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BIOGRAPHY
Bernard Labadie has established himself worldwide as one of the preeminent conductors of the Baroque and Classical repertoire, a reputation closely tied to his work with Les Violons du Roy (for which he served as Music Director from its inception until 2014) and La Chapelle de Québec. With these two ensembles he has regularly toured Canada, the US and Europe, in major venues and festivals such as Carnegie Hall, Avery Fish-er Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Kennedy Center, The Barbican, The Concertgebouw, and the Salzburg Festival, among others. He began a four-year term as Principal Conductor of the Orchestra of St. Luke’s in the 2018-19 season.
In 2019-20, he guest conducts the Chicago Symphony, Handel & Haydn Society, National Arts Center Orchestra, Toronto Symphony, Utah Symphony, Dallas Symphony, Quebec Symphony, Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo, Orchestre National de Lyon, and Los Angeles Philharmonic. Mr. Labadie has become a regular presence on the podiums of the major North American orchestras, including the Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Toronto, Boston, Colorado, Houston, St. Louis, Pittsburgh and San Francisco symphonies; the Cleveland and Philadelphia orchestras; the Los Angeles and New York philharmonics; the Handel & Haydn Society; and L’Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal. International audiences in past seasons have seen and heard Maestro Labadie conduct the Bayerischen Rundfunks Symphony Orchestra, Academy of Ancient Music, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, BBC Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of the Collegium Vocale Ghent, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Swedish Chamber Orchestra, WDR Sin-fonieorchester (Cologne), and Zurich Chamber Orchestra.
His extensive discography includes many critically acclaimed recordings on Dorian, ATMA and Virgin Classics labels, including Handel’s Apollo e Dafne and a collaborative recording of Mozart’s Requiem with Les Violons du Roy and La Chapelle de Québec, both of which received Canada’s Juno Award. Other recordings include C.P.E. Bach’s complete cello concertos with Truls Mørk and Les Violons du Roy; J.S. Bach’s complete piano concertos with Alexandre Tharaud, both on Virgin Classics; and Haydn’s piano concertos with Marc-Andre Hamelin as soloist, released by Hyperion. He has received Paris’ Samuel de Champlain award, the Canadian government’s “Officer of the Order of Canada”, and his home province has named him “Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Québec”.
10/2019 – PLEASE DESTROY ANY PREVIOUSLY DATED MATERIALS.
MODIFIED VERSIONS MUST BE APPROVED BY DISPEKER ARTISTS.
NEWS
ACCLAIM
Two New York Orchestras Return With Acts of Renewal
[Labadie] led the orchestra in a lively, stylish account of the complete “Water Music.” Judging by their enthusiastic ovation, the audience seemed happy to go along for the entirety of Handel’s musical river ride.
– Anthony Tommasini, The New York Times – Related Link
At the Philadelphia Orchestra, a Funeral March, a Requiem, and Mozart’s Angriest Symphony. It Was a Wonderful Time
“That’s not to minimize the revelatory nature of Bernard Labadie’s approach. The baroque and classical repertoire specialist led a slimmed-down ensemble Thursday night while sitting on a piano bench (as he does all the time now), and brought a generally early-music character to an ensemble widely admired for its fat, lustrous wall of sound.”
– Peter Dobrin, The Philadelphia Inquirer – Related Link
Beethoven & Mozart Getting Riveting Interpretations In Famed Hall
“The evening began with OSL performing Haydn’s “Overture to L’isola disabitata,” which showed the tremendous enthusiasm of the orchestra members as they played along to the Sturm und Drang style. With aesthetically intelligent tempo and dynamics, the orchestra increased excitement for the night’s line-up.”
– Jennifer Pyron, Operawire – Related Link
Refreshing Exactitude from H+ H
“Almost percussive in precision, with accentuated articulation between notes, the orchestra exercised a lean muscularity, mesmerizing to behold. More than merely illuminate a familiar masterpiece, the musicians’ x-ray vision revealed the structural rigor underlying all those catchy tunes”
– CJ Ru, The Boston Musical Intelligencer – Related Link
Oratorio of Oratorios, Forever and Ever: Handel & Haydn Society Delivers a Stirring ‘Messiah’
“Friday night at Symphony Hall, Handel and Haydn Society’s spry “Messiah” with conductor Bernard Labadie illuminated yet another reason why the oratorio reigns as it does. It invites listeners to connect with it, whether through religious belief or, like me, just love of music: to join the chorus in spirit, if not in actual song. Labadie and H+H’s performance didn’t so much invite as it urged.”
– Zoe Madonna, The Boston Globe – Related Link
With Mozart and Haydn Masses, Less Is More
“The Orchestra of St. Luke’s with La Chapelle de Québec, conducted by Bernard Labadie, outdid all expectations, with a world-class performance that would be the envy of any ensemble.”
