Ensemble Caprice

Ensemble Caprice, an original voice in early music.

Under the artistic direction of Matthias Maute and Sophie Larivière, Ensemble Caprice is renowned for its innovative interpretations of baroque music. For 20 years Ensemble Caprice has received national and international acclaim for their performances of early music.

The ensemble gives concerts in Europe and is regularly invited to participate in such early music festivals as those in London (England) Lufthansa Festival of Baroque Music, in Bruges in Belgium, Utrecht in the Netherlands, and in Germany at the «Musikfestspiele Potsdam Sanssouci», the Early Music Festival in Regensburg, the Händel Festival in Halle and the Festival in Stockstadt. On this continent Caprice has given concerts in the USA in New York City at the Frick Collection and the Miller Theatre, and also at the Boston Early Music Festival and in Washington at the Library of Congress.They have also toured in Israel and Taiwan.

In November 2009 The New York Times featured them in a lengthy article, praising them as “imaginative, even powerful, and the playing is top-flight”.

In Canada, Ensemble Caprice is invited to perform at musical events such as the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival, the Elora Festival and the Domaine Forget’s International Festival.

Ensemble Caprice’s most recent CDs on the Analekta label have all been highly acclaimed: Gloria! Vivaldi’s Angels won Canada’s prestigious 2009 JUNO award, Telemann and the Gypsies was recommended by Gramophone, Vivaldi and the Baroque Gypsies had two nominations in 2009 for Echo Klassik awards in Germany.

The Ensemble is also the winner of three Opus Awards from the Conseil québécois de la musique, notably Performer of the Year (2010), and of two prizes awarded by the Montreal Arts Council, the Audience Appreciation Prize (2008-2009) and Finalist (2009) of the Grand Prix de Montréal.

What the media says…

“The ensemble has established itself as an immensely thoughtful and progressive force on the musical scene.” — The New York Times, USA

“The playing of the musicians was expressive, the dynamics pliable as putty, the plasticity of their phrasing warm and extravagant, and their virtuosity brilliant” — The Chronicle Herald, Canada

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