PRESS RELEASE VIVALDI :
THE RETURN OF THE ANGELS
Ensemble Caprice
Matthias Maute, artistic director
AN2 9995 Release date : October 25th, 2011
Montreal, October 25th, 2011 ‐ Winner of one Juno and three Prix Opus from Conseil québécois de la musique, notably “performer of the year” in 2010, Ensemble Caprice is renowned for its innovative interpretations of baroque music. With The Return of the Angels, it offers once more a multifaceted musical portrait of Antonio Vivaldi, from the composer’s description of war to his musical depiction of the joys of peace. “Following our first recording of Vivaldi’s sacred music (Gloria! Vivaldi and his Angels), we return to Vivaldi’s Venice and find ourselves yet again within the confines of the Ospedale della Pietà orphanage where, beginning in 1703, the Red Priest not only taught the orphan girls violin and singing, but also composed many of his most dazzling concertos as well as a substantial part of his highly inspired corpus of sacred music,” explains Mathias Maute. Juditha triumphans is the best known of the Vivaldi oratorios. The album also features an intense plea Et in terra pax (from Gloria) and brilliant psalm settings with powerful rhythms in choir and orchestra (In exitu Israel, Laudate Dominum and Laetatus sum), a virtuoso concerto for multiple soloists (RV 566) and a beautiful solo motet O qui coeli terraeque serenitas, praising serenity in heaven and on earth. Under the artistic direction of Matthias Maute and Sophie Larivière, Ensemble Caprice is renowned for its innovative interpretations of baroque music since 20 years. It has received national and international acclaim for its performances of early music. Ensemble Caprice’s most recent albums 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 the Audience Appreciation Prize (2008‐2009) and Finalist (2009) of the Grand Prix de Montréal. Matthias Maute has achieved an international reputation as one of the finest recorder and baroque flute player of his generation, as a composer and as a director. Mr. Maute is also esteemed for his artistic direction of Ensemble Caprice, for whom he produces ingenious and fascinating programs. An eloquent performer, Sophie Larivière is a member of Ensemble Caprice and has been its Artistic Co‐Director since 1997. In this capacity, she has been helping to enrich the creative direction of the ensemble in its quest for musical discoveries that blend virtuosity with expressivity. Shannon Mercer’s voice has been described as luminous, dazzling and shining and her acting witty, delightful, and feisty. Shannon Mercer is an artist of uncommon musical artistry, whose passion for her art form embraces repertoire ranging from early to contemporary music. ### Source : Analekta Media relations : Lippé Communications ‐ Jean François Lippé ‐ T. 450.777.6107 ‐ E. [email protected] Groupe Analekta Inc. recognizes the financial assistance of the Government of Quebec through the SODEC’s Programme d’aide aux entreprises du disque et du spectacle de variétés and refundable tax credit for recording production services.