Upcoming Events

With the Focus Choir of University and College Singers Chloe Meyers & Elyssa Lefurgey-Smith, violins Alexander Weimann & Natalie Mackie, continuo Monteverdi and Schütz must have been soulmates. Monteverdi grew up in the rolling landscapes of Catholic Tuscany, while Schütz was in Protestant central Germany, but their musical forms and ideals are uncannily similar. Their gift for setting texts to music and enhancing the words made everything sound natural. Buxtehude, Mendelssohn and Brahms were also masters of breathing life into…

Birds, the animals that sing, have throughout history captured the imagination of composers. But what other beasts have inspired composers? This concert, with a blend of the old and new, presents beasts regular and strange in a range of styles. In this bizarre bestiary, no holds are barred. Also included is the premiere of a new arrangement commissioned from American composer Paul John Rudoi.   Adriano Banchieri • Contrapunto bestiale alla mente Orlando Gibbons • The Silver Swan Philippe Bodin…

Owen McCausland, Evangelist Pacific Baroque Orchestra Three festive cantatas from Bach's Christmas Oratorio (I, III and VI) with the Pacific Baroque Orchestra on period instruments — what could be a better way to open the festive season? With soloists predominantly from within the choir and the softer tone of the period instruments, this aims to be a leaner and lighter reading of this great classic. Johann Sebastian Bach • Weihnachtsoratorium, BWV 248

This Christmas journey through time and space incorporates reflections of musical traditions mainly from Northern Europe. It is a mixture of voices, of styles and languages — a polyphony of musical voices. The music ranges from deep calm to joyous dance and from philosophical depth to childlike naiveté, much like the message of this season itself.   Otto Olsson • Guds Son är född Leontovych/Wilhousky • Carol of the Bells Ēriks Ešenvalds • Northern Lights Oliver Tarny • The Waiting…

With Jon Washburn, conductor Our Founder and Conductor Emeritus presents choral favourites, but with a slightly misleading concert title. There is music by Byrd and "three Bs" — Brahms, Britten, Bernstein — but there is nothing naughty going on! There is sacred music, plus delightful music about nature. And we'll present the world premiere of a commission from Latvian composer Ēriks Ešenvalds.   William Byrd • Ave verum corpus Johannes Brahms • Warum ist das Licht gegeben, Op. 74, No.…

With Stephen Smith, piano Kari Turunen & Jon Washburn, conductors Six Symposium Conductors Kari Turunen and Jon Washburn join forces to lead the 40th annual Conductors' Symposium in Vancouver. This concert culminates the week-long event as they and six Symposium conductors from around the world lead the choir in a delicious concoction of famous madrigals and motets, folksongs and spirituals, prayers and partsongs. Pianist Stephen Smith and the choir's many fine soloists get ample opportunity to shine, too!   Thomas…

With the Elmer Iseler Singers Two of Canada's premier ensembles take the stage together — an event not to be missed! The broad theme is the sea and the Vancouver Chamber Choir will present two new works on that theme, with both choirs joining forces in a magical work that has all too long gone unnoted: Toivo Kuula's Meren virsi (The Hymn of the Sea).   Alex Freeman • A Wilderness of Sea Toivo Kuula • Meren virsi Charles van…

Zach Finkelstein, Evangelist Pacific Baroque Orchestra The longevity and success of Bach's passions are based on their deep grasp of humanity. The range of emotions and the psychological acuity of Bach make the story arresting time after time. The St. John Passion is the more dramatic and concise of the two Bach passions, which are an important part of the cultural inheritance of mankind. While Bach's works are easy to find in recordings, the intensity of this music needs to…