Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra (TORONTO) Elisa Citterio violin and direction Doors open at 6:45 pm. Pre-concert talk at 7:10 pm. This all-Bach multimedia creation combines text, music, and stunning projected video and images to explore the world of the artisans—papermakers, violin carvers, string spinners, and performers—who helped J.S. Bach realise his musical genius. In the tradition […]

Corina Marti harpsichord (SWITZERLAND) Doors open at 2:30 pm.  Harpsichord virtuoso Corina Marti performs preludes, fantasias, and dances from the manuscripts of Johannes of Lublin and Johannes Fischer Morungensis: fresh, lively music that is still danceable half a millennium after its composition. Don’t miss the once in a lifetime opportunity to hear this repertoire.

Chiaroscuro String Quartet (EUROPE) Doors open at 6:45 pm. Pre-concert talk at 7:10 pm. Chiaroscuro Quartet brings together some of the finest period string players from across Europe: France, Spain, Sweden, and Russia. Savour some of the most revered of all string quartets as you have never heard them before: Haydn’s Op. 33 No. 2, […]

Choir of Clare College Cambridge (UK) Doors open at 6:45 pm. Pre-concert talk at 7:10 pm. Thirty-two voices-strong, the fresh young vocalists of the Choir of Clare College give a complete performance of Tomas Luis de Victoria’s 1605 Requiem – widely considered one of the last great masterworks of the Renaissance – interwoven with English […]

Constantinople (MONTREAL) Marco Beasley tenor (ITALY) Kiya Tabassian setar and direction Doors open at 6:45 pm. Pre-concert talk at 7:10 pm. Italian, Ottoman, and Persian songs are interwoven in Majmua, an early-17th century manuscript from Constantinople compiled by the Polish musician and orientalist Albert Bobowski (Ali Ufki). Bobowski revels in shifting among languages and styles. […]

The Oct 5 Imaginario concert has unfortunately been cancelled due to last minute illness of artist. EMSI apologizes for any inconvenience this has caused to our patrons. Please contact: info@EarlyMusicSocietyoftheIslands.ca for further information   Armonía Concertada (SPAIN) María Cristina Kiehr soprano Ariel Abramovich vihuela de mano Two of Europe’s leading performers of Early Music showcase […]

Haydn, Beethoven, von Weber Eric Hoeprich classical clarinet London Haydn Quartet (UK) The programme features Franz Joseph Haydn’s beloved “Lark” Quartet, Beethoven’s early Quartet in F Major, Op. 18, No. 1, and Carl Maria von Weber’s Clarinet Quintet in B♭ Major, Op. 34. A rare opportunity to hear the world’s authority on classical clarinet together […]

Accademia Hermans (ITALY) Fabio Ciofini harpsichord and direction In Arcangelo Corelli, the Baroque style reached its apotheosis. Although his music was revered throughout Europe long after its composition, it was was rooted in a time and place: Rome at the outset of 18thC. Corelli’s original music and several anonymous arrangements of it are combined with […]

El Mundo (CALIFORNIA) Richard Savino guitar and direction Joyous, celebratory, with a distinctive Latin twist. The music abounds with infectious rhythms, sweet melodies, and the lively spirit of the Christmas season in Latin America. In the spotlight are 18thC pieces from the Cathedral of Guatemala City.

Chloe Kim, baroque violin Martin Bonham viola da gamba Michael Jarvis harpsichord A star is born! Victoria native Chloe Kim, a student at the Juilliard School of Music in New York, is already an emerging star in the firmament of early music. She returns home with a programme of masterpieces by J.S. Bach and his […]

The Baltimore Consort (USA) One of EMSI’s favourite ensembles performs a brand-new programme of music based on Shakespeare’s plays. Danielle Svonavec sings some of the greatest hits from the Bard’s songbook including It Was a Lover and His Lass, Where the Bee Sucks, and Full Fathom Five. Dances and consort music round out the programme.

