Studio de musique ancienne de Montréal

Praised for its "rich-textured, vibrant sound" and "hypnotic beauty", the Studio de musique ancienne de Montréal (SMAM) has established a reputation as Canada's finest early music vocal ensemble. Founded in 1974 by Christopher Jackson, Réjean Poirier et Hélène Dugal, the mission of the SMAM is to perform sacred and secular early music, with a particular focus on choral works composed before 1750, to share the vitality, sensuality, and emotional depth of early music. Directed by Andrew McAnerney since 2015, SMAM is composed of 12 to 18 singers chosen for the remarkable clarity and purity of their voices. Since its inception, SMAM has performed over a thousand pieces from the Renaissance and Baroque with a particular emphasis on exploring unrecognized or forgotten works. SMAM regularly collaborates with some of North America and Europe's finest artists. Over the last half century, SMAM has produced a remarkable discography. Its previous recording, Laudate Dominum, was devoted to the works of Orlando Lassus and received widespread critical praise for its "impressive clarity of textures" and "glorious singing".