Mainstage concerts, Bach at Home (noon) and new reDiscover series offered entirely online
San Diego— Crafting a season that rises to the challenge of our times, Bach Collegium San Diego announces its Virtual Season 2020–2021, with a total of eleven performances all presented entirely online.
In addition to four mainstage concerts, Bach Collegium San Diego’s very popular free lunchtime series, Bach at Noon, returns as Bach at Home (noon). Finally, three of Bach Collegium’s most exciting past concerts will be offered in a new reDiscover series, including the full release of Haydn Lord Nelson Mass and two other concerts that were never fully released. Bach Collegium’s artists will be recording the concerts together in person, in small numbers, safely distanced and masked, at unique venues around San Diego. “The virtual season we have planned takes the restrictions imposed upon us by the world today and tries to make the best of them by adapting and expanding,” says Artistic Director Ruben Valenzuela. “We have chosen a repertoire of more intimate works, specifically designed to be performed by smaller groups of artists in a safe and responsible way. Among the highlights, for the first time we are incorporating jazz into one of our concerts, with the inimitable countertenor, our dear friend Reggie Mobely taking us on a journey from Bach to bop to show the commonalities of basslines, improvisation, and groove. “Without the physical constraints of performing at local concert halls, Bach Collegium San Diego is delighted to reach out to a national and even international audience, who can enjoy our online performances from anywhere there is an internet connection,” continues Valenzuela. “Finally, another remarkable benefit of online collaboration is that for our pre-concert discussions, we are able to present renowned scholars like Dr. Daniel Melamed, of the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, and Dr. Michael Maul, artistic director of the annual Leipzig Bach Festival and senior musicologist of the Bach-Archiv, which is very exciting.” Subscriptions for the mainstage concerts will be at the discounted rate of $80 per household, with individual concerts at $25. Bach at Home (noon) and reDiscover will be presented for free, with donations gladly accepted. Ticket purchasers will receive a private link to use to watch the concert online upon its release date. The link will remain available for a limited time. Viewers will also receive access to join a Zoom hangout after each concert with BCSD leadership and artists, and special guests.
MAINSTAGE CONCERTS OCTOBER 24, 2020 (release date) MUSES OF PARNASSUS Three seventeenth-century Italian muses—Isabella Leonarda, Francesca Caccini, and Barbara Strozzi—serve as the inspiration for a program featuring scintillating repertoire of the Italian baroque by women composers, sung by Grammy-nominated soprano Jennifer Ellis Kampani.
Program: Sonata prima Op. 16 no. 1 — Isabella Leonarda Sonata duodecima a violino solo Op. 16 — Isabella Leonarda Regina caeli laetare — Francesca Caccini Lagrime mie — Barbara Strozzi Serenata for Soprano: Hor che Apollo (from Arie Op. 8) — Barbara Strozzi
Jennifer Ellis Kampani, soprano Andrew McIntosh, violin Susan Feldman, violin Heather Vorwerck, cello & viola da gamba Alejandro Jenné, Theorbo Ruben Valenzuela, harpsichord & organ. TALK: Daniel Zuluaga (PhD)
DECEMBER 19, 2020 (release date) A BAROQUE NOEL: BACH • VIVALDI Vivaldi Gloria and Bach Cantata Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben BWV 147a, highlighting two beloved works to be infused with BCSD’s dynamic approach.
Program: Gloria RV 589 – Antonio Vivaldi Cantata: Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben BWV 147a – J.S. Bach and other works. Carolyne DalMonte, soprano. Reginald Mobley, countertenor. John Russell, tenor Ben Kazez, baritone. TALK: Daniel Melamed (PhD)
MARCH 6, 2021 (release date) REGINALD ‘REX’ MOBLEY • BACH TO BOP Countertenor d’amore Reginald Mobley is featured in a program displaying the musical fusion between the baroque and jazz idioms. The repertoire, from Bach to Sarah Vaughan, will explore the world of ornamentation, rhetoric, and, most importantly, groove.
Program: Bekennen will ich seinen Namen BWV 200 — J.S. Bach Mit Allem, was ich hab und bin (from BWV 72) — J.S. Bach Quoniam tu solus sanctus (from BWV 233) — J.S. Bach Jubilate Domino BuxWV 64 — Dietrich Buxtehude Shulie-a-Bop — George Treadwell & Sarah Vaughan So in Love — Cole Porter Every Time We Say Goodbye — Cole Porter Crown the Altar (from Celebrate this Festival Z. 321) — Henry Purcell O Solitude — Henry Purcell With Him He Brings the Partner of His Throne (from Ye Tuneful Muses Z. 344) — Henry Purcell. Reginald Mobley, countertenor. TALK: Matthew Henson (PhD)
MAY 1, 2021 (release date) BACH AND HIS RIVALS • THE LEIPZIG AUDITION 1722 was an eventful year in the life of Leipzig and in the careers of Telemann, Graupner, and J.S. Bach, a pivotal year when Leipzig looked to fill the post of Thomaskantor left vacant following Johann Kuhnau’s death. This program highlights three brilliant compositions from each auditionee, knowing full well that Leipzig’s third pick would forever change the face of music.
