Join EMV’s Artistic Director Matthew White and PBO’s Artistic Director Alexander Weimann for an open rehearsal by PBO’s musicians, followed by an interactive discussion of plans for future regional collaborations. Admission to this Culture Days event is free.
“Farewell laughter, farewell singing, farewell delights of the world!” wrote Luigi Rossi. In the 17th century, Roman composers were surrounded by the remains of one of the greatest civilizations the world has ever known, so it’s no surprise that their texts explore the passing of Time and the ephemeral nature of physical beauty and pleasure. These rich and intense musical settings are passionate, dramatic arguments for the value of enjoying life’s fleeting pleasures. Music by Carissimi, Rossi, Marazzoli, and more.
After last summer’s groundbreaking performance of Israel in Egypt and the critical acclaim lavished on 2012’s Orlando, we’ve selected another extraordinary work from Handel’s oeuvre for our 2014 Festival centrepiece. Touring to the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival before coming to Vancouver – a first for EMV – this production will reach greater heights of artistic expression than ever before. Beauty and Pleasure abound in Handel’s first oratorio, the source of his ongoing genius.
Our Festival this year includes the first instance of an exciting new initiative. We’ve created a Mentorship Orchestra Project, in which students of exceptional ability receive free tuition and housing, and one-on-one coaching from some of the most prominent instrumentalists in their field. The culmination: after five days of intensive work on Haydn’s early symphonies – “Le Matin,” “Le Midi,” and “Le Soir” – these up-and-coming artists will perform with the faculty and other renowned professional artists in this extraordinary Festival concert.
From the time of Christianity’s introduction into Europe until the end of the first millennium, apocalyptic images of the End of Days and the Last Judgement were widespread. Pagan and Christian sources share many characteristics: the terrifying words of female oracles, the massing of armies from below and above, the breakdown of material reality, and the final destruction of the world by fire.
Two venerated composers, two eminent soloists, and two distinguished instruments. This shared recital explores the blurring of the lines between lute and harpsichord repertoire in the eighteenth century, when lutenists imitated harpsichord music – and vice versa. Our exploration begins in Italy, continues to France, and finishes in Germany with a tête-à-tête between two compositional masters: Sylvius Leopold Weiss and Johann Sebastian Bach.
Hot on the heels of a performance by a grand master of early music, we bring you a concert featuring a rising star. Renowned soprano Ellen Hargis curates this recital of Rameau cantatas and instrumental works, performing the famous Orphée cantata and lending her guidance and expertise in this elegant music to young mezzo-soprano Sylvia Szadovszki. Recently seen as Nancy in Vancouver Opera’s Albert Herring, Sylvia joins Ellen and a team of skilled performers of early music in her first appearance with Early Music Vancouver.
Our opening concert for the 2014 Vancouver Early Music Festival is a rare recital by world-renowned keyboardist Colin Tilney. Turning 80 this year, Colin is a giant in early music: one of the first musicians to bring historically-informed performance to the general concertgoer’s awareness, and one of the few still actively performing today. He’ll perform Quinque by the South African lesbian composer Priaulx Rainier, Bach’s 6th English Suite, and elegant works by 18th-century French clavecinistes.
