“In my end is my beginning” are the famous last words of Mary, Queen of Scots. Many historians and artists have romanticized her life, including the great composer Robert Schumann. Other scholars have criticized her countless failures and political weakness. So, what do we make of Mary’s story?
Opera by the Glass presents a recital that studies Mary’s life and martyrdom, looking closely at her relationship with her “sister” Queen, Elizabeth I. In a time of male dominance, these two Queens emerged in solidarity. Elizabeth and her cousin Mary were deeply connected through their letters, though they never met in person. Together with @duo_oriana , we explore the complexities of these Tudor Queens, from loving protection to utter betrayal, by tracing the history of the Queens before them, looking closely at the life of Elizabeth’s mother, Anne Boleyn.
Don’t miss this beautiful and haunting programme that weaves together bel canto opera arias with the Renaissance songs of the era. Through the music of Dowland, we bring forth the melancholy melodies that would have echoed through the Royal halls. Advanced Sommelier @nabilahrawji pairs three wine offerings to enliven our senses and deepen our connection to each musical set.
Featuring:
Soprano @lauren_estey_jovanovic
Soprano @sinead.elle.white
Lutenist @jonathanstuchbery
Pianist @jovanovic84
🎟️ tickets $85 - available via the link in bio or QR code
📍The CMC, 20 Saint Joseph Street @cmcnational
We return with an updated programme for A Toast to the Tudors on May 14th, 6-8pm at the Canadian Music Centre, 20 St. Joseph Street. Tickets available in the link in bio via simplievents.
The legacies of these iconic women—from the spirited Mary Queen of Scots to the steadfast Anne Boleyn—have haunted our collective psyche for centuries. Opera by the Glass invites you to move beyond the history books and into their private lives through the Tudor-inspired masterpieces of Schumann, Donizetti, and Libby Larsen.
In this immersive journey, we navigate the sunlit childhoods, visceral trials, and tragic ends of these legendary Queens. Weaving together music inspired by their own personal letters and final words, Pianist Ivan Estey Jovanovic and Soprano Lauren Estey Jovanovic share the stage with our featured guests, Duo Oriana.
A Toronto-based ensemble of international calibre, Duo Oriana features Soprano Sinéad White and Lutenist Jonathan Stuchbery. Specialists in song traditions that span centuries, they bring an authentic, haunting intimacy to the Renaissance repertoire. Fresh off a celebrated UK tour—including a performance at Windsor Castle—they arrive with high acclaim, described by Oxford Daily Info as the gold standard of their craft:
“You don’t get better bards than this.”
Duo Oriana brings history to life, interweaving our romantic and modern repertoire with Dowland songs of the Tudor era as well as Anne Boleyn’s famous lament. To further immerse us in history, Advanced Sommelier Nabilah Rawji will pour a curated flight of three wines. Each glass holds a moment in time - from Mary’s bittersweet farewell to the French court to the rustic elegance of Anne’s beloved Hever Castle.
A Special Note of Thanks:
We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to David Powell for his generous sponsorship of Duo Oriana for this performance. To inquire about sponsorship for our artists and wine curation, please contact [email protected].
@duo_oriana@sinead.elle.white@jonathanstuchbery@lauren_estey_jovanovic@jovanovic84@nabilahrawji@cmcnational
Thank you all for making this Saturday's concert so special; we had an amazing time performing for all of you that sold out the space! Wow.
@barczablog had this lovely thing to say about the concert, which we are grateful for.
If you missed out, be sure to sign up to our mailing list to stay informed about our encore performance and other upcoming concerts!
Early music truly lives in Ontario, and John Dowland's legacy continues to inspire throughout the ages. 🎶❤️
What a privilege to celebrate 400 years of John Dowland last night with @diapente_vocalquintet and an enthusiastic full house. Thanks to my amazing friends @alexandercappellazzo@martinpgomes@flowerjane1@peskiertenor and Felix Déak for bringing this concert to life. This program has been a labour of love, and I can't wait to bring it back for more festivities in November 👀
#dowland #renaissancemusic #torontoartscene
~ SOLD OUT! ~
Your enthusiasm is so wonderful to see; with a week to go we have already sold every ticket possible for Time's Eldest Son, whilst still remaining faithful to the fire code!
We are so excited to bring John Dowland's music to life this Saturday and to all who are coming, we'll see you there.
Missed this concert? Do not fret!
The Diapente Renaissance Vocal Quintet is preparing its next season as we speak, and there are still three more concerts in the Apocryphonia Concert Series this season. Be sure to follow both groups, and join our combined mailing list to stay up to date with future goings-on.
We're bringing a friend for this February's John Dowland concert!
Felix Deak will be joining us on the viol as we play and sing our hearts out ❤️
John Dowland's rise to stardom was filled with drama, melancholy, and yearning; we're so excited to bring his music to life in this 400th year anniversary!
See you at Heliconian Hall on February 28th; space is limited so get your seat before the doors close 🚪
@diapente_vocalquintet is celebrating John Dowland in February with our program "Time's Eldest Son". This is one I've been working on for a while now, and I can't wait to share the life and music of this most famous songwriter!
See you there 🎶
Tickets link in bio.
#renaissance #earlymusic #lute #songwriters #johndowland
Another Nowell?! No way!
To everyone who came to our Book of Carols 3 concert, thank you for making it so magical.
One Nowell was conspicuously absent... however we sang it at our Book of Carols 2 concert so here it is!
From all of us in the Diapente Renaissance Vocal Quintet, Happy Holidays & have a Happy New Year 🎆🎇🎆🎇
Hi friends! Diapente Renaissance Vocal Quintet’s Christmas concert is coming up fast— this Friday at 7:30pm at the beautiful St.Thomas’ Church 383 Huron Street. 🎄⭐️It’s a wonderfully varied program of french and english carols, some serene and reflective, and some rousing and percussive!! It’s going to be lovely and festive and we’d love to share this great music with you all, so please come down and support our group. ❤️ We can’t wait to see you there!! Noë, Noë!
Tickets at eventbrite or at the door! https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-diapente-book-of-carols-3-tickets-1501663398649
Wrapping up a short and beautiful visit back to the places that land that nurtured me growing up. Three performances of 'Bards of Bloor Street' with @duo_oriana featuring my musical settings of poems by @martinpgomes and Melissa Davidson for @earlymusicvancouver and @howe_sound_performing_arts
Paired with a week long visit with my oldest friend. Feeling inspired and refreshed!
#westcoast #squamish #vancouver #earlymusic #lutenist #howesound #nature #musician
🎼 Please join us tonight for our next Early Music Vancouver event with Duo Oriana 🎶
Duo Oriana’s latest endeavour, the Toronto Book of Ayres, sets four texts commissioned from contemporary poets Martin Gomes and Melissa Davidson to music by lutenist Jonathan Stuchbery. Together, these four songs form the beginning of a 21st-century collection of music for lute and voice. In this lecture recital, Duo Oriana will dive into the reasoning, process, and experience of using a historical arrangement of instruments as a vessel for words from today. The singer and lutenist engage with composers of the Renaissance and early Baroque periods whose music is featured alongside the Book of Ayres, often choosing texts that directly relate to the issues and personalities of their day. This new set of songs asks how we, as present-day artists, share in these traditions and ideas, why we choose to tell stories, and what drives us to share those stories through the medium of (early) music.
📍 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm, Coach House, Green College
🔗 See our link in bio for more information.
#GreenCollegeUBC #EarlyMusicVancouver
We're excited to share our upcoming events for the last week of November!
For more details, check out our public events calendar or subscribe to the Green List for the latest updates.
#GreenCollegeUBC #PublicProgramming
