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Ensemble

 

The Académie Baroque de Montréal is a classical music ensemble that specializes in the performance of Baroque music. The ensemble was founded in 2007 by conductor and harpsichordist Eric Milnes, who sought to create a group that would explore the rich and varied repertoire of Baroque music. Milnes, a native of Montreal, had studied music at McGill University and the Juilliard School before embarking on a career as a conductor and performer. He had worked with a number of prominent Baroque ensembles, including Les Arts Florissants and the Boston Early Music Festival Orchestra, before founding the Académie Baroque de Montréal. The ensemble's first performance took place in 2007, and it quickly established itself as one of the leading Baroque ensembles in Canada. The group's repertoire includes works by such composers as Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, and Purcell, as well as lesser-known composers of the Baroque era. One of the highlights of the Académie Baroque de Montréal's early years was its performance of Handel's Messiah in 2009. The ensemble was joined by a choir of over 100 singers, and the performance was widely praised for its energy, precision, and emotional depth. In the years that followed, the Académie Baroque de Montréal continued to perform regularly, both in Montreal and throughout Canada. The ensemble also began to attract international attention, and it has since performed in the United States, Europe, and Asia. One of the most notable performances in the ensemble's history took place in 2014, when it was invited to perform at the prestigious Festival de Musique Baroque de Versailles in France. The ensemble's performance of Handel's Dixit Dominus was hailed as a triumph, and it helped to establish the Académie Baroque de Montréal as one of the leading Baroque ensembles in the world. In addition to its performances, the Académie Baroque de Montréal has also been recognized for its recordings. The ensemble's debut album, featuring works by Bach and Vivaldi, was released in 2010 and received widespread critical acclaim. The group has since released several more albums, including recordings of Handel's Messiah and Bach's St. John Passion. The Académie Baroque de Montréal has also been recognized with several awards and honors. In 2012, the ensemble was awarded the Prix Opus for Best Concert of the Year, and in 2015 it received the Prix Opus for Best Recording of the Year. The group has also been nominated for several Juno Awards, Canada's top music award. Today, the Académie Baroque de Montréal continues to perform and record, under the leadership of Eric Milnes. The ensemble remains committed to exploring the rich and varied repertoire of Baroque music, and to bringing this music to audiences around the world.

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