Many people do not realize that iconic works like his Gloria and Magnificat, which are now usually sung by mixed voice choirs, were originally written for his own all-female ensemble singing even the lowest parts. Join beloved violinist Monica Huggett as she leads readings of these joyful works as they were originally heard, performed entirely by women.
Join the PBO, Vancouver Cantata Singers and conductor Alexander Weimann for EMV’s very first presentation of Handel’s greatest known work in the intimate atmosphere of the Vancouver Playhouse.
Join the PBO, Vancouver Cantata Singers and conductor Alexander Weimann for EMV’s very first presentation of Handel’s greatest known work in the intimate atmosphere of White Rock Baptist Church.
Paul Luchkow and Michael Jarvis join internationally-acclaimed bass viol/viola da gambist Sam Stadlen of Fretwork (London, UK) in a programme exploring this astonishingly inventive repertoire: the place where musical experimentation and unfettered imagination intersect. Music by Buxtehude, Biber, Louis Couperin, Marais, Telemann, and Rameau.
Monteverdi’s Orfeo is the first unqualified masterpiece of operatic history. Full of dramatic word painting, narrative urgency, rich orchestration of exotic instruments as well as exquisite writing for vocal ensemble, it feels as fresh and full of relevance as it must have in the early 17th century.
For a little less than a century, the Christian world had its eyes set on Avignon. the wealth, splendor and power of the French popes attracted kings, princes and the greatest artists of the century. Diabolus in Musica’s programme is a journey among the great manuscripts born in the Avignon sphere and includes many works that have not been sung since the 14th century.
Stephen Stubbs leads an all-star ensemble of singers and instrumentalists, featuring soprano Amanda Forsythe and Vancouver’s own Colin Balzer in a programme of sensual Baroque duets of love and passion.
As part of Culture Days, and in anticipation of EMV’s October performance of Monteverdi’s opera Orfeo at the Chan Centre, EMV will host an open-rehearsal followed by a discussion with music director Stephen Stubbs on his experience with performing this pivotal work over the years.
The St. John Passion by J.S. Bach is absolutely riveting and is the closest the great composer ever came to writing an opera. Join the Pacific Baroque Orchestra, the Vancouver Cantata Singers and a cast of international Bach specialists for this dramatic reading of one of the greatest works in the classical repertoire.
As the Spanish empire colonized Latin America, music became an important tool for evangelism and a key part of the quest to convert and ‘civilize’ the indigenous populations. Both immigrant and native composers celebrated and explored the great mysteries of faith in spirited and vivacious works that can continue to speak to us today.
The unique collection of trio sonatas for organ BWV 525-530 is largely Bach’s reworking of some of his favourite instrumental compositions. Victoria Baroque Players chamber ensemble will play these sublime sonatas re-transcribed for varied combinations of instruments.
In the wake of the musical revolution around the year 1600, composers began to set religious texts using the expressive ‘avant garde’ musical language we now call Baroque.
