Due to take the stage are groups and musicians such as Sequentia Ensemble for Mediæval Music under the direction of Benjamin Bagby, Ellen Hargis, La Cetra, Constantinople and the Académie Baroque of Montreal. Highlights include productions of Jephthe by Carissimi and Pygmalion by Rameau. Along with the festival, organizers have arranged an intense programme of courses.

The first of them, The Codex Calixtinus, will anchor the medieval program from 21 July to 1 August. Subtitled “A Gateway to European Musical Practice, 1140-1270”, it will be taught by Benjamin Bagby and the Sequentia Ensemble for Mediæval Music, based in Paris. Next comes a program entitled “The Apotheosis of the French Baroque”. It will run from 28 July to 8 August and be co-directed by Marc Destrubé and Jacques Ogg, and boast such figures as Bruce Haynes, Matthew Jennejohn, Wilbert Hazelzet, Jaap ter Linden and Ton Amir; all of them will be accompanied by Spanish choreographer Ana Yepes as a professor of baroque dance.

The next course, “The Complete Singer”, is scheduled for 4-15 August and will be co-directed by Ray Nurse and Margret Gries, with participation by Ellen Hargis, Steven Adby and Doreen Oke. The course is designed to be more of a workshop than an audition. Early Music Vancouver has devised other activities, such as an advanced course in baroque dance from 28 July to 1 August with Ana Yepes. She will also teach a beginners course in historic dance on 2 August.

Also planned is a course on maintenance and tuning of clavichords, taught by luthier Ton Amir on 2 August; and a series of lectures and talks throughout the festival. For more information go to www.earlymusic.bc.ca