In the early seventeenth century, Italians relished adventurous nuance, extreme dynamics and the chance to demonstrate skilful playing. Pallade Musica expresses these qualities passionately  in this programme of Italian chamber music for violin, cello, and basso continuo. Works of Castello, Stradella, Marini, Scarlatti and other composers are featured. GRAND PRIZE WINNER, 2012 EARLY MUSIC AMERICA BAROQUE PERFORMANCE […]

Il Mantovano Hebreo: Italian madrigals and Hebrew prayers by Salomone Rossi Salomone Rossi, a member of the Jewish community in Mantua, was one of the greatest Italian composers of the seventeenth century. The vocal ensemble Profeti della Quinta was the winner of the prestigious biennial York Early Music International Young Artists Competition in 2011; this […]

Boston Early Music Festival: Vocal, Chamber and Dance Ensembles (USA) Paul O’Dette and Stephen Stubbs, Musical Directors Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s La Descente d’Orphée aux Enfers and La Couronne de Fleurs For the first time ever, Victoria audiences will have the opportunity to experience a semi-staged baroque opera, performed in a period style by one of the world’s leading […]

EMSI is proud to present the Victoria debut of Harry Van der Kamp, the legendary Dutch bass with more than 120 CDs to his credit. The equally distinguished Monica Huggett leads performances of cantatas and instrumental music by Johann Christoph Bach, Bruhns, Rosemüller, Tunder and Biber. “Huggett’s imaginative approach and lively response to detail are […]

Doors open at 6:45 pm. Pre-concert talk at 7:10 pm. La Nef (Montreal) Michael Slattery, tenor (USA) Dowland in Dublin Could the great John Dowland have been born in Ireland? What if his songs and dances had been performed in a Dublin pub? A speculative premise, perhaps, but the musical results are delightful. This remarkable young […]

Doors open at 6:45 pm. Pre-concert talk at 7:10 pm. Pacific MusicWorks (Seattle) Stephen Stubbs, lute and direction (Seattle) Monteverdi Madrigals: Songs of Love and War Many of America’s leading early music specialists, under the direction of lutenist Stephen Stubbs, join forces for a performance of selections from Book Seven and Eight of Monteverdi’s Madrigals. Vocal soloists include Catherine Webster and Aaron […]

Doors open at 6:45 pm. Pre-concert talk at 7:10 pm. Accademia Hermans (Italy) Vivaldi and his Imitators In the eighteenth century, Antonio’s Vivaldi’s works were consistently fresh, wildly popular—and widely imitated. Sometimes it is unclear when a work is by the Venetian master or one of his admirers. You be the judge. Vivaldi’s followers included […]

Doors open at 6:45 pm. Pre-concert talk at 7:10 pm. The Northwest Baroque Masterworks Project An exciting new collaboration with the EMSI, Early Music Vancouver, Pacific Baroque Orchestra and Pacific MusicWorks Stephen Stubbs, music director (Seattle) Teresa Wakim, soprano Krisztina Szabó, mezzo-soprano Zachary Finkelstein, tenor Sumner Thompson, baritone Bach: Christmas Oratorio Celebrate the holiday season with a collection […]

Doors open at 2:30pm. There is no pre-concert talk for this concert. The Northwest Baroque Masterworks Project Part of an extraordinary week exploring the music of G.F. Handel with Pacific Baroque Festival's The Justly Celebrated Mr. Handel February 19-22, 2015. Pacific Baroque Orchestra (Vancouver) Vancouver Cantata Singers Alexander Weimann music director Handel: Theodora A collaboration with […]

Doors open at 6:45 pm. Pre-concert talk at 7:10 pm. Kristian Bezuidenhout, fortepiano (South Africa/UK) Mozart Piano Sonatas Bezuidenhout’s interpretation of Mozart has caused a sensation at the world’s major early music festivals. Come and find out why. The reigning superstar of 
the fortepiano brings to the keyboard masterpieces 
of Mozart an unprecedented flair and […]

