Ensemble Matheus
Encyclopedia
Ensemble Matheus is a French baroque orchestra
. Based in Brittany
, the ensemble gives concerts in a number of French cities, including Brest
at Le Quartz, where it has enjoyed a residency since 1996, Vannes
(Théâtre Anne de Bretagne), and Plougonvelin
(Espace Keraudy). The ensemble receives funding from the Conseil Régional de Bretagne (Regional Council of Brittany), Conseil Général du Finistère, the city of Brest
, the Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication - Direction Régionale des Affaires Culturelles (DRAC) Bretagne (Ministry of Culture and Communication - Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs Brittany), the Société Inter Parfums, and the Mécénat Musical Société Générale.
The Ensemble Matheus was founded in 1991 with the members of the Quatuor Matheus (Matheus Quartet), Jean-Christophe Spinosi
, Laurence Paugam, Françoise Paugam, and Thierry Runarvot, as the core of the ensemble, and with Spinosi as artistic leader. Whilst the ensemble has a primary focus on baroque music, it also performs works from the 19th and 20th centuries, expanding the ensemble as needed. In addition to concert work, the ensemble has been the opera orchestra for productions at such venues and companies as the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées
, Théâtre du Châtelet
, the Opéra de Paris and the Opéra de Nice
. The ensemble began a regular residency at the Théâtre du Châtelet
in 2007. Outside of France, the ensemble has performed in opera productions in such cities as Bilbao
and Oslo
.
In the US, the Ensemble Matheus first performed at Carnegie Hall
in February 2008. In the UK, the ensemble first appeared at The Proms
in September 2010. The ensemble regularly collaborates with individual artists such as Philippe Jaroussky
and Marie-Nicole Lemieux
.
The Ensemble Matheus has recorded commercially for the Naïve and Virgin Classics labels. The Ensemble Matheus has served as the featured instrumental ensemble in CD recordings of operas such as Vivaldi's La verità in cimento
, Orlando furioso
, Griselda
, and La Fida Ninfa, and on DVD in a production of Rossini's La Pietra del Paragone.
Baroque orchestra
The Baroque orchestra is the type of orchestra that existed during the Baroque period, commonly identified as 1600-1750. Its origins were in France where Jean-Baptiste Lully added the newly re-designed hautboy and transverse flutes to his vingt-quatre violons du Roy...
. Based in Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
, the ensemble gives concerts in a number of French cities, including Brest
Brest, France
Brest is a city in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. Located in a sheltered position not far from the western tip of the Breton peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French military port after Toulon...
at Le Quartz, where it has enjoyed a residency since 1996, Vannes
Vannes
Vannes is a commune in the Morbihan department in Brittany in north-western France. It was founded over 2000 years ago.-Geography:Vannes is located on the Gulf of Morbihan at the mouth of two rivers, the Marle and the Vincin. It is around 100 km northwest of Nantes and 450 km south west...
(Théâtre Anne de Bretagne), and Plougonvelin
Plougonvelin
Plougonvelin is a commune in the Finistère department in Bretagne in northwestern France.-Population:Inhabitants of Plougonvelin are called Plougonvelinois.-Breton language:...
(Espace Keraudy). The ensemble receives funding from the Conseil Régional de Bretagne (Regional Council of Brittany), Conseil Général du Finistère, the city of Brest
Brest, France
Brest is a city in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. Located in a sheltered position not far from the western tip of the Breton peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French military port after Toulon...
, the Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication - Direction Régionale des Affaires Culturelles (DRAC) Bretagne (Ministry of Culture and Communication - Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs Brittany), the Société Inter Parfums, and the Mécénat Musical Société Générale.
The Ensemble Matheus was founded in 1991 with the members of the Quatuor Matheus (Matheus Quartet), Jean-Christophe Spinosi
Jean-Christophe Spinosi
Jean-Christophe Spinosi is a French conductor and violinist, the founder of Quatuor Matheus , a group that later grew into Ensemble Matheus. He is especially well-known for his interpretation of the instrumental and vocal music of the Baroque, most notably the operas of Vivaldi...
