A Word from the Artistic Director

Les Boréades is already 11 years old, and the pleasure of seeing you again, our cherished and loyal public, is as keen as ever. It is true that the repertoire that we tackle is inexhaustible, including many immortal masterpieces as well as lesser-known compositions that nonetheless hold pleasant surprises. Our season, as always marked by a certain audacity and a sense of discovery, calls upon some outstanding musicians who share our passion for music.

The season opens with an Italian program featuring the concertante music of Alessandro Scarlatti. Then a recital by yours truly will put the spotlight on the recorder and traverso as real solo instruments — that is, without basso continuo — in compositions by the German masters of the eighteenth century: Bach father and son. We will start the year 2007 with a concert of pre-classical works that will bring out the traverso in all its expressive and virtuoso possibilities, with the double bassist David Sinclair and the Franz Joseph Quartet as our guests for the occasion. In fourth place, a Bach concert in which our enlarged ensemble will present the magnificent cantatas BWV 78 and 198. Finally, the season will come to a close with a premiere: a new work entitled Garde-robe will put together theatre and music in order to tell you the story of Pauline and the wind.

During the summer, we recorded our thirteenth and fourteenth CDs, produced in collaboration with the soprano Karina Gauvin (Purcell recital) and our old friend, the conductor and harpsichordist Eric Milnes (Beatles Baroque III). It is because of our faithful audience, which follows our activities closely and appreciates our work, that we have been so productive!

Speaking for the entire ensemble, I wish you an excellent evening and a belle saison de Boréades!

Francis Colpron