September 2023 to April 2024
(Vancouver, B.C.) – The Tallis Scholars (UK), countertenor Reginald Mobley, the Pacific Baroque Orchestra with baritone Tyler Duncan, Dhrupad master Uday Bhawalkar (India), Profetti Della Quinta, Le Consort (France), Ensemble Caprice (Canada), fortepianist Mélisande McNabney (Canada), and rubab virtuoso Homayoun Sakhi (Afghanistan/USA) are just a few of the many musical luminaries that are appearing in Early Music Vancouver’s (EMV) star-studded 54th season – Luminescence.
“EMV’s 54th season explores the theme of light in works by Handel, Bach and Monteverdi, as well as the ancient music from North India, Persia and Afghanistan,” says EMV’s Artistic and Executive Director Suzie LeBlanc C.M. “Inspired by Apollo, the Olympian god of light, music and poetry, we wish to celebrate everything that shines, from the sun and moon to the luminous artists of today’s early music. We are delighted to present renowned artists from Canada, the US, Europe, India, and the Middle East.”
The season opens on Friday, September 15, 2023 with Handel’s dramatic cantata Apollo e Dafne, a well-known story from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, and closes with a journey from the darkness associated with Lent to the hope and joy of Easter in the Christian calendar.
The 2023-24 season also includes a mini winter festival – LUMEN – that presents three concerts in three days from January 12 to 14, 2024. EMV created this weekend festival to bring light to the darker January days. The 2024 “Lumen Festival” explores the intersections between early music, contemporary works, jazz, and improvisation. On January 12, renowned countertenor Reginald Mobley returns to Vancouver following his fabulous performance for EMV last season. The Luminous Hour features the music of English Baroque master Henry Purcell alongside compositions by jazz greats Duke Ellington, and George Gershwin as well as a new commission by contemporary composer Edward Top for Chinese and Baroque instruments. A Prayer for Peace on January 13 stars Alexander Weimann in a breathtaking improvisation on the organ of West Vancouver United Church and cellist Elinor Frey closes LUMEN with a performance of Bach Cello Suites.
The 2023-24 Concert Season includes 14 concerts offered singly or by subscription. Subscriptions provide purchasers with discounts of 25% off the single ticket price. Regular single tickets range from $20 to $78.50. People ages 35 and under receive a discount of 35%.
Details on the individual concerts as well as pricing for both single tickets and subscription packages are available on EMV’s website. Single tickets and subscriptions go on sale on Tuesday, August 15, 2023.
THE CONCERTS
Apollo e Dafne
Artists: Jacqueline Woodley, soprano; Tyler Duncan, baritone, The Pacific Baroque Orchestra directed by Alexander Weimann
Programme: works by Handel and J.S. Bach
Date & Location: September 15, 2023 | 7:30 p.m. | Christ Church Cathedral
Silver Apples of the Moon – Mélisande McNabney (presented in collaboration with The Chopin Society)
Artists: Mélisande McNabney, fortepiano
Programme: works by C.P.E. Bach, Mozart, Koželuch, Beethoven, McNabney
Date & Location: Friday, September 29, 2023 | 7.30 p.m. | Christ Church Cathedral
Golden Apples of the Sun – Le Poème Harmonique
Artists: Le Poème Harmonique, directed by Vincent Dumestre; Anais Bertrand, mezzo-soprano
Programme: works by J-B Lully, M. de Lalande, F. Cavalli
Date & Location: Friday, October 20, 2023 | 7:30 p.m. | Christ Church Cathedral
Stars of the Italian Renaissance: Monteverdi & Rossi
Artist: Profeti della Quinta, directed by Elam Rotem
Programme: works by C. Monteverdi, S. Rossi
Date & Location: Thursday, November 9, 2023 | 7.30 p.m. | Christ Church Cathedral
The Golden Road
Artists: Homayoun Sakhi, rubab lute; Shashank Subramaniam, bamboo flute; Hamin Honari, percussion; Kiya Tabassian, setar and music director
Programme: traditional music from India, Afghanistan and Iran
Date & Location: Saturday, November 18, 2023 | 7:30 p.m. | Kay Meek Arts Centre, W. Vancouver
Dhrupad Fantasia: Take me out of the darkness into the light
