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UPCOMING / CONCERTS À VENIR
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2024
NOV / 02
14:00
ABBAYE SAINT-Benoit-lac
Qc, Canada
L'HARMONIE DES SAISONS
REQUIEM DE FAURÉ
+ autres oeuvres
+
2024
NOV / 06-07
20:00
Québec
Qc, Canada
L'ORCHESTRE SYMPHONIQUE DE QUÉBEC
REQUIEM DE MOZART
+ autres oeuvres
2024
NOV / 10
17:30
HAlifax
NB, Canada
Capella Regalis
MOZART REQUIEM
 
 
2024
DEC / 05
19:30
OTTAwa
on, Canada
L'HARMONIE DES SAISONS
LE MESSIE de Haendel
 
2024
DEC / 07
14:00
Abbaye Saint-benoit-du-lac
QC, Canada
L'HARMONIE DES SAISONS
LE MESSIE de Haendel
 
2024
DEC / 08
16:00
Burlington
Vermont, USA
L'HARMONIE DES SAISONS
LE MESSIE de Haendel
 
2024
DEC / 14
20:00
La Prairie
QC, Canada
Choeur Classique de La prairie
HAYDN - Missa in tempore belli
+ Paukenmesse
2025
MAR / 20
20:00
NAMUR
FRANCE
Ensemble Masques
ACIS & GALATÉE
G.F. HANDEL
2025
MAI / 13
20:00
Clermont-Ferrand
FRANCE
Ensemble Masques
ACIS & GALATÉE
G.F. HANDEL

    BIO
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    Tenor Philippe Gagné is praised for his rich expressivity, refined musical sensitivity, rare vocal agility and the beauty of his timbre. Specializing in the Baroque repertoire, he has performed on many of the world's great stages and worked with a number of renowned ensembles, including Les Talens Lyriques, Tafelmusik, Les Violons du Roy, Les Voix humaines, Arion Orchestre Baroque, Ensemble Masques , Pacific Baroque Orchestra, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestre Métropolitain, Orchestre symphonique de Québec, Les Délices, Les Boréades, L'Harmonie des saisons, Ensemble Caprice, Le Studio de musique ancienne de Montréal, Ex Tempore, La Bande Montréal Baroque, Clavecin en concert, Mannheimer Hofkapelle and Apotheosis Orchestra.  He is recognized as an exceptional interpreter of the French Baroque repertoire, as well as the music of J. S. Bach. His achievements, his constant presence on the Baroque scene and his many past and future engagements testify to his expertise within this community. 

    Here are some of his most notable appearances in recent years:

    Spring and summer 2024: in August, Philippe took part in the 31st Festival Musique et Mémoire / Vosges du Sud with the Ensemble Masques. They performed two different concerts: a selection of French Baroque opera arias for tenor on the theme of sleep, and a performance of G.F. Handel's Acis & Galetea, which they had just presented twice in June at the Abbaye de Cluny and the Château d'Hardelot, a fortified castle in the Pas-de-Calais region. At the end of May, as part of Festival Classica with Arion Baroque and the Studio de musique ancienne de Montréal, he took part in F.-J. Gossec's Grande Messe des morts. In April, Philippe was invited by Les Violons du Roy to sing the title role in Carissimi's Jephte. A few days later, he took part in the Festival des Missions Chiquitos (APAC) in Bolivia, presenting a trio program of French "airs de cours" with L'Harmonie des saisons. In March, Philippe performed the role of the Evangelist in J.S. Bach's St John Passion on tour with L'Harmonie des saisons. The following week, he sang the Evangelist in a reconstruction of J.S. Bach's St. Mark Passion with the Metropolitan Festival Choir & Baroque Orchestra in Toronto. 

    In the summer of 2023, Philippe was invited to the International Baroque Music Festival in Lamèque, New Brunswick, where he performed Magnificats by J.S. Bach and C.P.E. Bach with Ensemble Caprice. He was also invited by the Early Music Vancouver Summer Festival to sing the closing concert featuring cantatas by J.S. Bach with the Pacific Baroque Orchestra. He also joined L'Harmonie des saisons for Monteverdi's Vespers.

    In February 2023, Philippe travels to France at the invitation of Ensemble Masque to take part in the La Folle Journée festival in Nantes, where he performs a selection of French Baroque opera arias on the theme of sleep. In March 2023, he is invited by the Orchestre Métropolitain, under the direction of Yannick Nézet-Séguin, to present a closing concert of the complete J.S. Bach cantatas at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts' Bourgie Hall, in the eighth year of the series.

    In September 2022, he joined the ensemble Clavecin en concert under the direction of Hervé Niquet to present a superb selection of Grands Motets by M.A. Charpentier. 

