ACHIEVEMENTS    

2011

  • Les Violons du Roy winners of 2009-2010 Opus Award for the Concert of the Year - Québec City, for Concert du 25e anniversaire. Opus are awarded by Le Conseil québécois de la musique (January 30, 2011).
  • The recording Britten, Les Illuminations is nominated for a Juno award in the category Classical album of the year: vocal or choral performance (February 1st, 2011)
  • The recording Bonbons is in nominated for a Juno award in the category Classical album of the year: large ensemble or soloist(s) with large ensemble accompaniment (February 1st, 2011)
  • Release of the CD Truls Mork – C.P.E. Bach’s Cello Concertos recorded at Raoul-Jobin Hall of Palais Montcalm in Québec City with the cellist Truls Mork. This is the 21st CD of Les Violons du Roy and their second on VIRGIN CLASSICS label. (March 2011)
  • USA Tour (Costa Mesa, La Jolla, Berkeley, Seattle, Chicago and New York) with tenor Ian Bostridge, among others Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa and New York Carnegie Hall in April-May 2011
  • The recording Bonbons is nominated for a Felix award from ADISQ in the category Classical album of the year: orchestra and large ensemble (September 2011)
  • The recording Britten, Les Illuminations is nominated for a Felix award from ADISQ in the category Classical album of the year: vocal performance (September 2011)
  • Release of the CD Alexandre Tharaud – Concertos pour clavier de J.S. Bach recorded at Raoul-Jobin Hall of Palais Montcalm in Québec City with the pianist Alexandre Tharaud. This is the 22nd CD of Les Violons du Roy and their third on VIRGIN CLASSICS label. (September 2011)
  • Europe Tour (Gröningen, Besançon, Genève, Saint-Étienne, Grenoble, Paris, Mérignac, La Rochelle) with pianist Alexandre Tharaud, among others in Paris for the reopening of Théâtre des Champs-Élysées. (November 2011)

2010

  • Les Violons du Roy winners of 2008-2009 Opus Award for the Concert of the Year - Classical, Romantic, Postromantic or Impressionnist, for Impressions russes. Opus are awarded by Le Conseil québécois de la musique. (January 31, 2010)
  • The recording Bartók is nominated for a JUNO award in the category "Best Classical Album — Large Ensemble or Soloist(s) with Large Ensemble Accompaniment". (April 2010)
  • Release of the CD Britten, Les Illuminations recorded at Raoul-Jobin Hall of Palais Montcalm in Québec City with the soprano Karina Gauvin. This is the 19th CD of Les Violons du Roy and their fifth on ATMA label. (August 31, 2010)
  • Release of the CD Bonbons recorded at Raoul-Jobin Hall of Palais Montcalm in Québec City. This is the 20th CD of Les Violons du Roy and their sixth on ATMA label. (October 26, 2010)

2009

  • Water Music USA Tour (Williamsport, Troy, Berea, Wilmore, Costa Mesa and Pasadena), among others at Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa, CA (February 2009).
  • Two concerts in Israel during the 11th Felicja Blumental International Music Festival in Tel Aviv. (May 2009)
  • Handel Messiah and Bach Christmas Oratorio presented by Les Violons du Roy and La Chapelle de Québec directed by Bernard Labadie, at Carnegie Hall in New York City, respectively on December 11 and 12, 2009.
  • Handel Messiah presented by Les Violons du Roy and La Chapelle de Québec directed by Bernard Labadie at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles on December 15 and 16, 2009.

2008

  • The recording Water Music is nominated for a JUNO award in the category "Best Classical Album — Large Ensemble or Soloist(s) with Large Ensemble Accompaniment". (February 2008)
  • The Water Music CD wins the Félix Award for "best classical album — orchestra and large ensemble” (October 2008)

2007

  • First concert by Les Violons du Roy and La Chapelle de Québec conducted by Bernard Labadie in the Raoul Jobin Hall at the Palais Montcalm in Québec City, after five years without a permanent base. Program: Handel’s oratorio Israel in Egypt. (March 23 and 24, 2007)
  • The Piazzolla CD wins the JUNO Award for "best classical album — solo artist or chamber orchestra” (April).
  • Europe tour (Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle, Amsterdam Concertgebouw, du Rheingau Festival in Germany) with mezzo-soprano américain Vivica Genaux. (July 17 to 21, 2007)
  • Pergolesi and Vivaldi Stabat Mater USA tour (Kalamazoo, Chicago, Kansas City, Ruston, Thomasville, Charlottesville) with Karina Gauvin, soprano, and Matthew White, alto. (November 1 st to 13, 2007)
  • Release of the CD Water Music recorded at Raoul-Jobin Hall of Palais Montcalm in Québec City. This is the 17th CD of Les Violons du Roy and their third on ATMA label. (Novembre 6, 2007)