Soloists to be confirmed. Program: Reiner Geist, lass doch mein Herz GWV 1138/11 — Christoph Graupner Du aber, Daniel, gehe hin (Trauermusik) TVWV 4: 17 — George Philipp Telemann Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten BWV 93 — J.S. Bach and other works TALK: Michael Maul (PhD)
New! reDISCOVER Series
NOVEMBER 7, 2020 (release date) EARTH, WIND, & FIRE! MASS IN TROUBLED TIMES
F.J. Haydn: Lord Nelson Mass Recorded in live performance by BCSD in May 2017 Soloists:
Estelí Gomez, soprano Angela Young Smucker, mezzo-soprano John Russell, tenor Mischa Bouvier, bass
FEBRUARY 6, 2021 (release date) J.S. BACH: WELCOME TO LEIPZIG Sinfonia (from BWV 42) – J.S. Bach Cantata: Siehe zu, daß deine Gottesfurcht nicht Heuchelei sei BWV 179 – J.S. Bach Recorded in live performance by BCSD in October 2016
Soloists: Margot Rood, soprano Scott Mello, tenor Tyler Duncan, baritone
MARCH 20, 2021 (release date) WELCOME TO ALL THE PLEASURES! Ode: Welcome to the all the Pleasures – Henry Purcell Ode: Now does the glorious day appear – Henry Purcell
and other works by Purcell Recorded in live performance by BCSD in May 2018
Soloists: Clara Rottsolk, soprano Stefanie Moore, soprano Jay Carter, countertenor Aaron Sheehan, tenor Stephen Salts, baritone Enrico Lagasca, baritone
BACH AT HOME (noon)
NOVEMBER 18, 2020 (release date) TONOS HUMANOS Spend time in Spain’s Siglo de Oro (Golden Century), considered a pinnacle in the flourishing of arts and literature in Spanish history.
Selections to include: O como pasan los años – José Marín Disfrazado de pastor – Juan Hidalgo Ay de mí, que el llanto y la tristeza – Sebastián Durón Organ: Corrente Italiana – Juan Cabanilles
Adriana Ruiz, soprano Alejandro Jenné, guitar Heather Vorwerck, cello Ruben Valenzuela, harpsichord & organ
JANUARY 20, 2021 (release date) AD LIBITUM Enter the world of improvisation using Bach’s famous Chaconne for solo violin as the springboard into other historical styles.
Program: Chaconne (from Partita no. 2) BWV 1004 – J.S. Bach and other works. Andrew McIntosh, violin Alejandro Jenné, theorbo & guitar Ruben Valenzuela, harpsichord & organ
FEBRUARY 17, 2021 (release date) A BOHEMIAN IN DRESDEN Dresden’s rich musical life is inextricably linked to the Dresden court of the first half of the eighteenth century through the music of Jan Dismas Zelenka, Johann Adolph Hasse, and J.S. Bach.
Program: Selections from Eight Italian Arias ZWV 176 – Jan Dismas Zelenka. Non so più se vi rivedrò - Povera fede Sinfonia in G minor Op. 5 no. 6 – Johann Adolph Hasse Including an organ work by J.S. Bach that may have been played on the occasion of his 1736 organ recital on the new Silbermann organ at Dresden's Frauenkirche.
Andrea Zomorodian, soprano Mindy Ella Chu, mezzo-soprano Janet Strauss, violin Amy Wang, violin Andrew Waid, viola Heather Vorwerck, cello Shanon Zusman, violone Ruben Valenzuela, harpsichord & organ
APRIL 7, 2021 (release date) ACTUS TRAGICUS Eternity lies at the core of Bach’s beloved cantata Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit which creates a stark juxtaposition between the earthly death of the Old Testament and the redemption to come of the New Testament.
Cantata: Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit BWV 106 – J.S. Bach Chorale: Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin Organ: Improvisation Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin Corey Carleton, soprano Mindy Ella Chu, mezzo-soprano John Russell, tenor Matthew Nielsen, bass Alex Opsahl, recorder Stephen Haas, recorder Heather Vorwerck, viola da gamba Shanon Zusman, viola da gamba Matt Hare, violone Alejandro Jenné, theorbo Ruben Valenzuela, organ
For more details please visit the website.
ABOUT Bach Collegium San Diego Bach Collegium San Diego engages audiences with accessible, historically informed performances and educational programs featuring repertoire from the Renaissance, Baroque, and early Classical eras. The ensemble was founded in 2003 by Music Director Ruben Valenzuela to diversify the musical offerings of the San Diego community. Bach Collegium San Diego has presented a wide variety of historically significant works, including many San Diego and Southern California premieres. Works are performed using the instruments, instrumentation, and techniques of the period in which they were written. Bach Collegium San Diego engages this country’s finest musicians working in the field of early music, bringing world-class historically informed performance to the greater San Diego area through main stage concerts and admission-free lunchtime performances. Through its excellent programming and exemplary performances, Bach Collegium San Diego is considered one of the premier early music ensembles on the West Coast and is quickly becoming one of this country’s foremost ensembles for early music. Bach Collegium San Diego is Ensemble-in-Residence at All Souls’ Episcopal Church in Point Loma. For detailed bios and a list of ensemble performers please visit the website
Bach Collegium San Diego Ruben Valenzuela, Artistic Director
