Early Music Vancouver (EMV) is marking a monumental milestone this summer with its 55th annual festival, BACH & MOZART: In Endless Ascent. Running from July 26 to August 8, 2025, this summer celebration will unfold across beloved Vancouver venues, offering a moving exploration of music, nature, and the heights of human expression. With a carefully curated blend of timeless masterworks and contemporary Canadian compositions, EMV invites families, music lovers, and curious newcomers alike to experience the connection between sound and spirit.
What to Expect at the 2025 EMV Summer Festival
This year’s theme embraces the natural world and our collective quest for transcendence. The program features the revered works of Johann Sebastian Bach and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart alongside modern pieces by Canadian composers Dorothy Chang, Edward Top, Lan Tung, Gregory Borton, and Grégoire Jeay.
EMV’s Artistic and Executive Director Suzie LeBlanc, C.M., explains:
“Just as trees reach for the sky, we, as part of nature’s ecosystem, reach towards the highest expression of ourselves, and music—the language of the heart and the emotions—helps us up on our journey.”
Highlights of BACH & MOZART: In Endless Ascent
Audiences can look forward to a wide range of performances, from the grandeur of Mozart’s Requiem to the meditative fusion of Chinese and Baroque instruments in Silk Strings. Several concerts feature prominent artists and ensembles, including:
- Alexander Weimann, renowned keyboardist and Pacific Baroque Orchestra director, performing his inventive True North Variations: O Canada Reimagined.
- Chloe Kim, the acclaimed Vancouver-based violinist, joining forces with Montreal musicians for Bach’s Musical Offering.
- Les Jardins Chorégraphiques, a Montréal-based Baroque dance company, presenting The Enchanted Forest in collaboration with the PBO and Indigenous artists.
The festival also continues its dedication to developing emerging talent through EMV: The Next Generation, spotlighting the Gallo Chamber Players in Bach and the Heavens.
Magali Simard-Galdès Named 2025 Artist-in-Residence
This year’s Artist-in-Residence is Canadian soprano Magali Simard-Galdès, a versatile performer and advocate for sustainability in the arts. In addition to several key performances, Simard-Galdès will moderate a special roundtable discussion on Sustainability and the Arts, bridging her expertise in environmental issues and culture.
Full 2025 Festival Schedule at a Glance
- July 26: Baroque in Motion on Granville Island – Free outdoor performances
- July 27: True North Variations: O Canada Reimagined – The Annex
- July 29: Silk Strings: A Chinese-Baroque Musical Dialogue – Christ Church Cathedral
- July 30: Sustainability in the Arts Roundtable – Vancouver Civic Theatre Salons
- July 31: The Enchanted Forest – Vancouver Playhouse
- August 1: Bach and the Heavens (1pm) and Forgotten Harmonies: Schubert & Friends (7:30pm) – Christ Church Cathedral
- August 2: De Juer et de Baler / To Play and Dance – Christ Church Cathedral
- August 5: Bach Cantatas: The Ascent – Christ Church Cathedral
- August 7: Figments and Fragments: Marenzio to Mozart (1pm) and Bach’s Musical Offering (7:30pm) – Christ Church Cathedral
- August 8: Mozart’s Requiem – Chan Centre for the Performing Arts
Family-Friendly, Accessible & Affordable
EMV is committed to making its concerts accessible to everyone. Tickets start at just $25, with free admission for Indigenous persons and youth ages 7–17, and $15 student tickets. Outdoor concerts like Baroque in Motion on Granville Island are completely free to attend, making this a wonderful opportunity for families to enjoy classical music in a welcoming environment.
Festival Venues
Concerts take place at some of Vancouver’s most iconic and acoustically stunning venues, including:
- Christ Church Cathedral (690 Burrard St.)
- Chan Centre for the Performing Arts (6265 Crescent Rd.)
- Vancouver Playhouse (600 Hamilton St.)
- The Annex (823 Seymour St.)
- Chain & Forge Plaza on Granville Island
Why You Should Experience EMV This Summer
Whether you’re a classical music enthusiast, an advocate for sustainability in the arts, or a parent looking for meaningful cultural experiences to share with your family, BACH & MOZART: In Endless Ascent offers something profound. This is more than a concert series—it’s a journey through history, harmony, and humanity.
To explore the full lineup and secure tickets for this unmissable musical journey, visit: earlymusic.bc.ca