    Philippe is a regular guest of the ensemble L'Harmonie des saisons, directed by Eric Milnes. In recent years, he has joined them to present several works by J.S. Bach, including a webcast concert devoted to tenor arias from sacred cantatas, the Magnificat, the St. John Passion and several cantatas. In July 2022, he presented with them, at Ottawa's Music & Beyond Festival, a concert of arias entitled Music for the King's Chamber. In November and December 2022, he joined them for a tour of Handel's Messiah, a McCartney Baroque program (a concert to mark the Beatles' 80th birthday), and Noëls anciens de l'ancien et nouveau monde, a special program commissioned by Radio-Canada, which selected the ensemble to represent Canada in a EuroRadio Christmas special, presented by European radio stations and their radio partners.

    In November 2021, Philippe presented for the first time, with the excellent guitarist David Jacques, a magnificent program of 19th-century Spanish songs at the Chapelle historique du Bon-Pasteur in Montreal.

    June 2019, he was at the Cydonia Barocca Festival in Ghent, Belgium and then at the Alter Musik Festival in Regensburg, Germany. In August, he was at the MAfestival in Bruges, Belgium for a stage production of J.P. Rameau’s Pygmalion. This presentation also served as the official launch for the recording of this work, recorded in November 2018 in Brussels with Apotheosis Orchestra conducted by Korneel Bernolet (Ramée/Outhere label). This recording was acclaimed by European critics from all sides. 

    In 2018, in Belgium, he took part in a recording of Graupner’s cantatas under CPO label with Ex Tempore (conducted by Florian Heyerick). In Montreal, he played the title role in Charpentier’s opera Actéon in a stage production by the ensemble Clavecin en Concert (conducted by Luc Beauséjour). He was also invited by the Talens Lyriques under the direction of Christophe Rousset for concerts (Rameau and Campra) at the Philharmonie de Paris and at the Barokkfest Early Music Festival in Oslo. 

    In 2017, in Montreal, Philippe played the role of Lidio in the first world premiere since 1681 of the pastoral opera Nicandro e Fileno by Franco-Italian composer Paolo Lorenzani with the Nouvel Opéra and Les Boréades. This project was also recorded under ATMA Classique label. 

    In 2016, he toured Europe (Germany, Netherlands, Belgium) for concert projects and recordings on the CPO label with Ex Tempore. He was also the recipient of a 2016 JUNO award for his participation in the recording Las Ciudades de Oro de L’Harmonie des Saisons (ATMA Classique). 

    In 2014, he was one of the winners of the Bruce Haynes CBC International Competition, dedicated to the performance of the vocal works of J.S. Bach. Consequently, he was soloist on two CDs dedicated to Bach’s sacred cantatas (ATMA Classique) with the Montreal Baroque Band (conducted by Eric Milnes).

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    PICTURE DOWNLOAD


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    REVIEWS / CRITIQUES
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    SOMMEILS - ENSEMBLE MASQUES (FESTIVAL MUSIQUE ET MÉMOIRE / VOSGES DU SUD)

    « A dreamlike universe evoked by the sublime voice of tenor Philippe Gagné. »
    Festival Facebook page, Luxeuil-les-Bains, France (August 2024)

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    ACIS & GALATEA, G.F. HANDEL - ENSEMBLE MASQUES

    « On the other hand, let's salute the commitment of the evening's other tenor, Philippe Gagné, in the role of Damon (...) he comes through the infinite vocalizations of the aria 'Shepherd, what art thou pursuing?'. »
    Ruggero Meli, Baroque News, Château d'Hardelot, France (June 2024))

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    GOSSEC'S MESSE DES MORTS - ARION BAROQUE (FESTIVAL CLASSICA)

    « As for the five soloists, we're particularly impressed by (...) and the eloquent tenor Philippe Gagné. »
    Emmanuel Bernier, La Presse, Montreal (May 2024)

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    (CONCERT - VIVALDI'S GLORIA) CARISSIMI: JEPHTÉ. BUXTEHUDE: JESU, MEINES LEBENS LEBEN - LES VIOLONS DU ROY (BERNARD LABADIE)

    « In both works, tenor Philippe Gagné is admirable »
    Christophe Huss, Le Devoir, Montreal (April 2024)

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    OPENING CONCERT - MISIONES DE CHIQUITOS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL - L’HARMONIE DES SAISONS

    « The vocal interpretation was provided by a tenor who enchanted the audience. »
    Festival Facebook page, Santa-Cruz, Bolivia (April 2024))

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    MONTEVERDI'S VESPERS - L’HARMONIE DES SAISONS

    « Tenor Philippe Gagné is touching and moving. »
    Jacques Leclerc, Les ArtsZé, Quebec (August 2023)

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    HANDEL'S MESSIAH - L'HARMONIE DES SAISONS.

