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.

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

2024 Early Music Vancouver Summer Festival

The EMV Summer Music Festival is one of the biggest events put on by Early Music Vancouver. The 2024 festival runs from July 25th to August 8th and features a dozen concerts. They’re held at at various venues around Vancouver. The theme for this year’s festival is “Bach Untamed”.

To learn more about this great concert series click EMV Summer Music Festival. For listings of some free concerts to check out this time of year see our article on Metro Vancouver Summer Outdoor Concerts.

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 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 Late 2024

The EMV 2024/25 season begins in September. There are six concerts in the first half of the season from September to December. See below for details about each of them.

Goldberg Variations

On Friday, September 20th, 2024, at Christ Church Cathedral at 690 Burrard Street, Vancouver.
This concert features the famous Goldberg Variations composed by the German composer Johann Sebastian Bach from around the early 1740s.
There is also a performance of this show in Victoria the following day.
Click Goldberg Variations for details

DanteNova: Music from Dante’s Commedia

On Friday, October 25th, 2024, at Christ Church Cathedral at 690 Burrard Street, Vancouver.
This concert is with La Fonte Musica, a group that specializes in the early classics of the Middle Ages and Renaissance periods.
The event includes a pre-concert chat with Michele Pasotti.
Click Dante’s Commedia for more details.

Form & Formless: Bahauddin Dagar in Concert

On Saturday, November 23rd, 2024, at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at 6265 Crescent Road in Vancouver.
Renowned Indian musician Bahauddin Dagar plays his first-ever concert in Vancouver using the rudra veena, an ancient string instrument from India.
Click Bauhaddin Dagar to learn more.

Iestyn Davies & Fretwork: Lamento

On Tuesday, November 26th, 2024, at Christ Church Cathedral at 690 Burrard Street, Vancouver.
Performing at this concert is British singer Iestyn Davies, accompanied by viol consort Fretwork. They perform music from a variety of 17th century German composers.
Click Iestyn Davies & Fretwork to learn more.

Blessed Echoes: Elizabethan Lute Songs

On Thursday, December 5th, 2024, at Christ Church Cathedral at 690 Burrard Street, Vancouver.
This concert features some lesser known works of the English Elizabethan and Jacobean periods, created by both composers and poets.
To learn more, click Blessed Echoes.

Festive Cantatas: Bach & Zelenka

On Sunday, December 22nd, 2024 at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at 6265 Crescent Road in Vancouver.
The annual EMV Christmas show features music by J.S. Bach and Czech composer J.D. Zelenka. The program includes BWV 191, Bach’s only church cantata that was set to a Latin text.
There is also a performance of this show in Victoria the day before this Vancouver performance.
For more information, click Festive Cantatas.