Early Music Vancouver: BACH TIES THE KNOT – MPMG Media Relations Campaigns

PRESS RELEASE

Early Music Vancouver Celebrates the Season of Love Through Song with
– Bach Ties the Knot –

Part of EMV’s 2025 LUMEN Festival, the concert features the world premiere of a new Fictive Wedding Cantata, crafted from Bach’s works by acclaimed German soprano Dorothee Mields

Vancouver, BC – Early Music Vancouver (EMV) is delighted to present Bach Ties the Knot, a captivating exploration of J.S. Bach’s wedding-related works on February 15, 2025 at 3pm, at St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church. Part of EMV’s 2025 LUMEN Festival, this concert will feature renowned German soprano Dorothee Mields alongside EMV’s in-house orchestra, Pacific Baroque Orchestra (PBO) under the direction of Alexander Weimann.

“We’re delighted to present a concert that celebrates the timeless themes of love and union through some of Bach’s most exquisite music,” says Suzie LeBlanc, Artistic and Executive Director of EMV. “Dorothee Mields’ artistry and deep connection to this repertoire promise an unforgettable experience, bringing to life the emotional depth and brilliance of these works.”

EMV has long enjoyed a close collaboration with Mields, whose spellbinding performances of Bach Cantatas and other early music selections during the 2019/20 season have previously captivated Vancouver audiences. Described as “one of the finest, most genteel singers of our time” (Jens F. Laurson), Mields will perform Bach’s beloved Cantata BWV 202 “Weichet nur,” possibly composed for Bach’s own wedding to Anna Magdalena, alongside the world premiere of her newly crafted Fictive Wedding Cantata, “O großes Hochzeitsfest!”.

Inspired by Bach’s technique of Parodie – reworking his own compositions – Mields has curated a cantata from a selection of Bach’s sinfonias, recitatives, arias, and one chorale. This artfully constructed work expands on the limited number of Bach cantatas for solo soprano, while simultaneously shining a spotlight on rarely performed yet exceptionally beautiful pieces from the composer’s vast and rich collection.

Dorothee Mields is one of the leading interpreters of 17th- and 18th-century music and is beloved by audiences and critics alike for her unique timbre and moving interpretations. She appears regularly with the Collegium Vocale Gent, Netherlands Bach Society, L’Orfeo Barockorchester, Freiburger Barockorchester, RIAS Kammerchor, Bach Collegium Japan, Orchestra of the 18th Century, Lautten Compagney Berlin, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra Toronto, The English Concert and Klangforum Wien under conductors such as Stefan Asbury, Beat Furrer, Michi Gaigg, Paul Goodwin, Philippe Herreweghe, Emilio Pomàrico, Hans-Christoph Rademann, Andreas Spering, Masaaki Suzuki and Jos van Veldhoven.

Bach Ties the Knot is one of three unique concerts featured in EMV’s LUMEN Festival, which takes place February 14–16, 2025. The other two concerts in the festival include Draw on Sweet Night with UK ensemble VOCES8 on February 14, 2025 and Huehuetenango: Music from 16th Century Guatemala, featuring tenor Jonatan Alvarado and vihuelist Ariel Abramovich on February 16, 2025.

EMV’s presentation of Bach Ties the Knot will also feature a pre-concert chat at 2:30pm at St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church with Dorothee Mields and Alexander Weimann hosted by Suzie LeBlanc.

For information and tickets, visit earlymusic.bc.ca

With the generous support of Global BC.

About Early Music Vancouver (earlymusic.bc.ca)
Early Music Vancouver’s concerts offer a platform for cross-cultural dialogue and exploration of diverse perspectives and relationships with the past. Under the leadership of Artistic/Executive Director, and internationally acclaimed soprano, Suzie LeBlanc, C.M., EMV presents a packed performance calendar with 40+ live performances and digital concerts a year featuring some of the most renowned artists in the early music genre drawn from all parts of the globe.

LISTING INFORMATION	EMV presents Bach Ties the Knot
Date:	February 15, 2025 at 3pm
Address:	St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church 1022 Nelson St, Vancouver BC
Ticket Prices:	From $25 to $79 Free tickets for Indigenous persons $10 Student Rush tickets at the door Ticket policies available here
Ticket Link:	earlymusic.bc.ca
Website:	earlymusic.bc.ca