Les Violons du Roy, under the direction of their founding conductor and musical director Bernard Labadie, open their 2026-2027 season in the company of British countertenor Iestyn Davies, star of the Metropolitan Opera in New York, in a program entirely devoted to George Frideric Handel.
The program This concert explores the dramatic and emotional richness of the Baroque master through his most emblematic works. From the romantic passion of Giulio Cesare to the spiritual meditations of Theodora, Iestyn Davies alternately embodies tragic heroes and tormented souls. Rinaldo’s famous « Cara sposa » rubs shoulders with the virtuoso outbursts of Flavio and Radamisto, while the contemplative pages of L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato offer moments of rare intimacy. The overtures and instrumental dances – drawn in particular from Rinaldo, Theodora, Alcina and Partenope – punctuate the recital, creating a dialogue between voice and orchestra which reveals all the theatrical splendor of Handel.
The Artists Recognized as one of the most accomplished countertenors of his generation, Iestyn Davies has performed on the world’s greatest opera stages, including the Metropolitan Opera in New York, La Scala in Milan and the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. His work has been recognized many times: he has received a Grammy Award, two Gramophone Awards, the RPS Award for Best Young Artist and a nomination for the Olivier Awards. In 2017 he was made an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for his services to music. The New York Times and The Guardian have both highlighted the rare purity of his voice and his natural mastery of the Handelian repertoire, which he has performed for nearly twenty years on the biggest stages.
Under the direction of Bernard Labadie, Les Violons du Roy accompany this exceptional voice with the finesse and sensitivity that characterize their approach to the baroque repertoire. The singer returns to Les Violons du Roy after his last collaboration with the ensemble in December 2024, during the performances of Handel’s Messiah at the Palais Montcalm and at the Maison symphonique. This concert marks the return of Bernard Labadie to the musical direction of Les Violons du Roy and La Chapelle de Québec, after more ten years of absence.