Press Release Arion Baroque Orchestra – Fourth Concert of the Montreal Series The Spectacular at Your Fingertips! Music with a French Flavour February 16, 17, 18, 19, 2017 at Bourgie Hall of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts Montreal, January 30, 2017 – For the first time in Montreal with Arion Baroque Orchestra, the captivating violinist Rodolfo Richter will conduct the fourth concert of its Montreal Series, Music with a French Flavour, on February 16, 17, 18, and 19 at Bourgie Hall of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. Succumb to the French taste in music as created by the likes of Lalande, Rebel, Rameau, and even the German Telemann, whose mother tongue was so inspired by the French style. These great composers all testify to the French musical genius filled with a sense of grace, grandeur, and solemnity that reached its epitome in the eras of Louis XIV and Louis XV. Enjoy the most palatable of programs concocted by Arion! New this season: Discover the concerts of the Montreal Series in a short one-hour version without intermission. Experience music differently and gain a deeper understanding of the composers and their works as our guest conductor provides brief commentaries throughout the concert. For the present program, the concert of this Premiere Series will be on Thursday, February 16. It is always possible to take advantage of the after-concert talk for a friendly and informative exchange with Rodolfo Richter. “At Arion, we are all looking forward to delving once again into the superb French baroque repertoire, which so wonderfully touches the heart as well as the mind,” says Artistic Director Claire Guimond. “And the presence of such an inspired and experienced violinist as Rodolfo Richter will surely prove to be a most delectable musical experience.” Rodolfo Richter British/Brazilian violinist Rodolfo Richter appears as a soloist and director with, among others, Tafelmusik (Canada), B’Rock (Belgium), Concerto Köln (Germany), Academia Montis Regalis (Italy), the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, the English Concert and the of Academy Ancient Music (UK). Increasingly in demand as a director, he has been praised by the international press as “one of the most inspirational baroque violinists of his generation.” Rodolfo studied violin with Klaus Wusthoff and Pinchas Zuckermann and composition with Hans Joachim Koellreutter and Pierre Boulez. He later specialized in the baroque violin with Monica Huggett and was a prizewinner at the prestigious International Early Music Competition for Ensembles in Bruges (2000) and first prize at the Antonio Vivaldi International Violin Competition (2001). From 2005 to 2015 he was concertmaster of the Academy of Ancient Music and professor of baroque violin at the Royal College of Music in London. Currently he is concertmaster of B’Rock and director of the Early Music Course and Festival at the Oficina de Música de Curitiba in Brazil. Program Michel-Richard de Lalande (1657-1726) La Grande Pièce royale, S.161 Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767) Concerto for flute and violin, TWV52:e3 Concerto for flute, violin, and cello, TWV 53:A2, from the first production of Musique de table Jean-Féry Rebel (1666-1747) Tombeau de Monsieur de Lully Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-1764) Suite from the “ballet bouffon” Platée Practical Info Dates and times: February 16: 7:30 p.m. (Premiere Series, 1 hour without intermission) February 17: 8 p.m. February 18: 4 p.m. February 19: 2 p.m. Prices: Single Tickets; $21 to $55 Box Office: Arion Orchestre Baroque: 514.355.1825 or www.arionbaroque.com, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts’ Bourgie Hall 1339 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, Peel or Guy-Concordia Metros, Buses 24, 66, 165 or 166 Arion Orchestre Baroque Since its foundation in 1981 in Montreal, Arion has tapped into the creative energies of Baroque composers such as Bach and Vivaldi by performing their works on period instruments, thus rediscovering the radiant colors of their timeless masterpieces. Thanks to Claire Guimond’s artistic vision, Arion is a cornerstone in the world of early music on period instruments, both on the national and international stage. – 30 – For more information: Stéphane Despatie, General Director 514.355.1825, ext. 25 / [email protected] .