Enjoy Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with your Valentine – February 14, 2025 LiveEvents February 6, 2025 72 Beethoven’s 9th Symphony This Valentine’s Day, let yourself be seduced by the grandeur and passion of Beethoven’s immortal choral masterpiece, Symphony No. 9, in a spectacular performance by Ensemble Caprice and Ensemble ArtChoral. A true testament to the triumph of the human spirit over adversity, with its emblematic final movement “Ode to Joy”, discover the emotions of Beethoven’s visionary composition, under the direction of conductor Matthias Maute. The program also includes Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel’s cantata Hiob and a premiere by William Kraushaar. An evening of musical passion and chocolates a plenty! Artists Ensemble Caprice Since it was founded by flautist Matthias Maute three decades ago, Ensemble Caprice has made its mark as one of the most sought-after ensembles on the classical music scene. Caprice has gained a solid reputation for its innovative programming and vibrant, compelling performances. The musicians of Ensemble Caprice have travelled to the four corners of the globe, giving performances in dozens of countries on four continents. The Ensemble’s tours have taken its members to Asia, China, Taiwan, Africa, Morocco, Tunisia and South Africa as well as several European Countries and the Americas. Matthias Maute, conductor Matthias Maute has carved out an impressive international reputation for himself not only as one of the great recorder and baroque flute virtuosos of his generation but also as a composer and conductor. He has been invited to perform as guest soloist or conductor by the world’s most eminent baroque orchestras, including: Seattle Baroque, the Portland Baroque Orchestra, the Cleveland Baroque Orchestra, “Apollo’s Fire” and the Magnificat Baroque Ensemble. In recent years he has also been invited to conduct other renowned orchestras, including I Musici de Montreal and Symphony of Nova Scotia. Matthias Maute is also celebrated for his work as artistic director and conductor of Ensemble Caprice. Sydney Baedke, soprano Noted by Opera Canada as a “rising star to watch”, Canadian soprano Sydney Baedke has been described as possessing an “impressively rich” and “exquisitely lyric” instrument (London Unattached, The Guardian). Her career has seen emerging and principal artist engagements across Canada, the United States, and Europe. Lauded as “a singer to be reckoned with” (Times Colonist) she is making a name for herself as an artist of distinction in a wide breadth of repertoire. Recent appearances include her role and company debut as a “well-projected, vocally pure, and moving” Contessa Almaviva (Opera Magazine) for Pacific Opera Victoria’s Le Nozze di Figaro, and Ma Zegner in Mazzoli’s Proving Up with Ammolite Opera. She also appeared as the soprano soloist in Bruckner’s Te Deum in her Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra debut, appeared in concert at Carnegie Hall and the Rockport Chamber Music Festival, and won 1st prize in Edmonton Opera’s prestigious 2023/24 Rumbold Vocal Prize Competition. Stéphanie Pothier, mezzo-soprano With her dark yet radiant vocal timbre, mezzo-soprano Stéphanie Pothier performs within a vast classical repertoire, from Baroque vocalise to Romantic works to the premiering of contemporary creations. She skillfully combines singing and dramatic ability to breathe life into the music, in both concert works and opera. Stéphanie Pothier is a guest soloist for numerous ensembles and companies: Opéra de Montréal, Opéra de Québec, Orchestre Métropolitain, Orchestre symphonique de Montréal and de Québec, Chants Libres, I Musici, Festival de Lanaudière, Clavecin en concert… Her recent engagements include Parsifal and Bruckner’s Mass No. 3 under the baton of Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Jenkins’ Messe l’Homme Armé at the Festival de Lanaudière with Stephen Layton, Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy with Kent Nagano and the OSM, both the Mozart, the Duruflé and the Verdi Requiem, the Dvorak and the Pergolesi Stabat Mater, Prokofiev’s Alexander Nevsky, Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis and Ninth Symphony, Haendel’s Messiah as well as Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and St. Matthew Passion. Scott Rumble, tenor “Scott Rumble, a tenor to keep an eye on, sang Ferrando’s “Un’ aura amorosa” with the requisite subtlety.” – Opera Canada, 2021 Scott Rumble was born and raised in Woodstock, Ontario where his earliest endeavours into music began with elementary school choirs. Since then, Mr. Rumble has collected credits that span musical theatre, operetta, oratorio, and opera, while honing his powerful tenor under the guidance of Torin Chiles and J. Patrick Raftery. In possession of impressive dramatic and linguistic facility, Mr. Rumble is committed to creating thorough, believable characterizations. He relishes the opportunity to take audiences on an emotional journey through meaningful, nuanced performances. Dominique Côté, baritone “Ever engaging French Canadian baritone Dominique Côté” – Opera Canada First opera prize at the Canari International Singing Competition in Corsica (chaired by Gabriel Bacquier) and winner of the audience’s prize at the Marmande International Singing Competition in France, baritone Dominique Côté is hailed by the public and critics for his warm voice and his moving interpretations. The New York Times called his recent performances in Une Éducation Manquée by Chabrier and Léonore by Gavaux in New York and Washington a “fine vocal performance”. His portrayal of the Countess in the opera Les Feluettes by Michel Marc Bouchard and Kevin March at the Edmonton Opera has been described as “virtuoso” by the press, just like in the title role of Nelligan by Gagnon where he was described as “simply extraordinary”. Ensemble ArtChoral Ensemble ArtChoral is a professional choir steeped in the grand tradition of choral music in Quebec for over 40 years, with the mission to present professional choral music in Québec, Canada and internationally. Ensemble ArtChoral is recipient of the PRIX OPUS Musical Event of the Year 2020. Ensemble ArtChoral has established Maison symphonique as home for its Montreal concert series and is the professional choir in residence 2023-2027 with Festival Classica and le Nouvel Opéra Métropolitain. Program Ludwig van BEETHOVEN, Symphony No. 9 in D minor, op. 125 Fanny MENDELSSOHN-HENSEL, Hiob (Cantata) William KRAUSHAAR, World Premiere – Ensemble Caprice Commission To purchase your tickets, visit: www.placedesarts.com
