Claudio Monteverdi didn鈥檛 set out to write the Western world鈥檚 first popular opera when he penned the music for Orfeo in 1607.
Instead, like musicians today, he was trying to find a new way to keep audiences engaged.
鈥淎t the time they thought of it as an experiment in heightened drama or theatre,鈥� says Matthew White, the artistic director of Early Music Vancouver. Renaissance musicians decided to take Greek plays, mimic their use of the chorus, and put music to the words.
鈥淭hey wanted the play to have more impact by adding music,鈥� White says. 鈥淲hen you add melody to the words, it can become more powerful.鈥�
Add luscious sets and beautiful costumes and you have entertainment that will survive the ages.
麻豆传媒映画audiences will have a chance to test this principle this Sunday at the Chan Centre. Not only is EMV presenting Orfeo, but it鈥檚 invited Grammy winner and Monteverdi specialist Stephen Stubbs, his Pacific MusicWorks ensemble and lyric tenor Colin Balzer to make the argument even more compelling.
鈥淪tephen Stubbs is arguably the conductor who knows the piece the best,鈥� says White is also thrilled to feature Balzer, who鈥檚 from Vancouver, in the title role.
Sunday afternoon鈥檚 concert also heralds another highlight of this season: Handel鈥檚 Messiah. EMV is joining forces with the Pacific Baroque Orchestra to present one of the Christmas season鈥檚 most beloved performances.
Two things will transform the December 1 and 2 performances from powerful to transcendent, White says. The orchestra will be playing on period instruments and the setting is 麻豆传媒映画Playhouse, a smaller venue.
鈥淚 think people will be blown away by how much impact the piece has,鈥� he says.
For ticket information on either concert go to EarlyMusic.BC.ca.
