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2023 Early Music Vancouver Summer Festival
Early Music Vancouver, © Early Music Vancouver
The 2023 Early Music Vancouver Summer Festival (previously named Vancouver Bach Festival) will take place July 27 to August 5 at various venues in Vancouver.
The theme of the 2023 Early Music Vancouver Summer Festival is WOMENinSIGHT – celebrating women composers, librettists, and performers of the past and present. WOMENinSIGHT explores the impact and the role of women throughout history via a musical lens.
The 2023 Early Music Vancouver Summer Festival brings together more than 60 artists from around the globe and includes one special event and 11 concerts, including one by donation concert at St. James Community Square. Three of the 11 festival concerts are dedicated to the music of J.S. Bach:
The Well-Tempered Organ | July 29 at 2:00 p.m. | West Vancouver United Church
The ‘well temperaments’ of Bach’s day were tuning systems carefully designed to let keyboardists play in every key without re-tuning their instruments. Inspired by Bach’s famous Well-Tempered Clavier, Alexander Weimann (organ) has assembled a new collection of pieces in all twenty-four major and minor keys. This concert showcases the extraordinary range of Bach’s organ writing, seen through the lens of Mr. Weimann’s profound artistry and musical knowledge.
The Bach Parodies | August 2 at 1:00 p.m. | Christ Church Cathedral
While the concept of ‘parody’ is today associated with humor and satire, in the context of music composition, it refers to the creative process of recycling musical material. This program pays homage to Bach, showcasing an eclectic variety of Bach-inspired musical parodies. Conceived by Jessica Korotkin (cello and director) and featuring cellist Diederik van Dijk, this concert includes works by J.S. Bach, Mozart, Gounod, and Korotkin.
A Woman’s Voice in Bach’s World: Christiane Mariane von Ziegler | August 5 at 7:30 p.m. | Christ Church Cathedral
Christiane Mariane von Ziegler was anything but anonymous in the city of Leipzig. One of Germany’s preeminent poets, she was also one of its most outspoken advocates for women’s access to a public voice. From 1725 to 1740, she vigorously defended women’s rights to improved education and literary enterprise. She was also one of J.S. Bach’s esteemed librettists and a rare woman’s voice in the Lutheran liturgy. This programme celebrates the two Leipzig artists’ short but fruitful creative partnership. Directed by Alexander Weimann and featuring Krisztina Szabo (mezzo-soprano), Philippe Gagné (tenor), Sumner Thompson (baritone), and Pacific Baroque Orchestra.
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