Past Events

A century before Bach, music in northern Germany came under the influence of a new and powerful musical language in the Italian madrigal. Johann Schein, who held J.S. Bach’s position at the Thomas Kirche in Leipzig exactly 100 years before him, successfully adapted and converted this new form to fit the German language.

For this program, two of Europe’s most accomplished young Baroque vocalists, Terry Wey and Jenny Hogstrom, perform virtuosic cantatas and fiery love duets by Handel from his early Italian period as well as a duet by one of his mentors, Agostino Stefani.

Pianist Byron Shenkman and cellist Michael Unterman present a recital based on composers from the Mendelssohn circle in Leipzig, each of whom was born Jewish but converted to Christianity to conform to societal norms.

This recital offers two of Bach’s most iconic works for keyboard, the “French Overture” and the “Italian Concerto,” played by internationally acclaimed harpsichordist Alexander Weimann. Swiss baritone Stephan MacLeod joins Mr. Weimann for two virtuosic cantatas in the Italian style.

Acclaimed European ensemble Cinquecento focuses on the emotionally charged and harmonically rich Latin Church music of William Byrd, his teacher Thomas Tallis, and Christopher Tye during the height of the English Reformation – a time of conflict and religious upheaval.

Matt Haimovitz’s continuously-evolving and intense engagement with the Bach Cello Suites reaches a new zenith with Overtures to Bach, new commissions that anticipate, reflect and transform each of the Cello Suites.

Canada’s very own superstar soprano, Karina Gauvin, has impressed audiences and critics the world over with her luscious timbre, profound musicality and wide vocal range. The Globe and Mail calls her “one of the dream sopranos of our time.” A regular collaborator with conductors as diverse as Dutoit, Nagano, Nezet Seguin, Bichkov, Norrington, Hogwood, Rilling, Labadie, Rousset, Curtis, and Haim, Karina is one of the most respected sopranos of her generation and a national treasure.