Past Events

In this concert film, Servir Antico tell the story of Christine de Pizan (1364 – ca.1430), a revolutionary woman who questioned the treatment of women and their prescribed place and role in society in her magnum opus, The Book of the City of Ladies. Though it was heavily criticized at the time, the poet Martin Le Franc, unlike most other men, championed her cause and helped spread awareness of the importance of women as active and multifaceted citizens. The programme is in praise of womankind, with works from the Ars Subtilior, compositions by Baude Cordier and Soulage, and anonymous compositions alongside works by Binchois and Dufay. Catalina Vicens and Servir Antico present this exquisite concert, which was recorded in the medieval chapel of Notre-Dame- à-la-rose in Belgium.

Marrying music with history, this tribute to the Hospitalières is a journey across time, weaving words from the archives of the first Hospitalières with the reflections of today’s nuns on the state of the world. The concert offers insight into the heroic lives of these women and the music from their religious establishments in 17th century France and Quebec. With the magnificent female singers of the Studio de Musique Ancienne de Montréal and the French actress Célia Laguitton as Sister Marie-Ange, this musical and theatrical creation honours the lives of those who took part in the foundation of Montréal and of the Hôtel-Dieu, where the concert was filmed.

Instrument inventor, music and dance instructor, celebrated player of Scots tunes on the violoncello, founder of a secret musical society, music arranger and publisher, and Chamber Composer to the King, James Oswald (1710-1769) is a fascinating character. Although his music is rarely heard on the concert stage today, it remains influential elsewhere. His chamber music on this program comes from his two collections of 48 Airs for the Seasons, multi-movement pieces named after plants and grouped into sets celebrating each of the four seasons. We have the great pleasure of sharing Oswald’s music with you from the grounds of Vancouver’s own 55-acre garden oasis, VanDusen Botanical Gardens. Two of Ballet BC’s dancers, Jordan Lang and Justin Rapaport, choreograph and dance several of the airs, with poetry interspersed between the airs.

Baritone Jonathon Adams and Les Voix Humaines viol consort recorded this moving performance at the McCord Museum in Montréal. The Métis songs, which survived in the memories of travelers from Quebec to the Prairies, are in Michif, French and English. The earliest songs can be traced back to their European origins, with melodies that are remarkably similar to airs de cour, a form popular in 17th century France, that were often accompanied by viols. We hope you’ll enjoy hearing these beautiful songs, often plaintive, of the Rossignol Sauvage, a voice of the Métis people.

June is Indigenous Heritage Month and as part of Jonathon Adams’ summer residency, EMV will be hosting a panel discussion with four Indigenous leaders in the arts: mezzo-soprano Marion Newman, writer and academic Dylan Robinson, multi-disciplinary artist and theatre founder Reneltta Arluk, and baritone Jonathon Adams.

Join Isaiah Bell, one of Canada’s most promising young tenors, on a musical exploration of the self. This program transcends eras with music that includes traditional folk songs, works by Handel and Schubert, as well as Isaiah’s own philosophically minded poetry. This thoughtfully crafted concert examines our relationship with nature, our own personhood, and the existential questions in between. Alexander Weimann accompanies on EMV’s 1875 Broadwood piano and Elder harpsichord. 

Ensemble Constantinople performs the music of Dimitrie Cantemir (1673-1723), a Moldavian prince, scholar, composer, and diplomat. A fascinating historical figure, Cantemir’s compositions are considered part of the Ottoman music repertoire. More influential though are the over 350 instrumental works that he preserved in his book, Edvar-i Musiki, using his own innovative notation system, which remains as one of the most important collections of 16th and 17th century Ottoman and Middle Eastern music.