Early Music Vancouver Events

Bach Cantatas (BWV 12, 39, 161)

Friday August 2, 2019 | 7:30PM (Pre-concert talk at 6:45PM)Christ Church Cathedral

The invention, devotion and beauty that are at the heart of J.S. Bach’s more than 209 sacred cantatas continue to be a source of deep inspiration and consolation to believers and non-believers alike. For this concert of three of his acknowledged masterpieces: Brich dem Hungrigen dein Brot (BWV 39), Komm, du Süße Todesstunde (BWV 161) and Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen (BWV 12), Ensemble Les Boreades join four of Europe’s greatest soloists specializing in Bach for one-to-a-part performances in the intimate surroundings of Christ Church Cathedral.

Mozart String Trios

Friday August 2, 2019 | 1:00PM (Pre-concert talk at 12:15PM)Christ Church Cathedral

In April 1782, young Mozart wrote to his father Leopold: ‘Every Sunday at 12 o’clock I go to the Baron van Swieten’s, where nothing is played but Bach and Handel. I am currently making myself a collection of Bach fugues…’. In the Baron’s library, Mozart discovered a treasure trove of music by these two already-forgotten composers. Commissioned by the Baron to make arrangements for strings of Bach’s music for his Sunday matinees, Mozart in some cases added his own preludes. Mozart’s Eb Major Divertimento, written shortly after his final three symphonies, belies its title: it is hardly an ‘entertainment’, but a substantial and complex six-movement composition that was described by Mozart biographer Alfred Einstein as “one of his noblest works.”

Fauré Requiem – SOLD OUT

Thursday August 1, 2019 | 7:30PM (Pre-concert talk at 6:45PM)Christ Church Cathedral

For EMV’s first collaboration with the Vancouver Bach Choir, the singers of this illustrious choir join sixteen of the finest professional choral singers in the Pacific Northwest for a performance of Faure’s uplifting Requiem and Cantique de Jean Racine. The first half will focus on unaccompanied performances of works by other important French composers including a full performance of Poulenc’s Mass in G.

Chopin Preludes feat. Byron Schenkman, fortepiano

Thursday August 1, 2019 | 1:00PM (Pre-concert talk at 12:15PM)Christ Church Cathedral

Frederic Chopin was a central figure of 19th century Romanticism, but his connections to J.S. Bach are clear in his own preludes, which were directly inspired by Bach’s The Well-Tempered Clavier. This program also places Chopin’s music in the context of Romantic composers who influenced his work, including the great Polish pianist Maria Szymanowska and the composer/critic Robert Schumann. EMV favourite Byron Schenkman will play this concert on EMV’s 19th century Broadwood.

“An elegant stylist with a cleanly articulated sound.” – Allan Kozinn, The New York Times

Palestrina, Monteverdi & More: Song of Songs

Tuesday August 6, 2019 | 7:30PM (Pre-concert talk at 6:45PM)Christ Church Cathedral

The ancient Song of Songs originated as erotic love poetry around 2500 years ago. It was interpreted by both Judaism and Christianity as an allegorical understanding of the believer’s relationship with God. In Christianity, musical settings of the text became particularly popular in 16th and 17th Centuries, when word expression and moving the listener became increasingly important. Indeed, these settings go beyond concepts of “sacred” or “secular”: Religious belief, longing, sensuality and eroticism become inextricably combined and perfectly expressed by this stunning music. This programme features five of the world’s best vocal soloists specializing in the vocal chamber music of the 17th and 18th centuries. Programme designed by Alex Potter.

Bach Sonatas & Chamber Music

Wednesday July 31, 2019 | 1:00PM (Pre-concert talk at 12:15PM)Christ Church Cathedral

A concert of virtuosic chamber music by J.S. Bach arranged for violin, various flutes, recorder, gamba and harpsichord. The concert will also include the Ciaccona from the partita no. 2 in D minor for solo violin played by one of North America’s greatest Baroque violinists, Olivier Brault.