Doors open at 6:45 pm. Pre-concert talk at 7:10 pm. Jeffrey Thompson, tenor La Rêveuse (France) Henry Lawes: Songs of an English Cavalier Henry Lawes lived through the troubled times of 17th-century England. He was acknowledged in his day as one of the finest composers for the voice. With his extended vocal ranges, his expressive […]

Doors open at 6:45 pm. Pre-concert talk at 7:10 pm. VocaMe Germany Sigrid Hausen, mezzo-soprano Sarah M. Newman, soprano; Petra Noskaiová, mezzo-soprano Gerlinde Sämann, soprano Michael Popp, music direction and instruments (vielle, santur, harp, monochord, oud, dilruba, iklig, bells) Hildegard of Bingen: Songs and Visions Watch VocaMe on YouTube Visit the VocaMe website Learn about […]

Doors open at 6:45 pm. Pre-concert talk at 7:10 pm. Byron Schenkman & Friends (Seattle) Handel and Haydn: Harpsichord Concerti Byron Schenkman, one of EMSI’s favourite performers and known for his effervescent virtuosity, returns to Victoria with a programme of keyboard masterpieces by Handel (op. 4, no. 2 and no. 4) and Haydn (H.XVIII:3). “Byron […]

Doors open at 6:45 pm. Pre-concert talk at 7:10 pm. Ensemble Caprice (Montreal) Chaconne! Voices of Eternity In the baroque era, chaconnes, with their steady harmonic progressions, were associated with the concept of eternity. Composers from across Europe, including Bach, Falconieri, Merula, Vitali, and Rebel used the chaconne form to transcend the boundaries of time. […]

Doors open at 6:45 pm. Please note: there is no pre-concert talk for this event. Dialogos (France) Swithun! Music from Winchester c.1000 Dialogos explores early polyphony from Winchester (10th–11th centuries) in a semi-staged performance with English subtitles. Through the voice of Wulfstan the Cantor, we follow the path of a penitent man haunted by his […]

SPECIAL EVENT Doors open at 6:45 pm. Pre-concert talk at 7:10 pm. Early Music Vancouver Vocal and Instrumental Ensemble, La Rose des Vents Cornetto and Sackbut Ensemble (Montreal), St. Christopher Singers (Victoria), David Fallis, music director (Toronto) Soloists: Jolle Greenleaf, soprano, Jane Long, soprano, Emma Hannan, soprano, Danielle Sampson, soprano, Laura Pudwell, alto, Liz Hamel, […]

Doors open at 6:45 pm. Pre-concert talk at 7:10 pm. Victoria Baroque Players Steven Devine, harpsichord and direction (UK) Dramatic Baroque Suites with Four Horns Spectacular large scale baroque suites by Handel, Telemann and Rameau are performed by one of the largest baroque orchestras ever to appear on a Victoria stage. Directed by Steven Devine, […]

Doors open at 6:45 pm. Pre-concert talk at 7:10 pm. Piffaro, The Renaissance Band (Philadelphia) Back Before Bach Music familiar to Bach’s father, Johann Ambrosius Bach, a Stadtpfeifer in the town band of Arnstadt, performed on shawms, recorders, sackbuts and bagpipes by one of today’s most respected Renaissance wind ensembles. Works by Isaac, Luther, Praetorius, […]

SPECIAL EVENT Doors open at 6:45 pm. Pre-concert talk at 7:10 pm. Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra (Toronto) House of Dreams A magical journey to the meeting places of baroque art and music—five European homes where exquisite works by Bach, Handel, Vivaldi and Marais were played against a backdrop of paintings by Vermeer, Canaletto, and Watteau. Includes […]

SPECIAL EVENT Doors open at 6:45 pm. Pre-concert talk at 7:10 pm. Collegium Vocale Gent (Belgium) Philippe Herreweghe, director Tears of St. Peter: 21 Sacred Madrigals Founded in 1970, Collegium Vocale Gent is one of the most venerable and celebrated ensembles in the world of early music. They have traveled the world to ecstatic acclaim […]