Early Music Vancouver's Summer Festival, previously known as the Vancouver Bach Festival, will be centered around the theme of WOMENinSIGHT. During the event, they will honor and celebrate the contributions of women composers, librettists, and performers from both the past and present. This festival, taking place from July 27 to August 5 at various venues across Vancouver, draws inspiration from Christine de Pizan, a groundbreaking writer who challenged the historical treatment of women and their designated roles in society. Through the lens of music, the festival aims to explore the impact and significance of women throughout history.

Suzie LeBlanc, the artistic and executive director of Early Music Vancouver, emphasizes that women's creativity has persisted through centuries, despite periods when patriarchal systems suppressed and obscured their works. The festival's mission is to bring women's creative expressions into the spotlight, bridging the historical gaps and giving them the recognition they deserve.

The festival's opening on July 27 will feature the world premiere of "The Queen of Carthage." This multidisciplinary performance reclaims the story of Dido, The Queen of Carthage, highlighting her roles as a political leader, empire builder, and a woman of color.

Alongside more than a dozen concerts and events involving over 60 artists from around the world, the festival's artist-in-residence for this year is Catalina Vicens, an accomplished musician from Chile, now residing in Italy. Her expertise in historically-informed performance and musicological research has made her one of the most sought-after historical keyboard performers and teachers of her generation. Vicens will be part of performances such as "Songs Without Words: Women in Music in the Middle Ages and Renaissance" on July 30 and "Our City of Ladies" directed by Servir Antico on August 1.

Other notable highlights of the festival include "The Ladies Vespers" on August 2 and "Party Like It's 1694! Celebrating Elizabeth Jacquet de la Guerre" on August 4. The closing event on August 5, "A Woman's Voice in Bach's World: Christiane Mariane von Ziegler," promises to be a fitting conclusion to the celebration.

Early Music Vancouver's Summer Festival will run from July 27 to August 5. For a detailed lineup of events and performances, visit their website at earlymusic.bc.ca.