Artists: Uday Bhawalkar, dhrupad-vocal; Pratap Awad, pakhawaj; The Hathor Consort directed by Romina Lischka, dhrupad-vocal, bass viol
Programme: music of the 16th century Mughal and English courts
Date & Location: Tuesday, November 28, 2023 | 7:30 p.m. | The Sanctuary at the Unitarian Church of Vancouver
The Messiah
Artists: Sherezade Panthaki, soprano; Allyson McHardy, alto; Nicholas Scott, tenor; Jonathan Adams, bass; The Vancouver Chamber Choir; The Pacific Baroque Orchestra conducted by Alexander Weimann
Programme: Handel’s Messiah oratorio
Date & Location: Friday, December 8, 2023 | 7 p.m. | The Orpheum Theatre
LUMEN Festival
The ‘Luminous Hour’ with Reginald Mobley and the PBO
Artists: Reginald Mobley, countertenor; The Pacific Baroque Orchestra under the direction of Alexander Weimann
Programme: works by Purcell, Ellington, Gershwin, Sharman
Date & Location: Friday, January 12, 2024 | 7:30 p.m. | The Vancouver Playhouse
A Prayer for Peace
Artist: Alexander Weimann, organ
Programme: improvised music for the organ
Date & Location: Saturday, January 13, 2024 | 3 p.m. | West Vancouver United Church
Bach Cello Suites
Artist: Elinor Frey, cello
Programme: Works by J.S. Bach
Dates & Location: Sunday, January 14, 2024 | 4 p.m. | The Sanctuary at the Unitarian Church of Vancouver
Ensemble Mirabilia: L’Eterno Ritorno
Artists: Myriam Leblanc, soprano; Grégoire Jeay, flute; Chloe Meyers, violin; Mélisande Corriveau, bass viol; Antoine Malette-Chénier, baroque harp; Alexander Weimann, keyboard
Programme: works by Vivaldi, Monteverdi, Legranzi, Merula, Rossi, Grégoire Jeay
Date & Location: Friday, February 16, 2024 | 7:30 p.m. | Christ Church Cathedral
Le Consort: Hidden Gems of the Baroque
Artists: Le Consort co-directed by Theotime Langlois de Swarte, violin and Justin Taylor, harpsichord
Programme: works by Dandrieu, Merula, Guignon, Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre plus others
Date & Location: Thursday, March 2, 2024 | 7:30 p.m. | Christ Church Cathedral
Handel’s Eternal Source of Light Divine
Artists: Ensemble Caprice
Programme: works by Handel, Heinichen
Date & Location: Sunday, March 24th, 2024 | 3 p.m. | Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, UBC
The Tallis Scholars: Darkness to Light
Artists: The Tallis Scholars directed by Peter Philipps
Programme: works by D. Lang, W. Byrd, R. White, N. Muhly
Date & Location: Sunday, April 21, 2024 | 3 p.m. | Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, UBC
This concert season, Early Music Vancouver illuminates various musical traditions and celebrates a shared enlightenment through music that can be enjoyed by all.
About Early Music Vancouver (EMV):
Early Music Vancouver’s concerts offer a platform for cross-cultural dialogue and exploration of diverse perspectives and relationships with the past. Under the leadership of Artistic/Executive Director, and internationally acclaimed soprano, Suzie LeBlanc, C.M., EMV presents a packed performance calendar with 40+ live performances and digital concerts a year featuring some of the most renowned artists in the early music genre drawn from all parts of the globe.
In addition, Early Music Vancouver presents an annual summer Festival (including an artist-in-residence and an emerging artist component), produces Intimate Conversations and Notations (a series of informative behind-the-scenes series and podcast) and presents online courses. EMV also offers a Baroque Orchestra Mentorship Programme with UBC, plus a BC Scholarship Programme for professional-track music students or active professional musicians seeking to develop skills in early music performance.
Early Music Vancouver (EMV) has been a much-loved, and vital contributor to Vancouver’s cultural scene for more than 50 years. Live performances take place at venues such as Christ Church Cathedral, The Chan Centre, St. Andrew’s Wesley United Church and The Kay Meek Centre (West Vancouver).
Website: www.earlymusic.bc.ca
Facebook: www.facebook.com/earlymusicvancouver
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Twitter: www.twitter.com/earlymusicvan