Pacific Baroque Orchestra

Home to the Pacific Baroque Orchestra, Early Music Vancouver (EMV) is a non-profit performing arts organization specializing in classical music from yesteryear.

Part of the local music scene for over 50 years, Early Music Vancouver hosts concerts that showcase music from the Medieval to Baroque periods as well as from the 19th Century. At its concerts, you can expect to hear music originating from between 500 AD and the 21st Century, including lots from between the 1500s and 1800s. The concerts are beautiful, entertaining and educational.

EMV has a number of performances planned for the spring of 2024, including the Tallis Scholars: Darkness to Light concert at the Chan Centre at UBC on April 21st. (Note: This concert is almost all sold out. When we last checked, only choral loft seats were still available. The Tallis Scholars have been called the “rockstars of Renaissance vocal music” by The New York Times! They are a professional British early music vocal ensemble specializing in a cappella sacred vocal music. They’ll be a treat to hear! Hopefully you’re not too late to get your tickets!)

To learn more about the concerts and the organization behind them, either keep reading or visit the earlymusic.bc.ca website.

Early Music Vancouver Concert Series

Early Music Vancouver had its first season back in 1970. Since then it has provided regular concerts with up to 36 or so per year. The term “early music” generally refers to classical music from between around 500 and 1800 AD. Much of the music performed at EMV concerts is European in origin. Some though, is from other cultures, including from Asia and the Middle East.

Celebrating its 54th season in 2024, Early Music Vancouver showcases classical music from around the world from between 100 and 1,500 years ago. Musicians in its concerts often play the same types of instruments used when the music was first composed, including restored fortepianos. It’s like going back in time to hear music as it was originally played!

EMV concerts take place throughout the year, from January until December. Performances often include pre-concert talks, or commentary by the conductor after specific pieces, so you can learn about the music as well as enjoy it.

The main season each year runs from September until April or May. There are concerts in the summer too though, including, some years, during the Early Music Vancouver Summer Festival (which used to be called the Vancouver Bach Festival).

Early Music Vancouver uses a number of venues throughout the city for its performances. They include the Chan Centre at UBC, the Orpheum, the Kay Meek Centre, Christ Church Cathedral and other prestigious places.

EMV Concerts in Early 2024

Early Music Vancouver concerts in early 2024 include three LUMEN Festival concerts in January. The final four concerts of the 2023/2024 LUMINESCENCE Season were in February, March and April. See below for details about each of them.

Bach Cello Suites No.’s 1, 2, & 6 (LUMEN Festival)

On Friday, January 12th, 2024, at the Vancouver Playhouse at 600 Hamilton Street.
This event included a pre-concert chat with cellist Elinor Frey. It lasted for about 95 minutes including a 20-minute intermission.
This concert featured famous music composed by the German composer Johann Sebastian Bach from around the early 1720s.
Click Bach Cello Suites No.’s 1, 2, & 6 for details

A Prayer for Peace (LUMEN Festival)

On Saturday, January 13th, 2024, at West Vancouver United Church at 2062 Esquimalt Avenue in West Vancouver.
This 60-minute concert was with organist Alexander Weimann who played an improvised solo organ recital reminiscent of church organ masses from the French Baroque period. At the concert, soprano Suzie LeBlanc sang the chants of the Missa Cunctipotens genitor Deu.
Click Alexander Weimann Organ Concert for more details.

Bach Cello Suites (LUMEN Festival)

On Sunday, January 14th, 2024, at the Vancouver Unitarian Church at 949 West 49th Avenue in Vancouver.
Almost the same as the event as two days earlier, this 70-minute concert was with cellist Elinor Frey. It also featured Bach’s Cello Suites No.’s 1, 2, & 6.
Click Bach Cello Suites to learn more.

Ensemble Mirabilia: L’Eterno Ritorno

On Friday, February 16th, 2024, at Christ Church Cathedral at 690 Burrard Street in downtown Vancouver.
Performing at this concert were soprano Myriam Leblanc, flutist Grégoire Jeay, violinist Chloe Meyers, bassist and violinist Mélisande Corriveau, Baroque harpist Antoine Malette-Chénier, and keyboardist Alexander Weimann.
The event included a pre-concert chat with Myriam Leblanc, Grégoire Jeay and Sylvia L’Ecuyer.
Click Ensemble Mirabilia: L’Eterno Ritorno to learn more.

Le Consort: Hidden Gems of the Baroque

On Saturday, March 2nd, 2024, at Christ Church Cathedral at 690 Burrard Street in downtown Vancouver.
This concert was with Le Consort which is a baroque chamber ensemble that brought its repertoire of 17th and 18th century music to Canada for the first time.
This concert included a pre-concert chat with members of Le Consort.
To learn more, click Le Consort: Hidden Gems of the Baroque.

Handel: Hallelujah & Trumpets

On Sunday, March 24th, 2024 (which was Palm Sunday for folks who go to church). The concert took place at the Chan Centre of Performing Arts at 6265 Crescent Road at the University of British Columbia‘s main campus.
Conducted by Matthias Maute, this 95-minute concert was with Ensemble Caprice and Ensemble ArtChoral. It featured music by German-British composer George Frideric Handel including Eternal Source of Light Divine. Also in the programme was Magnificat by J.D. Heinichen.
With this performance there was a pre-concert chat with conductor Matthias Maute. There was also a 20-minute intermission.
For more information, click Handel: Hallelujah & Trumpets.

Tallis Scholars: Darkness to Light

On Sunday, April 21st, 2024, at the Chan Centre at 6265 Crescent Road at the main UBC campus.
This performance is with The Tallis Scholars and Director Peter Phillips.
Music at the concert includes works by Robert White, Robert Parsons and William Byrd from the 1500s as well as modern composers like David Lang, Nico Muhly and Eric Whitacre who were born in the mid to late 20th Century.
For tickets and more details, click Tallis Scholars: Darkness to Light.