Christopher Bagan. Photo credit: Jan Gates

The Early Music Festival returns for MusicFest Vancouver, offering a series of programming in venues around the city. Between August 5 and 17, these concerts will offer classic music lovers the chance to enjoy world-renowned musicians performing an amazing selection of works.

Here’s a lineup of what’s on offer this year. More information on MusicFest is available online.

Quicksilver
[Quicksilver]

The Early Moderns: Extravagant and Inventive Music of the 17th Century
Date: Sunday, August 5, 8 pm; Pre-concert introduction 7:15 pm
Venue: Roy Barnett Recital Hall, 6361 Memorial Road, UBC campus

Quicksilver ensemble for seventeenth-century music:
Robert Mealy and Julie Andrijeski, directors, violins
Greg Ingles, trombone
Dominic Teresi, dulcian
Charles Weaver, theorbo
featuring Christopher Bagan, harpsichord, chamber organ

Quicksilver is dedicated to exploring the rich chamber music repertoire of the early modern period. This is their Canadian debut.

Harry van der Kamp
[Harry van der Kamp]

Sweelinck & Gesualdo: Masters of the Madrigal from North and South
Date: Wednesday, August 8, 8 pm; Pre-concert introduction 7:15 pm
Venue: Roy Barnett Recital Hall, 6361 Memorial Road, UBC campus

Gesualdo Consort Amsterdam:
Stephanie Petitlaurent and Nele Gramss, sopranos
Marnix De Cat, alto
Marcel Beekman and Julian Podger, tenors
Harry van der Kamp, bass, artistic direction
with Alexander Weimann, harpsichord

The Gesualdo Consort is a Dutch ensemble known for its flawless technique and extraordinarily rich expressiveness. They are the perfect conduit for works by Sweelinck and Gesualdo, spanning the transition from the Renaissance to the Baroque. They’ll make their first appearance in Vancouver this summer with an “immaculate” program of madrigals (The Guardian), paired with masterful keyboard performances by Alexander Weimann.

Gabrieli’s Venice: A Polychoral Vespers
Date: Friday, August 10, 8 pm; Pre-concert introduction 7:15 pm
Venue: Christ Church Cathedral, 690 Burrard at West Georgia Street
Alexander Weimann, musical director

Les Voix Baroques (Montreal):
Hélène Brunet, soprano
Laura Pudwell, alto
Joel Estrada Gonzalez and Sumner Thompson, tenors
Nathaniel Watson, baritone
Harry van der Kamp, bass

and La Rose des Vents (Montreal):
Chloe Meyers and Chantal Rémillard, violins
Natalie Mackie, violone
Kiri Tollaksen and Matthew Jennejohn, cornettos
Catherine Motuz, Trevor Dix, and Peter Christensen, trombones
Sylvain Bergeron, lute
Alexander Weimann, organ, harpsichord

This summer, Les Voix Baroques perform Giovanni Gabrieli’s compositions for separated choirs, strings, and brass, which greatly influenced the development of western classical music. Les Voix Baroques and La Rose des Vents have combined to create a compelling homage to the composer.

Join Early Music Vancouver in commemorating the 400th anniversary of Gabrieli’s death, celebrating his life and work in the best possible way: with a remarkable concert featuring extraordinary singers and 10 leading early music instrumentalists. Presented in cooperation with MusicFest Vancouver.

The Legacy of the Baroque: Concertos & Chamber Music
Date: Sunday, August 12, 8 pm; Pre-concert introduction 7:15 pm
Venue: Roy Barnett Recital Hall, 6361 Memorial Road, UBC campus

Marc Destrubé and Julie Andrijeski, baroque violins
Wilbert Hazelzet, traverso
Jaap ter Linden & Tulio Rondón, viola da gamba, baroque cello
Jacques Ogg, harpsichord

In this exceptional programme, six acclaimed musicians (from Early Music Vancouver’s Baroque Instrumental Program faculty) come together for a dynamic performance of richly textured chamber music from the French baroque. Works by Charpentier, Guillemain, Rameau, and more will make for an elegant concert. Presented in cooperation with MusicFest Vancouver.

Karina Gauvin
[Karina Gauvin]

G.F. Handel: “Orlando”
Date: Wednesday, August 15, 7:30 pm
Venue: Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at UBC, 6265 Crescent Road, Vancouver
Tickets: $63, $48, $32 ($3 discount for students and seniors, including HST)
Alexander Weimann, Musical Director

Tim Mead, countertenor/Orlando
Karina Gauvin, soprano/Angelica
Allyson McHardy, alto/Medoro
Amanda Forsythe, soprano/Dorinda
Nathan Berg, bass/Zoroastro

This year’s festival centerpiece is a stunning drama of love and war, madness and magic. Early Music Vancouver presents a thrilling opera-in-concert performance featuring Vancouver’s own Pacific Baroque Orchestra and an all-star cast of early music singers. Premiered in 1733, “Orlando” was composed at the height of Handel’s operatic powers, and this performance is the perfect complement to his genius. Musically remarkable, emotionally gripping, and performed with consummate skill: it’s the summer music event you won’t want to miss.

Please note: Tickets for this performance are only available at the Chan Centre ticket office or via Ticketmaster (online or by phone: 1.855.985.ARTS). Presented in cooperation with MusicFest Vancouver.

Love’s Lament: Italian Solo Cantatas circa 1700
Date: Friday, August 17, 8 pm; Pre-concert introduction 7:15 pm
Venue: Roy Barnett Recital Hall, 6361 Memorial Road, UBC campus

Harry van der Kamp, bass
Alexander Weimann, harpsichord, chamber organ

The festival will close with an intimate recital by Harry van der Kamp, internationally known as one of the most important bass singers in early music, and Alexander Weimann. Their expertise and deep knowledge of this period will culminate in a program of rarely heard solo cantatas by Porpora, Handel, Scarlatti, and others. Presented in cooperation with MusicFest Vancouver.

Tickets for all Festival concerts, with the exception of “Orlando“, are $35 (students and seniors $32) All prices include HST and may be ordered online, by phone (604.732.1610), or in person at Sikora’s Classical Records.

Rush seats for students with valid ID are $10 (at the door only) and available an hour before the start of each performance, subject to availability. These concerts are included in the Bring a Youth for Free program. To participate in the program, contact the Early Music Vancouver office at the phone number above.

All concerts presented in cooperation with the UBC School of Music.

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