Les Violons du Roy
Encyclopedia
Les Violons du Roy is a French-Canadian chamber orchestra based in Québec City
, Québec
. The orchestra's principal venue is the Palais Montcalm in Québec City. The orchestra also performs concerts in Montréal
at the Place des Arts
, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
and St. James United Church.
In 1984, Bernard Labadie founded the ensemble, following productions at the Université Laval
of the baroque operas Dido and Aeneas
and L'incoronazione di Poppea
, using the orchestra for these productions as the new ensemble's core. The ensemble's name is an adaptation of the 17th century French royal court orchestra Les Vingt-quatre Violons du Roi
. Numbering 15 musicians, the orchestra performs on modern instruments, but incorporates period performance practice into its performances of music from the 17th and 18th centuries, including using duplicates of period bows for string instruments, and sparing use of vibrato. Labadie founded an affiliate chorus for Les Violons du Roy in 1985, under the original name of Ensemble vocal Bernard Labadie. In 1991, the choir changed its name to La Chapelle de Québec. Labadie continues as music director of both Les Violons du Roy and La Chapelle de Québec.
The ensemble first performed in Europe in 1988. Its first performance in Washington, D.C.
was in 1995. The orchestra first appeared in New York City
in August 1997.
Since 2008, Jean-Marie Zeitouni is the orchestra's principal guest conductor. Since 2009, Eric Paetkau is the orchestra's resident conductor.
The orchestra has recorded commercially for the Dorian, Virgin Classics, and ATMA Classique
labels. The ensemble has won the Juno Award for Classical Album of the Year twice: for their recording of George Frideric Handel
's Apollo e Dafne
and Handel's Silete Venti in 2001, and for their recording of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
's Requiem
in 2003.
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
, Québec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. The orchestra's principal venue is the Palais Montcalm in Québec City. The orchestra also performs concerts in Montréal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
at the Place des Arts
Place des Arts
right|frame|View of the Place des Arts esplanade. The Musée d'art contemporain is on the left; behind it is the Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, with the Théâtre Maisonneuve on the rightPlace des Arts is a major performing arts centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada....
, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is a major museum in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1860, making it Canada's oldest art institution, it moved to its current location in 1912 thanks to a large donation from businessman James Ross....
and St. James United Church.
In 1984, Bernard Labadie founded the ensemble, following productions at the Université Laval
Université Laval
Laval University is the oldest centre of education in Canada and was the first institution in North America to offer higher education in French...
of the baroque operas Dido and Aeneas
Dido and Aeneas
Dido and Aeneas is an opera in a prologue and three acts by the English Baroque composer Henry Purcell to a libretto by Nahum Tate. The first known performance was at Josias Priest's girls' school in London no later than the summer of 1688. The story is based on Book IV of Virgil's Aeneid...
and L'incoronazione di Poppea
L'incoronazione di Poppea
L'incoronazione di Poppea is an Italian baroque opera comprising a prologue and three acts, first performed in Venice during the 1642–43 carnival season. The music, attributed to Claudio Monteverdi, is a setting of a libretto by Giovanni Francesco Busenello...
, using the orchestra for these productions as the new ensemble's core. The ensemble's name is an adaptation of the 17th century French royal court orchestra Les Vingt-quatre Violons du Roi
Les Vingt-quatre Violons du Roi
The Vingt-quatre Violons du Roy were a famous five-part string orchestra at the French royal court, existing from 1626 to 1761.-History:...
. Numbering 15 musicians, the orchestra performs on modern instruments, but incorporates period performance practice into its performances of music from the 17th and 18th centuries, including using duplicates of period bows for string instruments, and sparing use of vibrato. Labadie founded an affiliate chorus for Les Violons du Roy in 1985, under the original name of Ensemble vocal Bernard Labadie. In 1991, the choir changed its name to La Chapelle de Québec. Labadie continues as music director of both Les Violons du Roy and La Chapelle de Québec.
The ensemble first performed in Europe in 1988. Its first performance in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
was in 1995. The orchestra first appeared in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in August 1997.
Since 2008, Jean-Marie Zeitouni is the orchestra's principal guest conductor. Since 2009, Eric Paetkau is the orchestra's resident conductor.
The orchestra has recorded commercially for the Dorian, Virgin Classics, and ATMA Classique
ATMA Classique
ATMA Classique is a Canadian record label based in Montreal, Quebec. Founded in 1995, the company has over 300 titles in its catalogue and distributes in over 25 countries and on the internet. Several recordings released by the company have won Juno and Felix Awards....
labels. The ensemble has won the Juno Award for Classical Album of the Year twice: for their recording of George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel was a German-British Baroque composer, famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. Handel was born in 1685, in a family indifferent to music...
's Apollo e Dafne
Apollo e Dafne (Handel)
Apollo e Dafne is a secular cantata composed by George Frideric Handel in 1709–10. Handel began the work in Venice in 1709, but completed it in Hanover after arriving in 1710 to take up his appointment as Kapellmeister to the Elector, the later King George I of Great Britain...
and Handel's Silete Venti in 2001, and for their recording of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , baptismal name Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart , was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He composed over 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music...
's Requiem
Requiem (Mozart)
The Requiem Mass in D minor by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was composed in Vienna in 1791 and left unfinished at the composer's death. A completion by Franz Xaver Süssmayr was delivered to Count Franz von Walsegg, who had anonymously commissioned the piece for a requiem Mass to commemorate the...
in 2003.