Concerto Köln (GERMANY) Shunske Sato violin One of the great Baroque orchestras of Europe presents the first ever Victoria performance on period instruments of all the movements of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. This is a rare chance to hear a world class orchestra perform one of the pinnacles of the Baroque repertoire. Added gems are rarely […]

As the B.C. Government has placed a ban on all gatherings of 250 or more, EMSI will be cancelling the Saturday March 14 concert, Vivaldi in Paris. A decision on the final concert of the season on April 18, Plaisirs de la Chambre, will be made at a later date. Holders of pre-sold tickets will […]

Emma Hannan soprano Victoria Baroque (PACIFIC NORTHWEST) Soile Stratkauskas flute and direction A sensual selection of music from the salons of Versailles including music by Boismortier, Hotteterre, and Marais. Victoria Baroque is joined by Emma Hanna, one of the brightest young Canadian Early Music sopranos, and two recent and stellar additions to the West Coast […]

Music for the Pause Program No. 1 – July 3 7:30PM – Violin Virtuosi Chloe Kim, Christi Meyers, Elyssa Lefurgey-Smith, Kathryn Wiebe Telemann Concertos No 1 & 3 for four violins Guillemain Sonata for two violins in A minor Leclair Sonata for two violins in C major Guignon Les Sauvages Plus an interview with Portland Baroque Orchestra's director, violinist Monica Huggett.   […]

Music for the Pause Program No. 2 – July 10, 7:30PM – Virtuoses de Paris Soile Stratkauskas, Jeanne Lamon, Christina Mahler, Christina Hutten Marin Marais Pieces en Trio Suite No.1 Telemann Paris Quartet Sonata No.2 Hotteterre Brunette ‘Vous qui faite votre modelle’ for solo flute Leclair Deuxième Récréation de Musique Plus an interview with baroque violinist Kati Debretzeni.   Watch the performance […]

This is our first “real concert” since the month of March! It will be set in the beautiful garden of Dr. Lloyd Howard and organized in accordance with provincial sanitary recommendations. This concert will be on on Sunday, 12 July at 2:30 p.m. The Society is grateful to Dr. Howard for the use of his […]

Music for the Pause Program No. 3 – July 17, 7:30 PM – Mad Italians Chloe Kim, Mark McDonald Corelli Sonata in C Major Frescobaldi Toccata 1 for solo keyboard Vivaldi Violin Sonata in G minor Scarlatti Sonatas for Keyboard K23 & 24 Corelli “Follia” Plus an interview with director of Historical Performance at Juilliard, Robert Mealy.   Watch the performance on […]

Music for the Pause Program No. 4 – July 24, 7:30 PM – Birds, Beasts, and Fantasies Soile Stratkauskas, Elyssa Lefurgey-Smith, & Christina Mahler Telemann Fantasia for solo flute No.1 Telemann Gulliver’s Suite for two violins Hotteterre Air de M. De Bousset & Echos for solo flute Rebel ‘Bird Suite’ from Les Élémens Biber Sonata Representativa Plus an interview with Tafelmusik Director […]

Music for the Pause Program No. 5 – July 31, 7:30 PM – Stylus Fantasticus Jeanne Lamon, Chloe Kim, Christina Mahler & Christina Hutton Schmelzer​ Sonate a 2 in F Major For 2 Violins and Continuo Buxtehude​ Sonata III Op. 2, BuxWV 261 in G Minor Schmelzer​ Sonata Quarta in D Major Buxtehude​ Sonata a 3 in […]

Both performances now fully booked! EMSI is pleased to present, in cooperation with the Ancient Music Society of Victoria, a second garden concert. The theme is outdoor music of the Renaissance, and features A Great Noyse, performing on sackbuts, shawms and dulcian, the loud consort, or Alta Capella. The concert will also feature early German […]

Music for the Pause Program No. 6 – August 7, 7:30 PM – Mozart and Friends Christi Myers & Mieka Michaux Hoffmeister​ Duo for Violin and Viola, Op. 13, No. 6 in D Major Bruni​ Duo for Violin and Viola, Op. 4, No. 1 in B Flat Major Hoffmeister​ Duo for Violin and Viola, Op. 13, […]

Music for the Pause Program No. 7 – August 14, 7:30 PM – French Baroque Rivals Tyson Doknjas, Chloe Kim & Kathryn Wiebe Guignon​ Les Folies D’Espagne Op. 9 Nicola Canzano​ Selections from Fourth Assortment in G minor, Les Goûts-Redivisés Guillemain​ Sonata No. 2, Op. 4 in D Minor for Two Violins Leclair​ Sonata No. […]

Music for the Pause Program No. 8 – August 21, 7:30 PM – German Winds Soile Stratkauskas, Kathryn Wiebe, Katrina Russell & Christina Hutten Fasch​ Quartet in D Bach​ Trio in F transcribed for flute, violin and bassoon BWV 1040 Schaffrath​ Trio for violin, bassoon and basso continuo in Bb Bach ​Andante​ ​from organ trio BWV […]