Chan Centre for the Performing Arts
Festive Cantatas: Gloria with Vivaldi & Bach
Artists: Len Torrie, Soprano; Georgia Burashko, Mezzo-soprano; the Pacific Baroque Orchestra, directed by Alexander Weimann.
Pre-concert Chat: TBA
Runtime: Approximately 80 minutes, plus interval
For much of his adult life, Antonio Vivaldi worked as a teacher at the Ospedale della Pietà, a charitable convent, orphanage and music school established by Venetian nuns in the 14th century. It was for those children that Vivaldi composed such pieces as The ‘Gloria’, and in doing so attracted travelers from around Europe to see them perform. Inspired by Vivaldi’s work with young people, we have invited the Vancouver Youth Choir to perform ‘Gloria’ with us this holiday season, which is sure to be an extraordinary celebration of light and joy.
The two pairs of soloists used by Vivaldi, soprano/alto and oboe/trumpet, inspired us to include two Bach cantatas for the same complement: ‘Jauchzet Gott’ and ‘Ich habe genug’. While the first is abundantly jubilant, the second embodies the still joy in having seen the light as we find it in the Song of Simeon at the end of Christmas, on Twelfth Night or Epiphany.
Generously sponsored by The Graham and Gayle Foundation.
PROGRAMME:
J.S Bach (1685-1750)
Jauchzet Gott BWV 51
Ich habe genug BWV 82a
Interval
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Gloria RV 589
Len Torrie, Soprano
Len Torrie is an Ontario-born, soprano and project maker living in Montreal who just completed a master’s degree in early music performance at McGill University under the tutelage of Dominique Labelle. Most recently, Len sang the title role in Charpentier’s oratorio Judith with ensemble Capella Antica and is lead soprano at Christ Church Cathedral, Montreal.
While studying music therapy at Acadia University, Len appeared frequently as a soloist with local ensembles including Symphony Nova Scotia, and was lead soprano of the Manning Chapel Choir from 2014-2018. In 2017, Len was awarded the Canadian Federation of University Women scholarship which funded their participation in Accademia Europea Dell’Opera in Lucca, Italy, where they played Oberto in Handel’s Alcina. This experience motivated Len to pursue a career in performance and upon graduation, Len moved to Montreal to study with soprano Suzie LeBlanc.
Len frequently returns to the Maritimes for solo recitals, collaborations, and residencies. Len also recently completed an artist residency at Banff Arts and Creativity Centre with Canadian tenor Kerry Bursey, as the newly formed early music/folk duo Kalliope. Len is currently exploring the practice of self-accompanying early music on baroque guitar. As a queer, non-binary musician, Len is inspired by the possibility that their queer ancestors had their own musical traditions and that through research, creative speculation, and performance, we can tell a more inclusive and rich story about music and humanity.
Georgia Burashko, Mezzo-soprano
Canadian mezzo-soprano Georgia Burashko is widely recognized for her “full-bodied, velvety” voice and “nuanced” interpretations (Olyrix). Described by MYSCENA as being “blessed with a unique, burnished tone quality that is instantly recognizable and distinguishes her,” she has earned a reputation for balancing vocal power with emotional depth. Her expressive stage presence and refined musicianship have led to collaborations with leading figures in early music, including conductors such as William Christie, Paul Agnew, Nicholas McGegan, Jeannette Sorrell, Shunske Sato, and Masato Suzuki.
Highlights of Georgia Burashko’s 2025-26 season includes a solo recital at the London Festival of Baroque Music in November, where she will perform Fervour and Follies alongside lutenist Sergio Bucceli. She will also join Les Arts Florissants as alto soloist in Weihnachts Oratorium and continue her tour of The Fairy Queen across South America and Spain. In spring 2026, Georgia will make her role debut as Sorceress in Dido and Aeneas on a tour of Asia and Europe with Les Arts Florissants and William Christie.
During the 2024-25 season, Georgia performed as alto solo in Weihnachts Oratorium with the Milwaukee Symphony under the baton of Ken-David Masur, and as alto solo in Dixit Dominus with the Toronto Consort. On the opera stage, she made her role debut as Virtue in Händel’s The Choice of Hercules, and she worked alongside composer Kate Moore in Amsterdam on the creation of A Beautiful Path.
Georgia’s performances have taken her to some of the world’s most celebrated venues, such as Teatro alla Scala, Versailles Opera House, Lincoln Center, and to the Royal Albert Hall for the BBC Proms. She has also performed at the Paris Philharmonie, Tanglewood, Muziekgebouw Amsterdam, Tivolivredenburg Utrecht, Koerner Hall, and KKL Luzern. She frequently performs as a soloist in performances with Les Arts Florissants and with the Netherlands Bach Society, and has worked with many leading Canadian orchestras, including the National Arts Centre Orchestra, Calgary Philharmonic, and Edmonton Symphony.
In 2024, Georgia launched her solo recital tour Beauty Awake, commissioning three new works and performing at 14 venues across The Netherlands. In Spring 2025, she recorded the complete works of 14th-century composer Soulage with Kees Boeke and Ensemble Tetraktys.
A member of the prestigious Le Jardin des Voix academy – 11th edition – under the direction of William Christie and Paul Agnew, she also completed a Master’s in Early Music at the Koninklijk Conservatorium Den Haag, where she was awarded a Holland Fellowship. She was a Young Bach Fellow with the Netherlands Bach Society during the 2022-2023 season.
Georgia holds a Bachelor’s degree from McGill University’s Schulich School of Music and a Master’s degree from the University of Toronto Opera Division. Her education has been further enriched by residencies at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, Royaumont Abbaye, and Europäisches Hanse-Ensemble.
Pacific Baroque Orchestra
The ‘house band’ of Early Music Vancouver, The Pacific Baroque Orchestra (PBO) is recognized as one of Canada’s most exciting and innovative ensembles performing “early music for modern ears.” Formed in 1990, the orchestra quickly established itself as a force in Vancouver’s burgeoning music scene with the ongoing support of Early Music Vancouver. In 2009, PBO welcomed Alexander Weimann as Director. His imaginative programming, creativity and engaging musicianship have carved out a unique and vital place in the cultural landscape of Vancouver.
PBO regularly joins forces with internationally-celebrated Canadian guest artists, providing performance opportunities for Canadian musicians while exposing West Coast audiences to a spectacular variety of talent. The Orchestra has also toured throughout BC, the northern United States, and across Canada. Their 2019 East Coast Canadian tour with Canadian soprano Karina Gauvin culminated in a critically acclaimed album, Nuit Blanches, released by Atma Classique.
Alexander Weimann | Sponsored by Bruce Munro Wright, O.B.C., Director
The internationally renowned keyboard artist Alexander Weimann has spent his life enveloped by the therapeutic power and beauty of making music. Alex grew up in Munich. At age three he became fascinated by the intense magic of the church organ. He started piano at six, formal organ lessons at 12 and harpsichord at university (along with theatre theory, medieval Latin and jazz piano.) He is in huge demand as a director, soloist and chamber player, traveling the world with leading North American and European ensembles. He is Artistic Director of the Pacific Baroque Orchestra in Vancouver and teaches at the University of British Columbia where he directs the Baroque Orchestra Mentorship Programme.
Alex has appeared on more than 100 recordings, including the Juno-award-winning album “Prima Donna” with Karina Gauvin and Arion Baroque orchestra. His latest album series “The Art of Improvisation” (Volume 1: A Prayer for Peace; Volume 2: Ad libitum; and Volume 3: Canavian Variations, released on Redshift, 2024) unites his passions for both baroque music and improvisation on organ, harpsichord, and piano.