2006

  • CD Psalm 51 and Cantata 82 by J.S. Bach wins a Classical Internet Award 2005 in the early music category (January 20, 2006)
  • Les Violons du Roy and La Chapelle de Québec winners of two 2004-2005 Opus Award for the Concert of the Year - Québec City and Concert of the Year - Classical, Romantic, Postromantic or Impressionnist, for the Mozart Requiem.
  • USA Tour (Berkeley, Los Angeles, Grinnell, Cedar Rapids, Morrow and New York) with mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená, among others Los Angeles Walt Disney Concert Hall and New York Carnegie Hall in February 2006.
  • Release of the CD Vivica Genaux –Handel and Hasse Airas. This is the 14th CD of Les Violons du Roy and their first on Virgin Classics label. (Septembre 26, 2006)
  • Release of the CD Piazzolla. This is the 15th CD of Les Violons du Roy and their second on ATMA Classique label. (October 3, 2006)
  • Touring production of Mozart’s Requiem with La Chapelle de Québec in Texas and California (Austin, College Station, Costa Mesa, Napa) and soloists Hélène Guilmette, Michèle Losier, Colin Balzer and John Fanning. (October and November, 2006)
  • The concert recording of Stabat Mater settings by Vivaldi and Pergolesi, produced by Constellations 2001 on January 27, 2005 in the Saint-Roch church in Québec City with soloists Karina Gauvin and Marie Nicole Lemieux, receives a Gémeaux award for best photography and lighting from the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television (December 10, 2006)

2005

  • North America Tour with Karina Gauvin in January 2005.
  • Opus 2003-2004 awarded by Le Conseil québécois de la musique for the Concert of the Year - Québec City (Handel's Alcina ).
  • Mexican Tour (Mexico City, San Luis Potosi) in April 2005.

2004

  • North America Tour (Massachussetts, New York State, Virginie, Puerto Rico, Pennsylvanie, Ohio, Ontario) in January-February 2004.
  • Opus 2002-2003 awarded by Le Conseil québécois de la musique for the Concert of the Year - Québec City (J.S. Bach Christmas Oratorio).
  • Release of a twelfth DORIAN recording (Spring 2004) : Celebration.
  • J.S. Bach' St. John Passion in Toronto (Massey Hall), Québec City, Montréal and Ottawa in April 2004.
  • Concert in Mexico City in May 2004.
  • Europe tour in July 2004 with Magdalena Kozena and David Daniels in Germany, France, Austria and at the famous Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.
  • Mozart's opera Così fan tutte at the Mostly Mozart Festival of Lincoln Center, New York City , in August 2004.
  • Release of the ATMA recording (October 2004) : J.S. Bach Psaume 51 and Cantata 82.
  • Mozart Requiem in North America Tour (Toronto, St.Louis, Kansas City, Denver) in October 2004.

2003

  • Ecuador and US tour (January-February).
  • The Mozart's Requiem CD wins the JUNO Award for "best classical album — vocal or choral performance". (April).
  • European tour (Bergen, London, Paris, Salzburg) (May-June).
  • Handel's Messiah in Toronto (Massey Hall), Québec City, Montreal and Ottawa in December.

2002

  • The recording J.S. Bach Art of the Fugue is nominated for a JUNO award in the category "Best Classical Album — Large Ensemble or Soloist(s) with Large Ensemble Accompaniment".
  • Release of a eleventh DORIAN recording (September) : Mozart’s Requiem.
  • Opus 2001-2002 awarded by Le Conseil québécois de la musique for the Concert of the Year - Québec City (Orfeo e Euridice).

2001

  • The Handel: Apollo e Dafne CD wins the JUNO Award for "best classical album — vocal or choral performance".
  • North-American tour in March 2001 with counter-tenor David Daniels (New York, Milwaukee, Ann Arbour, Toronto).
  • Release of a tenth DORIAN recording (September) : J.S. Bach: Art of the Fugue.
  • New York Tour (September): Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Lincoln Center, Montclair.
  • Opus 2000-2001 awarded by Le Conseil québécois de la musique for the Concert of the Year in Québec City (Mozart’s Requiem).
  • Opus 2000-2001 for the Concert of the Year — Music of the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Baroque — (J.S. Bach’s The Art of the Fugue).
  • Handel's Messiah in Toronto (Massey Hall), Québec City and Montreal in December.

2000

  • The recording Vivaldi Concerti for Strings is nominated for a JUNO award in the category "Best Classical Album — Large Ensemble or Soloist(s) with Large Ensemble Accompaniment".
  • Prix Fidéides Entreprise culturelle 2000 awarded by the Sainte-Foy Board of Trade (Québec city area). (March)
  • J.S. Bach's St Matthew Passion in Quebec, Montreal and Toronto in April.
  • Release of an eighth DORIAN recording (April): J.S. Bach: Goldberg Vatiations (arr. Bernard Labadie).
  • Release of a ninth DORIAN recording (October): Handel: Apollo e Dafne.
  • Opus 1999-2000 awarded by Le Conseil québécois de la musique for the Concert of the Year in Québec City (St Matthiew Passion by J.S. Bach).

