Nicolas Ellis, artistic director and founder of the Orchestre de l’Agora has been named Principal Guest Conductor of Les Violons du Roy as of the 2023–2024 season! Les Violons du Roy and Nicolas Ellis began their collaboration back in 2018, when he was invited as guest conductor of the orchestra to replace Bernard Labadie. Read More
On the Toute une musique program broadcasted on ICI Musique and hosted by Marie-Christine Trottier, our Concert Solidaire was replayed. Not to be missed! With soloists Andrew Wan (solo violin, OSM) and Yukari Cousineau (solo violin, OM), conducted by Nicolas Ellis.
This season, we are starting a new partnership with the geriatric psychiatry department of the University Institute of Mental Health in Montreal, where we will be offering concert-workshops to the hospital’s patients. The patients of the geriatric psychiatry department are followed for psychiatric illnesses (depression, anxiety, bipolar illness, psychosis, schizophrenia) and cognitive illnesses (dementia of all kinds). Read More
On June 22, 2022, Orchestre de l’Agora held the most ambitious project in its short history at the Maison symphonique: Gala de la Terre pour les enfants. This fundraising event built around Mahler’s 3rd Symphony, with more than 200 musicians and choristers on stage under the direction of conductor Nicolas Ellis, raised $255,000 to support Nature Conservancy Canada, Sierra Club CanadaFoundation and UNICEF Canada.Read More
This Friday, March 25, the Orchestra will release its very first album with violist Marina Thibeault, under the direction of our conductor Nicolas Ellis and in collaboration with ATMA Classique! For the occasion, Marina Thibeault wanted to bring together on her new album the very first viola concerto in history, the one by Telemann and also the one by Latvian composer Pēteris Vasks. Viola Borealis also weaves together different Nordic cultures by presenting two classical works for solo viola by Melody McKiver, from the Anishinaabe Nation. The album is already available for purchase on Amazon or through the purchase this Website!
Yesterday, our musicians participated in the Concert for Peace under the direction of our conductor Nicolas Ellis. This project initiated by Nadia Monczak, aims to support Ukrainian refugees at the Polish-Ukrainian border.
It is not too late to make a donation or to view the concert online for free by following the link below:
What a memorable evening! Enfers des Lumières was a unique concert featuring the fascinating French Baroque repertoire with the Orchestre de l’Agora, ten fabulous soloists from the Atelier lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal, our conductor Nicolas Ellis, and our stage director Francois Racine.
“These tears, which prison chaplain Stéphane Roy observes while following up with the inmates after the concerts, show that culture, far beyond simple “entertainment”, acts as a powerful revealer of our humanity.”
A new article published by journalist Caroline Montpetit in Le Devoir last Friday, reminds us of the importance of art and culture in our society.
On November 30, conductor Nicolas Ellis and the Agora wind quintet accompanied the young participants of the “Espace Transition à l’opéra” project, associated with the CHU Sainte-Justine, for a musical performance in front of an audience entitled “Le monde de la beauté“. This project, initiated by the Opéra de Montréal, aims to inspire young participants (14 to 25 years old) to rewrite the story of an opera.
