Ensemble Caprice

What the critics say:

About Ensemble Caprice:

« The group’s arrangements are imaginative, even powerful, and the playing is topflight. »
New York Times – United States

« The ensemble has established itself as an immensely thoughtful and progressive force on the musical scene. »
New York Times – United States

« The music making by Ensemble Caprice was first rate. »
New York Times – United States

« Together they gave an extremely vibrant and nuanced performance of this seminal work (the Mass in B minor by J. S. Bach). In short, we witnessed a sweeping away of the dust and cobwebs. »
Le Soleil de Québec - Canada

« Matthias Maute and his musicians conveyed the divine sounds of Bach with an original interpretation, reaching moments of sublime beauty. »
La Scena Musicale – Canada

Vivaldi and the Baroque Gypsies
« Here a masterpiece of Early music has been created. Ensemble Caprice, as well as Matthias Maute and Sophie Larivière, play themselves into a veritable high of sound. Vivaldi begins to dance, to whirl, and the skirts and wigs fly – this has strength, joy of life, inspiration, depth. This is music! »
Alte Musik Aktuell – Germany

Gloria! Vivaldi’s Angels
« The performers around Matthias Maute give their usual, and that is the best, to resurrect this atmosphere, and they succeed splendidly. This is particularly due to the gripping, sleek and pulsing interpretation that holds the listener in its spell from the beginning.»
Toccata - Allemagne

« A true world of expressive gestures, colors and delicate ornaments. The pleasure of contrasting dynamics can be heard clearly. »
Klassik Heute – Germany

Sweet Follia
« Yes, this recital wears its title well; it is a sweet folly that emerges out of this fascinating encounter between early music and works composed by Matthias Maute. Striking! »
Classica – France

« Brilliantly played and excellently interpreted. »
Stuttgarter Zeitung – Germany

« Such dazzling virtuosity on the recorder leaves you in staggering daze! We wonder by which diabolical trick the flautists manage to articulate at such speed, with so much breath and energy. »
Le Devoir – Canada

« The playing of the musicians was expressive, the dynamics pliable as putty, the plasticity of their phrasing warm and extravagant, and their virtuosity brilliant. »
The Chronicle Herald – Canada

About the musicians:

Matthias Maute

« In the Vivaldi concertos Matthias Maute performed, he displayed a rare virtuosity. With a pure, round tone he swept through Vivaldi’s rapid-fire runs, barely taking a breath. The deep expression proved that Maute may be the finest of today’s players… »
Washington Post – USA

« …Recorder virtuoso Matthias Maute offered contrasting concerti by Telemann and Vivaldi, playing both of them with crackling vitality and whizzing velocity. »
Boston Globe – USA

« Antonio Vivaldi's E Minor Concerto … was performed with exuberant panache and jaw-dropping virtuosity by the amazing Matthias Maute, who is clearly poised to be early music's next breakout superstar. »
The Kansas City Star – USA

Sophie Larivière

« The flutes and recorders of Matthias Maute and Sophie Larivière were an absolute delight. »
New York Times – USA

Music as an art of living
« Thanks to an iron will and an unquestionable talent, she offers the Montreal audience surprising and always brilliant concerts. »
Le Journal de Montréal – Canada

« The perfect technique and sensibility of play of flutist Sophie Larivière takes your breath away »
L’Acadie nouvelle – Canada

Erin Helyard

« The harpsichordist Erin Helyard is a virtuoso »
La Presse – Canada

Helyard’s star ascendent
« The Haydn Trio in C… brought about one of the morning's greater pleasures in Helyard's dexterous and extremely well-judged exhibition. »
Melbourne Age – Australia

« Erin Helyard is an ace keyboard man. Eighteenth-century keyboards, that is.”
Sydney Morning Herald – Australia

Susie Napper

To come