1999

  • US tour (Michigan, Wisconsin, Vermont) in January and April.
  • Release of a seventh DORIAN recording (April): Vivaldi: Concerti for Strings.
  • 15 th Anniversary Gala Concert, May 28 1999, in Québec City's Grand Théâtre.
  • France tour (Bordeaux, Lyon and Paris) with Printemps du Québec – France 1999 in June.
  • US tour (Illinois, Wisconsin, New York) in November.
  • Television and radio recording for Radio-Canada of Handel's Messiah in Québec City in December.

1998

  • Les Violons du Roy received the Opus 1996-1997 awarded by Le Conseil québécois de la musique for the Concert of the Year in Québec (Magnificat by J.S. Bach).
  • US and Canada tour (Texas, California, Washington, Ontario, British Columbia) in March.
  • Les Violons takes part in productions of Mozart's Marriage of Figaro, presented by the Québec City and Montréal opera companies in April and May.
  • US and Canada tour (Maine, New-Brunswick, Ontario, Texas, California) in November.
  • Release of a sixth DORIAN recording (November) : Encore!

1997

  • The recording Music of Bach's Sons is nominated for a JUNO award in the category "Best Classical Recording — Chamber Music Ensemble".
  • April: tour in Western Canada (second part).
  • August: debut performance at the Mostly Mozart festival, held in the Lincoln Center in New York.
  • DORIAN recordings wins two 1997 Allegro Music Awards in the "Best Orchestral Production" and "Best Classical Sound Recording" categories, for the CD Music of Bach's Sons.
  • A production of Handel's Messiah tours in Ontario in December. (Toronto, Port Hope, Barrie)

1996

  • Release of a fifth DORIAN recording (September): Music of Bach's Sons.
  • November: tour in Western Canada (first part).
  • The J.S. Bach: Secular Cantatas, vol. I recording is nominated for a 1995 JUNO award in the category "Best Classical Recording Vocal and Choral Performance" (March).

1995

  • The Stabat Mater recording is nominated by eight international music magazines for a CLASSICAL award at Cannes (France) in the "Vocal Recital" category, and for a JUNO award in the category "Best Classical Recording Vocal and Choral Performance" (March).
  • Tour in Morocco and Spain (3 weeks in February and March).
  • March: debut performances in Toronto (Glenn Gould Studio), Washington (Canadian Cultural Centre) and Pennsylvania (Penn State University).
  • Release of a fourth DORIAN recording (May): J.S. Bach's Secular Cantatas, vol. II.
  • Tour in Germany (3 weeks in September and October).


1994

  • 10th anniversary. Average age of musicians: 28.
  • The recording Simphonies des noëls is nominated for a JUNO award in the category "Best Classical Recording - Solo and Chamber Music".
  • Release of a second DORIAN recording (April): Pergolesi and Vivaldi Stabat Mater.
  • Release of a third DORIAN recording (October): J.S. Bach's Secular Cantatas, vol. I.
  • Les Violons du Roy receives an Award of Excellence from the City of Québec for exceptional development, high artistic quality and high outside profile, as part of the 1994 gala for Cultural Excellence Awards.

1993

  • Release of a first CD recording for DORIAN: Simphonies des noëls (sic), which achieves record sales (over 12,000 discs sold, a major success in the classical field) and receives widespread critical acclaim.

1992

  • Les Violons du Roy creates 14 permanent positions to allow a regular provision of services and to provide for the group's long-term artistic development.
  • Les Violons du Roy tour Europe: Germany, Belgium, Spain.
  • A contract is signed with the US firm DORIAN RECORDINGS.

1991

  • Les Violons du Roy tour Belgium and give the opening concert for Mozart Year at the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels.

1990

  • Les Violons du Roy tour Spain.

1989

  • First recording by Les Violons du Roy: Mozart: the concerti for flute and orchestra with Belgian flautist Marc Grauwels. Released on the British HYPERION label (worldwide) and on MELODIC (Canada) in 1990.

1988

  • First European Tour by Les Violons du Roy: Belgium.

1987

  • Performance of Mozart's Requiem at the state funeral of former Québec Premier René Lévesque.

1986

  • Incorporation of Les Violons du Roy.

1984

  • Fifteen graduating students of the major music schools, and young professional musicians in the early stages of their career, are brought together by Bernard Labadie in a volunteer ensemble. First concert under the name Les Violons du Roy (named after the string orchestra at the court of Louis XIV): October 14, 1984. Average age of musicians: 22.