Press Release
December 14, 2009
Orchestra Nova's Masterpiece Messiah Sells Out At All Three Performances
Exciting New Presentation of Handel's Masterpiece Captivates Audience Members
Orchestra Nova San Diego joined forces last week with the Bach Collegium San Diego chorus and four outstanding guest artists to perform one of the most exciting presentations of Handel's Messiah ever seen in San Diego . A video presentation of twenty-six masterpieces of artworks complemented the arias and choruses, adding an emotional depth to the story told by Handel through his music.
Conducted by Jung-Ho Pak, the Bach Collegium chorus and orchestra musicians performed the music in the early 18 th century style that Handel would have heard, with an interpretation as close to perfection as possible. As one guest at the Solana Beach performance stated, “It was as close to perfection as you could possible get. I've just never heard it performed so beautifully.” Audience members rewarded the musicians with standing ovations that didn't stop at any of the three performances until the musicians and Maestro Pak stepped down into the audience to greet them.
Soprano Virginia Sublett, Tenor Robert MacNeil and Bass John Polhamus, highly acclaimed guest artists, were joined at the last minute by world-renowned countertenor Brian Asawa who replaced alto Katherine Lundeen, taken ill the week of the performance. The four soloists performed without the music in their hands, connecting with the audience members with eye contact and a dramatic expressiveness of the text as Handel's librettist Charles Jennens wrote it.
The twenty-member Bach Collegium San Diego chorus, under the direction of music director Ruben Valenzuela, proved that they are one of the best vocal ensembles in the country today, with their emphasis upon diction and an expressiveness for period music that is rarely heard. Performing in the restrained 18 th century style, the orchestra's musicians maintained a perfect balance with the chorus, maximizing the exhilarating potential of their instruments and truly connecting with the audience with their performance style.
The three concerts were performed at St. Paul 's Cathedral downtown, St. James by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in La Jolla and the Solana Beach Presbyterian Church in Solana Beach . Each venue was sold out, with stand-bys waiting to take unclaimed seats.
Orchestra Nova's next concert series, “All in the Family: Meet the Bachs,” will be performed on January 29, 30 and February 1.
January 29 – St. Paul 's Cathedral, Downtown
January 30 – Irwin M. Jacobs Qualcomm Hall, Sorrento Valley
February 1 – Sherwood Hall, La Jolla
Tickets: www.orchestranova.org or 858-350-0290
All student tickets are $10.
hotos available at the media center on www.orchestranova.org or by contacting marketing@orchestranova.org.
