Ensemble Capriole

Ensemble Capriole

Ensemble Capriole (Ensemble de flûtes à bec de Châteauguay 1975-87). Recorder ensemble founded in 1975 by Jocelyne Laberge to allow young musicians to play chamber music while bringing out the great possibilities of this instrument. The Ensemble Capriole, a musical ambassador for the École de musique Jocelyne Laberge, has continued to derive its membership from the student body. By 1990, the eight-member group, including six recorders, a cello and a harpsichord, had established a solid reputation as a chamber ensemble, based on the high quality of its performances. Each concert has featured theatrical elements, where the staging and the choreography prompt the audience to 'invent their own scenario from the musical sounds'. Thus, the musicians must demonstrate a perfect mastery of the instruments and the works. The Ensemble uses the whole recorder family.

The Ensemble first commanded attention by winning first prize in its category at the Canadian Music Competitions on three occasions (1976, 1979, 1981). It launched its career in 1978 with a much noticed performance at the 13th Convention of the ISME in London, Ont., which led to appearances at the 14th and 17th Conventions of that same organization in Warsaw (1980) and Innsbruck (1986). The group has also visited Belgium (1980), Germany (1980), Scotland (1983), the USA (1984) - winning a gold medal for the staging of its concerts in New Orleans - England (1985), Ontario (on a tour with the JMC/YMC in 1989), France (1990) and Mexico (1990). The first recording by the Ensemble (RCI 502) won the Grand prix du disque of the Canadian Music Council in the educational records category.