, Laurence Paugam, Françoise Paugam, and Thierry Runarvot, as the core of the ensemble, and with Spinosi as artistic leader. Whilst the ensemble has a primary focus on baroque music, it also performs works from the 19th and 20th centuries, expanding the ensemble as needed. In addition to concert work, the ensemble has been the opera orchestra for productions at such venues and companies as the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées
Théâtre des Champs-Élysées
The Théâtre des Champs-Élysées is a theatre at 15 avenue Montaigne. Despite its name, the theatre is not on the Champs-Élysées but nearby in another part of the 8th arrondissement of Paris....
, Théâtre du Châtelet
Théâtre du Châtelet
The Théâtre du Châtelet is a theatre and opera house, located in the place du Châtelet in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, France.One of two theatres built on the site of a châtelet, a small castle or fortress, it was designed by Gabriel Davioud at the request of Baron Haussmann between 1860 and...
, the Opéra de Paris and the Opéra de Nice
Opéra de Nice
The Opéra de Nice is the principal opera venue in Nice, France.The théâtre municipal of Nice was inaugurated 7 February 1885 with a performance of Verdi's Aida. In 1902 the théâtre municipal became the Opéra de Nice.-References:...
. The ensemble began a regular residency at the Théâtre du Châtelet
Théâtre du Châtelet
The Théâtre du Châtelet is a theatre and opera house, located in the place du Châtelet in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, France.One of two theatres built on the site of a châtelet, a small castle or fortress, it was designed by Gabriel Davioud at the request of Baron Haussmann between 1860 and...
in 2007. Outside of France, the ensemble has performed in opera productions in such cities as Bilbao
Bilbao
Bilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
and Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
.
In the US, the Ensemble Matheus first performed at Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
in February 2008. In the UK, the ensemble first appeared at The Proms
The Proms
The Proms, more formally known as The BBC Proms, or The Henry Wood Promenade Concerts presented by the BBC, is an eight-week summer season of daily orchestral classical music concerts and other events held annually, predominantly in the Royal Albert Hall in London...
in September 2010. The ensemble regularly collaborates with individual artists such as Philippe Jaroussky
Philippe Jaroussky
Philippe Jaroussky is a French sopranist countertenor. He began his musical career with the violin, winning an award at the Versailles conservatory and then took up the piano before turning to singing...
and Marie-Nicole Lemieux
Marie-Nicole Lemieux
Marie-Nicole Lemieux is a Canadian contralto. She first came to the world's attention in 2000 when she became the first Canadian to win first prize at the Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition in Belgium...
.
The Ensemble Matheus has recorded commercially for the Naïve and Virgin Classics labels. The Ensemble Matheus has served as the featured instrumental ensemble in CD recordings of operas such as Vivaldi's La verità in cimento
La verità in cimento
La verità in cimento is an opera by Antonio Vivaldi to a libretto by Giovanni Palazzi. The opera, which is Vivaldi's 13th, was premiered during the Carnival at Venice in 1720. The work is listed as RV739 in the Vivaldi catalogue....
, Orlando furioso
Orlando furioso (Vivaldi)
Orlando furioso is an opera in three acts by Antonio Vivaldi to an Italian libretto by Grazio Braccioli, based on the poem of the same name by Ariosto. The first performance of the opera was at Teatro San Angelo, Venice, in 1727....
, Griselda
Griselda (Vivaldi)
Griselda is a dramma per musica in three acts that was composed by Antonio Vivaldi. The opera uses a revised version of the 1701 Italian libretto by Apostolo Zeno that was based on Giovanni Boccaccio's The Decameron . The celebrated Venetian playwright Carlo Goldoni was hired to adapt the libretto...
, and La Fida Ninfa, and on DVD in a production of Rossini's La Pietra del Paragone.
External links
- Official Ensemble Matheus homepage
- Intermusica agency page on Ensemble Matheus / Jean-Christophe Spinosi
- Raymond Tuttle, Classical.net review of DVD of Rossini, La Pietra del Paragone, 2008
- Charles T. Downey, IonArts blog entry, 11 February 2008
- Carnegie Hall profile of Ensemble Matheus, February 2008
- BBC Four Programmes page on Prom 70, 2010