Jonathan Stuchbery

The legacies of history’s most 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, Soprano Lauren Estey Jovanovic and your host Stephen Carr share the stage with our featured guests, Duo Oriana.

BATTUTE E PIZZICATO : Celebrating the 17th-Century Guitar

An intriguing program of music from 17th-century Spain and Italy, for voices and instruments in groupings large and small, featuring duos for guitar and harp or hurdy gurdy, solo songs with diverse accompanying instruments, ensemble songs, and dance pieces like the chacona, jacaras and canario making inventive use of the colourful sounds of the guitar, harp, recorders, viola da gamba, percussion and hurdy gurdy.

In works by Foscarini, Montesardo, Moulinié, Marini, Landi, Luis de Briçeño, Kapsberger, Sanz, Juan de Arañes and others, the program explores the development and dissemination of the ‘chitarra espagñola’ through the 17th century, tracing its Spanish roots, its popularity and development in Italy, influences from Rome, and its continued musical importance in Spain at the end of the century.

Bringing this richly evocative music to life are The Musicians of the Egg, back in the musical saddle after their enthusiastically-received return to concertizing in January of this year. They are Michele DeBoer, soprano; Laura Pudwell, mezzo; Cory Knight, tenor; Olivier Laquerre, baritone; Jonathan Stuchbery, guitar; Alison Melville, recorders; Ben Grossman, percussion and hurdy gurdy, with special guests Felix Deák, viola da gamba, and Julia Seager Scott, triple harp.

Considering Matthew Shepard is a genre-defying oratorio by composer Craig Hella Johnson. The work offers a deeply human perspective on the tragedy of Matthew Shepard’s murder. It explores many different emotions, including shock, sorrow, rage, tenderness, and ultimately, hope. Through a wide range of musical styles and texts, including poetry, journalistic accounts, sacred writings, and reflections from Shepard’s parents, the work asks listeners to consider not only what was lost, but what kind of world we are responsible for building in its wake.

The concert will be presented by Modern Sound Collective’s youth and young adult choirs, Datsuzoku and Concreamus, a combined choir of over 100 voices. They will be joined by a professional instrumental ensemble consisting of guitar, percussion, piano, clarinet, and strings, and professional vocal soloists.

Considering Matthew Shepard is a genre-defying oratorio by composer Craig Hella Johnson. The work offers a deeply human perspective on the tragedy of Matthew Shepard’s murder. It explores many different emotions, including shock, sorrow, rage, tenderness, and ultimately, hope. Through a wide range of musical styles and texts, including poetry, journalistic accounts, sacred writings, and reflections from Shepard’s parents, the work asks listeners to consider not only what was lost, but what kind of world we are responsible for building in its wake.

The concert will be presented by Modern Sound Collective’s youth and young adult choirs, Datsuzoku and Concreamus, a combined choir of over 100 voices. They will be joined by a professional instrumental ensemble consisting of guitar, percussion, piano, clarinet, and strings, and professional vocal soloists.