Pacific Baroque Festival 2023: Music for Distracted Times

Entry for this Concert is at the Victoria Conservatory of Music Entrance - 900 Johnson Street.

Music for Distracted Times

The 2023 Pacific Baroque Music focuses on the music of 17th and 18th century England. With an ensemble of two violins, two viols, lute, harpsichord and organ, along with the wonderful soprano voice of Arwen Myers, we explore this rich period in music in which the political tumult of the early 1600s gave way to London becoming the largest city in Europe and a centre of artistic expression. Charles II’s reign saw the composition of the first English operas, the opening of the first public concert halls, and an influx of talented musicians from abroad which continued into the 18th century.

Thursday morning -Alix Goolden Performance Hall - 11am/ Doors 10:30am - Concert Entry at 900 Johnson St.

The King’s Fiddler

The restoration of the monarchy in 1660 allowed music-making to flourish and drew composer - performers to write virtuosic music for their instruments. The German violinist Thomas Baltzar settled in London, and in 1661 entered Charles II's service as leader of the king's private music ensemble, the “Four and Twenty Fiddlers”. A later arrival was the Italian Nicola Matteis, who published several volumes of his ravishing ‘Ayres for the Violin’ in the 1670s and 1680s.

Performers:

Marc Destrube, violin and artistic director

Natalie Mackie, viola da gamba

Marco Vitale, harpsichord and organ

 

 Festival passes (limited amount) are available here:

 https://www.showpass.com/pacific-baroque-festival-pass-2023

 Choral Evensong: Sunday, February 19, 2023, Christ Church Cathedral - (Not ticketed)

The Pacific Baroque Festival concludes with a Choral Evensong Service at Christ Church Cathedral, featuring the music of Henry Purcell.