The cicada develops slowly, secretly, over a period of years before presenting itself in style with a song that everyone can hear and appreciate. In the well-known fable, the ants belittled the cicada for doing nothing but sharing its music. Perhaps they forgot how the cicada’s song lightened their labour and allowed them to dream, to rejoice, to love, and also to weep… Formed in Montréal in 2006, Ensemble La Cigale takes its name from this most musical insect and is pleased to share its music with anyone who would like to listen. La Cigale specializes in music of the Renaissance and Baroque eras on period instruments. The group presents original programs that blend formal and popular styles and bring to light littleknown masterpieces. The ensemble’s first CD, Tiorba Obbligata, showcases the theorbo as an obbligato instrument, features several world premiere recordings, and was nominated in Québec for a Prix Opus. A second album, Up in the Morning Early, was released to critical acclaim in 2017. La Cigale performs frequently in Canada and Mexico and has played concerts on a mountainside, in a modern art gallery, in a beauty salon, and in a Mexican prison. ensemblelacigale.ca