– Daniel Gelernter, National Review – Related Link
A New Conductor Inspires the Orchestra of St. Luke’s
“With Mr. Labadie at its helm, the ensemble looks set to develop a distinct profile on the New York scene. I certainly can’t remember hearing a better rendition of the opening bars of Mozart’s Requiem, with claustrophobic string figures under a yearning wind chorale — floating, evenly weighted, as on an updraft of air.”
– Corinna da Fonseca-Wollheim, The New York Times – Related Link
Labadie and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Play a Stylish Classical Program
“Sometimes, though, it’s the smaller concerts, and those with less-familiar music, that provide exceptional musical experiences. This weekend’s program by guest conductor Bernard Labadie and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, proved to be a little gem.”
– Sarah Bryan Miller, St. Louis Post-Dispatch – Related Link
Cleveland Orchestra Displays Impressive Versatility with Conductor Bernard Labadie
What impression the work would have made in other hands, one can only guess. What’s certain is that the performance Thursday left at least one regular listener wanting more. More of Rigel, more of Labadie, and more of both with the Cleveland Orchestra.
– Zachary Lewis, Cleveland Plain Dealer – Related Link
Minnesota Orchestra and Chorale Offer a “Requiem” of Rare Beauty
– Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities Pioneer Press – Related Link
BSO Opens New Years with All-Mozart Program
There were deft touches at nearly every turn, little bends in phrase or tempo that made the music seem quite new. The way the conductor caught both the suavity and the swagger of the Minuet was but one example.
– Tim Smith, Baltimore Sun – Related Link
St. Luke’s Orchestra Plays Mozart and Beethoven at Carnegie Hall
“Gorgeous playing of genius works… French-Canadian conductor Bernard Labadie, the principal conductor designate of the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, led the orchestra in its triumphant second concert of the season at Carnegie Hall.”
– Barry Bassis, The Epoch Times – Related Link
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Short Biography
Bernard Labadie has established himself worldwide as one of the preeminent conductors of the Baroque and Classical repertoire, a reputation closely tied to his work with Les Violons du Roy (for which he served as Music Director from its inception until 2014) and La Chapelle de Québec. With these two ensembles he has regularly toured Canada, the US and Europe, in major venues and festivals such as Carnegie Hall, David Geffen Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Kennedy Center, The Barbican, The Concertgebouw, and the Salzburg Festival, among others. He begins a four-year term as Principal Conductor of the Orchestra of St. Luke’s in the 2018-19 season.
Full Biography
Bernard Labadie has established himself worldwide as one of the preeminent conductors of the Baroque and Classical repertoire, a reputation closely tied to his work with Les Violons du Roy (for which he served as Music Director from its inception until 2014) and La Chapelle de Québec. With these two ensembles he has regularly toured Canada, the US and Europe, in major venues and festivals such as Carnegie Hall, Avery Fish-er Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Kennedy Center, The Barbican, The Concertgebouw, and the Salzburg Festival, among others. He began a four-year term as Principal Conductor of the Orchestra of St. Luke’s in the 2018-19 season.
In 2019-20, he guest conducts the Chicago Symphony, Handel & Haydn Society, National Arts Center Orchestra, Toronto Symphony, Utah Symphony, Dallas Symphony, Quebec Symphony, Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo, Orchestre National de Lyon, and Los Angeles Philharmonic. Mr. Labadie has become a regular presence on the podiums of the major North American orchestras, including the Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Toronto, Boston, Colorado, Houston, St. Louis, Pittsburgh and San Francisco symphonies; the Cleveland and Philadelphia orchestras; the Los Angeles and New York philharmonics; the Handel & Haydn Society; and L’Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal. International audiences in past seasons have seen and heard Maestro Labadie conduct the Bayerischen Rundfunks Symphony Orchestra, Academy of Ancient Music, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, BBC Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of the Collegium Vocale Ghent, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Swedish Chamber Orchestra, WDR Sin-fonieorchester (Cologne), and Zurich Chamber Orchestra.
His extensive discography includes many critically acclaimed recordings on Dorian, ATMA and Virgin Classics labels, including Handel’s Apollo e Dafne and a collaborative recording of Mozart’s Requiem with Les Violons du Roy and La Chapelle de Québec, both of which received Canada’s Juno Award. Other recordings include C.P.E. Bach’s complete cello concertos with Truls Mørk and Les Violons du Roy; J.S. Bach’s complete piano concertos with Alexandre Tharaud, both on Virgin Classics; and Haydn’s piano concertos with Marc-Andre Hamelin as soloist, released by Hyperion. He has received Paris’ Samuel de Champlain award, the Canadian government’s “Officer of the Order of Canada”, and his home province has named him “Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Québec”.
10/2019 – PLEASE DESTROY ANY PREVIOUSLY DATED MATERIALS.
MODIFIED VERSIONS MUST BE APPROVED BY DISPEKER ARTISTS.
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