Müzewest and the Queer Arts Festival are proud to present this rare opportunity to hear early music in an intimate and inspiring setting at the Bill Reid Gallery, Canada's only public gallery dedicated to contemporary Indigenous Art of the Northwest Coast, on February 11th, 2022, at 7:30pm.
Internationally celebrated Canadian baritone Jonathan Adams and lutenist Lucas Harris of the highly regarded Tafelmusic Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir have joined forces to perform, In Darkness: Lute Songs of John Dowland.
The 60-minute performance will commence with an Elder greeting from the Coast Salish Nations and will feature music from famed English composer John Dowland, who was one of the most popular musicians of his time and noted for his singing, lute playing and mostly secular (and often melancholic) compositions. The evening will be a showcase of select works by him that have been newly arranged to both acknowledge and amplify queer and indigenous voices. It is an occasion to not only reflect on music that is beloved by so many, but to reclaim its universal appeal and give voice to those who have often been silenced throughout the course of history. Tickets here>>
As Mr. Adams pointedly noted:
“When I sing the music like this, I am occupying, and in some small way dismantling, a space of Eurocentric evangelism–a space historically inaccessible to most BIPOC artists. I am grateful to perform this music, at once piercing its austere white face, embedding within it some quality of indigeneity, some trace of queerness.”
This show is the opener for SUM gallery’s inaugural “Queering the Air: A Quintessentially Queer Concert Series” running from Feb 11 - Mar 11. Each of the four performances, featuring renowned classical musicians, will explore the many facets of queer experience—from darkest introspection to most radiant joy.
This event is a safe space for all guests. We’re proud to offer complementary tickets to all Indigenous attendees - please contact Müzewest Concerts for tickets through our Eventbrite page. If you cannot attend in person, please note the performance will be recorded and available for digital viewing for a small fee in the near future.
To ensure the comfort and wellbeing of all guests, masks will be mandatory and strict capacity limits will be enforced based on current provincial guidelines.
We look forward to welcoming you to this wonderful evening of music and introspection!