Quebec)

2002

- Nomination for the album "Handel - Sacred Arias" for the Felix in the category "Album of the Year - Orchestras and Large Ensembles" by ADISQ (Quebec)

- Nomination of Arion Baroque Orchestra as a finalist in the Grand-Prix of the Conseil des Arts de Montréal, which highlights "the excellency of its artistic direction, the exceptional influence of the group, as well as its vision for the future" (Canada)

2002

- Second prize - International Handel Recording Prize for "Handel - Love duets" (United Kingdom)

1999

- Nomination for the album "Jean-Marie Leclair- Concertos" for the Felix in the category "Album of the Year - Orchestras and Large Ensembles," from ADISQ (Quebec)

1997

- Nomination for the album "Bach - Six sonates en trio" for the Felix in the category "Album of the Year - Soloists and Small Ensembles," from ADISQ (Quebec)

1984

- Third prize of the Concours international de Musique de Bruges (Belgium)