    « Tenor Philippe Gagné pleases with his timbre, virtuosity and sensitivity. »
    Jacques Leclerc, Les ArtsZé, Québec (December 2023)

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    Requiem de Campra / In Convertendo de Rameau, with Les Talens Lyriques (Christophe Rousset)

    « Philippe Gagné's haute-contre voice (high-pitched tenor using the mixed voice and the head voice at the top of the range), soft and expressive in his first recit, blends perfectly with the smooth sounds of the flute. The notes held without vibrato (on the word "consolati") are delicately resolved into trills and the appoggiaturas appear as soft complaints at the end of sentences »
    Frédérique Epin, Orylix, Paris (2018)

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    M.A. Charpentier, Actéon with Clavecin en concert

    « The best of the show coincides with the best of the music. From the 3rd scene of Actéon and the air of the hero "Agréable vallon, paisible solitude… Liberté, mon coeur, liberté", the work takes on a real dimension in miniature and the show embraces this growing magic, especially at the moment of the transformation of Actéon into a stag, a delicate moment managed with much poetry. On the set, Luc Beauséjour has assembled a beautiful and coherent team. However, we must take a special hat-trick to tenor Philippe Gagné. We have been seeing him regularly in baroque productions for five years, but he has never made such a good and radiant impression on us. It is true that the role of Actéon does not require the dramatic dimensions of the voice. In any case, in this rather elegiac register, Philippe Gagné was very convincing. If he continues on this path, he seems ready to take on some of Rameau's operatic roles. »
    Christophe Huss, Le Devoir, Montreal (2018)

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    Paolo Lorenzani, Nicandro e Fileno with Le Nouvel Opéra and Les Boréades

    « It is a rather brief opera by Paolo Lorenzani rarely recorded on disc. Our columnist talks to Catherine Perrin about the album's impressive musical arrangements and the brilliant performance of tenor Philippe Gagné.»
    Frédérick Lambert, ICI Radio Canada, Montreal (2018)

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    Bach Missa in B Minor at Ottawa Chamberfest with Arion Baroque Orchestra

    « The young Philippe Gagné showed off an attractive light tenor, with a lovely, free top. »
    Natasha Gauthier, Ottawa Citizen (2016)

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    Let Us All Sing! Chaconne from Lully’s Amadis and Rameau, In convertendo Dominus with Tafelmusik

    « The text of Rameau’s In Convertendo Dominus is Psalm 126 and immediately we heard a heartfelt yet poised vulnerability firmly present in the tenor Philippe Gagne’s singing. »
    James Strecker Reviews the Arts (2016)

    « The first half concluded with more joyous celebration in Jean-Baptiste Lully’s Chaconne from his opera Amadis. Tenor Philippe Gagné (…) add brilliant colour and drama to the operatic finale. (…) Jean Philippe Rameau’s motet for choir, soloists and orchestra In convertendo Dominus was as expressive as one could imagine. Once again (the soloists) both in solos and together, demonstrated why they are each in demand internationally for historically informed performances; they sang with intelligence, virtuosity and expressiveness. »
    David Richards, Toronto Concert Reviews (2016)

    « (The other singers) are the two lovers, while Mr. Gagné sings the role of a Hero. All three - Mr. Gagné especially - offer urgently communicative operatic delivery of the text with vibrato-free baroque vocal technique. »
    Michael Johnson, Concertonet.com, Toronto (2016)

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    Coffee cantata with Arion Baroque Orchestra

    « The narrator – tenor, Philippe Gagné also has an impressive voice. Lightness and elegance combined to create tonal beauty that, despite M. Gagné’s smaller role as the narrator, he beautifully impacted our listening pleasure. »
    Nancy Snipper, SN Travel and Arts Without Borders (2016)

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    AUDIO / VIDEO
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    Handel - Comfort Ye - Every Valley

    Rameau - Pygmalion : Règne, Amour

    Monteverdi - Vespers : Nigra Sum

    Manuel Rücker - El Delirio

    J.S. Bach - St-John's Passion : Erwäge

    J.S. Bach - Selection

    Lorenzani - Nicandro e Fileno : Excerpt 1

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    Lorenzani - Nicandro e Fileno : Excerpt 2

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    Clérambault - Pyrame et Thisbé

        PAST / CONCERTS PASSÉS
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        REPERTOIRE
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        BACH, J.S.
        - St-John’s Passion (evangelist / tenor)
        - Christmas Oratorio (evangelist / tenor)
        - Markus Passion (evangelist / Koolstra version)
        - Magnificat
        - Missa in B minor
        - Cantatas, BWV: 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 16, 18, 23, 25, 34, 39, 41, 45, 46, 55, 56, 61, 67, 72, 76, 79, 80, 91, 96, 98, 99, 102, 106, 111, 113, 115, 117, 120, 123, 124, 125, 127, 140, 143, 152, 157, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 186, 192, 200, 211, 230.

