TOP PROGRAMMERS: TOP 3 ALBUMS 2023 – Nicolas Ellis, Orchestre de l’Agora

PAN M 360 asked its partners to provide a list of the 3 best 2023 albums. Several artistic directors courteously agreed!

A classical pianist by training, Nicolas Ellis studied at the Conservatoire de Saguenay and then at the Université de Montréal. In the wake of the famous Carrés Rouges student strike in 2012, he and other striking students formed the Orchestre de la solidarité sociale. In 2013, he founded the Orchestre de l’Agora, a Montreal-based ensemble whose core values are initiative, collaboration and social commitment. The orchestra is now recognized on the Montreal scene for its artistically singular programs. L’Orchestre de l’Agora, of which he remains Principal Conductor and Artistic Director, presents concerts in places where people do not have access to music, such as the Chez Doris women’s shelter and homes for the elderly. In 2021, the ensemble created a monthly concert series at the Bordeaux Prison in Montreal. In 2015, he completed a master’s degree in conducting at McGill University’s Schulich School of Music. He was named Révélation Classique Radio-Canada for the 2018-2019 season. In summer 2019, he acts as assistant to Russian maestro Valery Gergiev at the Verbier Festival Academy. In 2018, he became artistic collaborator for the Orchestre Métropolitain de Montréal and sporadically acts as assistant conductor at the Philadelphia Orchestra. He has also conducted the Orchestre symphonique de Québec, Les Violons du Roy, the National Arts Centre Orchestra and I Musici de Montréal, to name but a few.

Pygmalion – Raphaël Pichon / Claudio Monterverdi – Vespro della beata Virgine / Harmonia Mundi (Renaissance, baroque)

“An extraordinary interpretation of Monteverdi’s music.”

Les Violons du Roy, Jonathan Cohen, conductor, Charles Richard-Hamelin, piano / Mozart, piano concertos no.20 and 23 / Analekta (classical)

“A chance to hear a magnificent interpretation of Mozart’s concertos by Les Violons du Roy and one of Quebec’s greatest pianists, Charles Richard-Hamelin. The cadenzas, written by Charles himself, are absolutely extraordinary.”

Cameron Crozman, violoncelle / Ricercari (Domenico Gabrielli) / Atma Classique (classique, Renaissance, baroque)

“A brilliant program conceived by cellist Cameron Crozman that takes us on a journey from the Renaissance music of Gabrielli to the new music of Canadian composers.”