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The French bass, Lionel Meunier, was passionate about music from a young age, and began his musical education at the local school in his hometown of Clamecy where he studied solfege, recorder and trumpet. At the age of 18, he continued his studies at the Institut Supérieur de Musique et de Pédagogie (IEMP), Namur, where he subsequently graduated with a high distinction in recorder studies in 2004. During his time at IMEP, Meunier was a student of Tatiana Babut du Maresm but also took part in master-classes with Jean Tubéry, and also with Hugo Reyne. The same year, after his graduation, he began to focus on his vocal career, studying with Rita Dams and Peter Kooy at the Royal Conservatoire of the Hague.
Since then, Lionel Meunier has sung with numerous top ensembles in Europe such as Collegium Vocale Gent (Director: Philippe Herreweghe), World Youth Choir, Arsys Bourgogne (Director: Pierre Cao), Amsterdam Baroque Choir (Director: Ton Koopman), Choeur de Chambre de Namur and Ex Tempore (Director: Florian Heyerick), and with soloist ensembles such as I Favoriti de La Fenice (Jean Tubéry), the Soloists of Choeur de Chambre de Namur, Capella Pratensis, and the soloist ensemble (ripienist) of the Nederlandse Bachvereniging. These experiences have given him the opportunity to work with many of today’s leading specialists including Christophe Rousset, Tonu Kaljuste, Gustav Leonhardt, Roberto Gini, Jean-Claude Malgoire, Paul Dombrecht, Florian Heyerick, Rinaldo Alessandrini and Richard Egarr. Meunier continues to be active as a vocal soloist, performing repertoire such Schubert's Mass in A Minor, J.S. Bach's Johannes-Passion (BWV 245), Haydn's Stabat Mater and Nelson Mass, W.A. Mozart's Kronung Mass and Mass in C Minor, and César Franck's Mass in G, etc.
Lionel Meunier drew on his broad wealth of vocal experience and collaboration to form with his friend pianist Francis Penning the critically acclaimed vocal ensemble Vox Luminis in 2004, which was later to become his predominant musical focus and Artistic Director. Since its inception, the ensemble has been praised for each of its concert appearances and recordings, winning numerous prestigious awards such as the Diapason d’Or, Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik CHOC de Classica, and being named as Gramophone Editor’s Choice. However, it was Vox Luminis’ seminal recording of Heinrich Schütz' Musikalische (considered now to be the new reference for the repertoire) that really brought them to the fore of the choral and early music world. In 2012, the disc won unarguably one of the most coveted recording awards, Gramophone Recording of the Year, along with the Baroque Vocal Gramophone Award and the International Classical Music Award.
Over the past 12 months, Lionel Meunier has increasingly been in demand as a coach, artistic leader, and conductor for ensembles throughout Europe. His thoughtful approach and passion for early and a cappella repertoire, coupled with his respect and innate understanding of singers, allows him gently to coax the highest possible standards from those with whom he collaborates. Vox Luminis is consistently praised for its seamless blend of individual voices, exquisite tuning, and clarity of sound, which Meunier is able to emulate with other vocal groups thanks to his instinctive communication skills which allows him to build trust which each musician.
Also impassioned by pedagogy, Lionel Meunier and Vox Luminis regularly give master-class and coaching, as well as lecture on the late Renaissance and Baroque repertoire. Among the singers who have studied with him and/or attended his master-classes: Vincent Berger (Bass-Baritone).
In 2013 Lionel Meunier received the “Namurois de l’Année ” award for culture (Citizen Of The Year – Namur province). He currently resides in Namur, Belgium. |
