Press Release
January 29, 2009
San Diego Chamber Orchestra Presents One of the Greatest Works Ever Written for Chorus and Orchestra
Franz Joseph Haydn's masterpiece The Creation, with its dramatic text and beautiful music, tells the story of the world's creation as portrayed in the Book of Genesis and John Milton's Paradise Los t, and it will be performed by the San Diego Chamber Orchestra and the Bach Collegium San Diego chorus on February 9, 10 and 13 at three venues in the San Diego area. Haydn's The Creation is generally acknowledged as the most beautiful of all works depicting the creation.
Bach Collegium San Diego is an exceptional ensemble of period-style singers that captures the original style of the period. They will be accompanied by the highly acclaimed San Diego Chamber Orchestra, led by guest conductor, Ruben Valenzuela, founder and Music Director of Bach Collegium, for this concert.
Ruben has distinguished himself as a conductor, organist, harpsichordist, continuo player and scholar and has been influential in enriching the San Diego music community with historically informed performances of the Renaissance and Baroque periods. His work has been described as "state of the art, vital and refined" because of his ability to deliver performances that immediately speak to audiences through their unrelenting energy, spirit and inspired musicianship. He is the Director of Music and Organist at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Del Mar, and is pursuing a Ph.D. in Musicology and Historical Performance Practices at Claremont Graduate University .
Three outstanding local guest artists will sing the parts of Gabriel and Eve, Uriel, Raphael and Adam: Soprano Anne-Marie Dicce, Tenor Vladimir Maric and Bass John Polhamus.
The San Diego Chamber Orchestra has stunned local audiences with their high-quality and innovative performances this season, many of them sold out. Maestro Jung-Ho Pak's unique programming and the musicianship of the Orchestra members have been a big hit, beginning with their first season concert The Mozarts: All in the Family , featuring child prodigy pianist Rossina Grieco and a discussion about genetics with geneticist Joe Beechem. This concert was followed by the very successful Asian Silk Road concert, a performance featuring three world-renowned soloists with their Asian instruments. Three performances of Masterpiece Messiah , featuring a video presentation of great masterpieces of art complementing the music, authentically performed in 18 th century style, were enthusiastically received; as was Ultimate Broadway , a concert in the "Pops at the Center" series at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido .
The Orchestra is scheduled to perform a unique Mendelssohn program, including a dramatic presentation of A Midsummer Night's Dream and another child prodigy, violinist Jay Oh, performing Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto, in March.
The Creation will be performed in three local venues.
Monday, February 9, Sherwood Auditorium, La Jolla - 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, February 10, Del Mar Country Club, Rancho Santa Fe - 7:30 p.m.
(complimentary reception with wine and hors d'ouevres at 6:30 p.m.)
Friday, February 13, St. Paul 's Cathedral, Downtown - 7:30 p.m.