        BECK, Franz Ignaz
        - Stabat Mater

        BERNIER, Nicolas
        - Toto Caelo (motet à voix seule)
        - Deus Miseratur Nostri (motet à voix seule)

        BRAHMS, Johannes
        - Liebeslieder
        - Neue Liebeslieder

        CAMPRA, André
        - Messe de Requiem (haute-contre à la française)
        - Te Deum (haute-contre à la française)
        Motets:
        - Florete prata, frondete lilia (haute-contre à la française)
        - Insere Domine (haute-contre à la française)
        - O Jesu Amantissime(haute-contre à la française)

        CARISSIMI, Giacomo
        - Jephte

        CHARPENTIER, Marc-Antoine
        - Messe de Minuit (haute-contre à la française)
        - Le reniement de saint Pierre - Missa Assumpta est Maria
        - Te deumH.146
        - Miserere H.219
        - Beatus vir H.208
        - Méditations pour le Carême

        CLÉRAMBAULT, Louis-Nicolas
        -Pyrame et Thisbé (cantate)

        COLLASSE, Pascale
        - Les cantiques spirituels (haute-contre à la française)

        COUPERIN, François
        - Ornate Aras (Motet à voix seule)

        DELALANDE, Michel-Richard
        - De Profundis (haute-contre à la française)
        - Super Fulmina Babylonis (haute-contre à la française)

        DUBOIS, Théodore
        - Les Sept paroles du Christ

        DUMONT, Henry
        - Super Flumina Babylonis (haute-contre à la française)
        - Grand Motet, Domine Deus (psaume 21)(haute-contre à la française)

        GOSSEC, François-Joseph
        - La Nativité (haute-contre à la française)
        - Christe Redemptor (haute-contre à la française)
        - La Grande Messe des Morts

        GOUNOD, Charles
        - Messe solennelle de Sainte-Cécile

        GRAUPNER, Christophe
        - Die Sieben Worte Jesu Am Kreuz
        - Many canatatas

        HANDEL, G.F .
        - Messiah
        - Judas Maccabeus
        - Messiah
        - Samson
        - Ressurrectione
        - Brockes Passion

        HAYDN, Franz-Joseph
        - Creation
        - Nelson Mass
        - Theresienmesse- Missa in B

        LE CAMUS, Sébastien
        -Airs de cours

        LULLY, Jean-Baptiste
        - De profundis (haute-contre à la française)
        - Le Ballet de l’Impatience (haute-contre à la française)
        - Te Deum (haute-contre à la française)

        MARCHANT, Jean-Noël
        - Cantique IIe, Heureux qui la sagesse (haute-contre à la française)

        MONDONVILLE, Jean-Joseph Cassanéa
        - Venite, Exultemus Domino (haute-contre à la française)
        - De profundis clamavi (haute-contre à la française)

        MONTEVERDI, Claudio
        - Vespro della Beata Vergine

        MOZART, W.A.
        - Requiem
        - Missa in C
        - Solemness Vespers
        - Coronation Mass
        - Missa solemnis «Messe de l’orphelinat»

        PURCELL, Henry
        - Hail Bright Cecilia
        - Dido and Aenes (Sailor)

        RACHMANINOFF, Sergueï
        - Vespers

        RACOT DE GRANDVAL, Nicolas
        - La matrone d'Éphèse

        RAMEAU, Jean-Philippe
        - Quam dilecta
        - In convertendo Dominus
        - Pygmalion

        ROSSINI, Gioachino
        - Petite messe solennelle

        SALIERI, Antonio
        - Requiem

        SCARLATTI, Domenico
        - Stabat Mater

        SCHUBERT, Franz
        - Missa in B flat

        TELEMANN, G.P.
        Cantatas:
        - TWV 1:66, Aller Augen warten auf dich
        - TWV 1:816, Ich bin erste und der letzte
        - TWV 1:929, In Christo gilt weder Beschneidung noch Vorhaut
        - TWV 1:1326, Siehe eine Jungfrau ist schwanger

        ZELENKA, Jan Dismas
        - Lamentations pro generis sancto, ZWV 53

        OTHER

        CACCINI, Giulio
        -Canzonnetti

        LE CAMUS, Sébastien
        -Airs de cours

        MONTEVERDI, Claudio
        - Duets, arias, motet, madrigals

        AND A LOT OF :
        - French cantatas
        - Airs de cours
        - Luth songs
        - Lieder

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        CONTACT
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        PHILIPPE GAGNÉ tenor

        Tel. 1 (514) 621-0668
        Mail. info@gagnephilippe.com