Charlebois Symphonique: An Epic Celebration with the OSM! ^{Summer 2024}

French singer Alain Bashung said he was one of the first to introduce an ironical touch to Quebecois chanson, set to tunes of rock, blues and country. In a career spanning more than 60 years, Robert Charlebois, songwriter, musician and performer, has become an essential figure in chanson, not only in Quebec, but throughout the French-speaking world.

The man affectionately known as Garou was born in Montreal on June 25, 1944. He made his stage debut in September 1962 – not yet 20 – when he opened for Félix Leclerc at La Butte à Mathieu. In 1965, his song La Boulée, composed at the age of 16, won him the Grand Prix du Festival du disque.

Read the complete biography

Jacques Lacombe is world-renowned for his artistic integrity and inspiring programming. Music Director of Vancouver Opera, he was Music and Artistic Director of the Orchestre symphonique de Mulhouse (2017 to 2021), Principal Conductor of the Bonn Opera (2016 to 2018), Music Director of the Orchestre symphonique de Trois-Rivières (2006 to 2018) and the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (2010 to 2016), as well as Principal Guest Conductor of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (2002 to 2006). He has conducted the Boston Symphony Orchestra at the prestigious Tanglewood Music Festival, and recently made acclaimed debuts with the Orchestre national de France, the Taiwan Philharmonic, and the Dallas, Nancy, Omaha and San Antonio symphony orchestras.
Jacques Lacombe has collaborated with a host of renowned soloists, most recently in productions at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden and Berlin’s Deutsche Oper. His Carnegie Hall debut in 2012 was a resounding success. His recordings on the CPA and Analekta labels, for PBS, CBC, Mezzo TV France 3 and Arte TV have received critical acclaim.

Jacques Lacombe has been awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, is a Knight of the Ordre national du Québec and a Member of the Order of Canada.

Contralto Rose Naggar-Tremblay studied at McGill University where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance with a minor in European literature and culture. In 2021, she made a remarkable debut at the Sofia Opera in the role of Carmen, won First Prizes at the OSM Competition and the Georges Enesco Competition (Paris), won the Young Hope scholarship Canadian lyric and the Prize for the best interpretation of a Canadian work at the OSM Competition with the Healing cycle, which she composed in collaboration with Éric Champagne. In 2022, she was named Révélation Radio-Canada (Radio-Canada breakthrough artist) and won Second Prize at the Prix d’Europe. An accomplished musician, Rose Naggar-Tremblay frequently lends her voice to chamber music, taking part in numerous concerts and recitals. In 2023, she will make her debut at the Opéra de Metz in the role of the Second Spirit (Rusalka).

Frédéric Antoun is an internationally renowned Quebec tenor, a graduate of the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. Renowned for his captivating voice and committed interpretations, he has appeared as soloist in the greatest opera houses: Opéra national de Paris, La Scala in Milan, Metropolitan Opera in New York, Royal Opera in London, Vienna Staatsoper and Zurich Opera. His ability to navigate a wide range of repertoires is testament to his exceptional versatility. Frédéric is also passionate about musical innovation, and looks forward to collaborating with artists from all horizons, including pop, hip-hop, electronic and even country. Convinced that music transcends styles, he now seeks to build bridges between genres to reach a wider audience. His open-mindedness and desire to push back boundaries make him an ideal partner for creative and innovative projects.

Hugo Bégin tackles the repertoire of trombone, sackbut, piano and organ with equal talent. A graduate of the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal, he studied trombone with Joseph Zuskin and the renowned Alain Trudel, and organ with Mireille and Bernard Lagacé.
He has performed as a freelance trombonist with numerous ensembles, including the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Orchestre Métropolitain, Orchestre symphonique Québec, Orchestre symphonique de Laval, Les Violons du Roy, I Musici and many others throughout Quebec.
Hugo Bégin’s interest in composing and arranging music was self-taught from an early age. He works as a composer, arranger and copyist with several orchestras and individuals. He has recently been commissioned to arrange for the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, the Orchestre Métropolitain, I Musici and several other ensembles, as well as to compose for Ensemble Horizon, the Quatuor de trombones de Montréal and the Orchestre Régional d’Abitibi-Témiscamingue.