April 25, Concert Hall, National Center for the Performing Arts

April 27, Shanghai Oriental Arts Center

April 28, Beijing Concert Hall

Ensemble Caprice, a baroque ensemble which performs on period instruments, was founded by acclaimed recorder soloist Matthias Maute and has become known for its innovative and adventuresome approach to an increasingly expanding musical repertoire. In addition to its series of concerts in Montreal, the group tours extensively, giving dozens of concerts in Quebec, Canada, the USA, Europe, and even Asia. The ensemble is a regular guest at many prestigious European festivals: the Lufthansa Festival of Baroque Music in London, the Bruges (Belgium) and Utrecht (Netherlands) festivals, the Felicia Blumenthal International Music Festival in Tel Aviv; and in Germany, the Musikfestspiele Potsdam Sanssouci, the Regensburg Early Music Festival, the Händel-Festspele in Halle, and the Stockstadt festival. In the USA the group performs at New York’s Frick Collection and Miller Theater, Boston’s Early Music Festival and the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. In Canada, the ensemble can be heard at the Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival, Early Music Vancouver, Early Music Voices in Calgary, the Edmonton Chamber Music Society, the Elora Festival and the Festival International du Domaine Forget. This remarkable touring schedule has established Ensemble Caprice as one of the most important baroque ensembles on the present day musical scene. In November of 2009, the New York Times published a lengthy article hailing the musicians’ innovative and refreshing approach, praising them as “imaginative, even powerful; and the playing is top-flight”.

The Ensemble’s recording activity is every bit as impressive, comprising over twenty CD’s having appeared on the Analekta, ATMA Classique and Antes labels, sold in some fifty countries around the world. These recordings have gained many honors and much critical acclaim. The CD Gloria! Vivaldi and his Angels received a Juno Award in 2009 from the Canadian recording industry. The Conseil québécois de la musique presented the group with three prestigious Prix Opus awards: “Performer of the year”, “Concert of the year” for its performance of Bach’s B Minor Mass during the 2011 Montreal Bach Festival. Ensemble Caprice was also recognized for its artistic approach and the quality of its performances by being selected “People’s choice” (2008-2009 season). The group also earned the Echo Klassic award in Germany. The acclaimed publication Gramophone Magazine chose the group’s CD Telemann and the Baroque Gypsies as one of its recommended recordings.