It wasn’t just an extraordinary performance of Handel’s Messiah. The San Diego Chamber Orchestra, under the leadership of Jung-Ho Pak, Artistic Director and Conductor, was joined by Bach Collegium San Diego (founded and directed by Ruben Valenzuela) and four extraordinarily talented vocal soloists – plus a video presentation of great masterpieces of art – to present one of the most unusual and highly acclaimed performances of Messiah in the area during the past week.
A sold-out crowd in La Jolla at the St. James By-the-Sea Church braved the wind and rain to attend on Saturday night, and they responded to the performance with a resounding standing ovation. Large crowds at the Solana Beach Presbyterian Church and at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido had the same response.
The authentic 18th century re-creation of George Frideric Handel’s Messiah has become a tradition for the Orchestra, and they have created a sensation by performing this great oratorio with forces that are lighter and more transparent than traditional heavier approaches, resulting in an experience that gives a fresh and deeper meaning to the text and music, much like it is assumed the first performance must have been.
Guest artists were professional vocalists: Megan Weston, soprano; Katherine Lundeen, alto; Robert MacNeil, tenor; and Philip Larson, bass. In addition to their beautiful voices and outstanding techniques, they displayed an intense emotion for each aria and recitative, singing without music in their hands so they could express themselves through movement and facial expressions.
It was so much more than a concert – an inspiring “experience” that drew the audience in and included some fascinating education along the way. The concertgoers were treated to a fascinating free post-concert discussion with Maestro Pak and Alexander Jarman from the San Diego Museum of Art about the selected artwork that complemented the music. The curator who selected the artwork was Dr. James Grebl from the San Diego Museum of Art.
The Orchestra will perform another great oratorio, Haydn’s masterpiece The Creation in February, conducted by guest conductor Ruben Valenzuela and joined once again by the Bach Collegium San Diego chorus. Go to www.sdco.org for more details about the concert and venues.
