Southern California Early Music Society

January 2025

January 4, 2025, at 7:30 p.m (Westchester, repeats Jan 5 in Monrovia)

Jouyssance Early Music Ensemble “Spirit Child” – A Pastorela with music of the Mexican Renaissance and Baroque

Jouyssance Early Music Ensemble will mark the arrival of Epiphany by presenting Spirit Child, a concert interweaving a traditional Mexican pastorela, or shepherds play, with music of the Mexican Renaissance and Baroque. Narrating the story of the shepherds’ pilgrimage to Bethlehem will be renowned Los Angeles Times columnist Gustavo Arellano.

A beloved Mexican tradition, pastorelas generally involve a series of mishaps and calamities – often at the hand of the Devil – that threaten to derail the shepherds’ journey. While often full of comedic touches, pastorelas are ultimately great testaments of faith and endurance.

The music performed in Spirit Child was written by Spaniards working in the Americas in the 1500s and early 1600s or by composers born in the New World. Composers include Juan Gutiérrez de Padilla, Gaspar Fernandes, Francisco Guerrero, and several others; the music all comes from Mexican archives, with texts in Spanish, Nahuatl, Quechua, Latin and Portuguese.

Tickets are available in advance at www.jouyssance.org/current-season or at the door, at $25 (General Admission), $20 (Seniors/SCEMS members), or $10 for students with current school ID.

A complimentary post-concert holiday reception will follow each performance.

As part of its educational outreach program, and funded in part by the Colburn Foundation, Jouyssance can offer free admission to members of the American Choral Directors Association, as well as their students.

Holy Nativity Episcopal Church, 6700 W 83rd St., Westchester

more info: https://www.jouyssance.org/current-season

January 5, 2025, at 4 p.m. (Monrovia, repeats Jan 4 in Westchester)

Jouyssance Early Music Ensemble “Spirit Child” – A Pastorela with music of the Mexican Renaissance and Baroque

Jouyssance Early Music Ensemble will mark the arrival of Epiphany by presenting Spirit Child, a concert interweaving a traditional Mexican pastorela, or shepherds play, with music of the Mexican Renaissance and Baroque. Narrating the story of the shepherds’ pilgrimage to Bethlehem will be renowned Los Angeles Times columnist Gustavo Arellano.

A beloved Mexican tradition, pastorelas generally involve a series of mishaps and calamities – often at the hand of the Devil – that threaten to derail the shepherds’ journey. While often full of comedic touches, pastorelas are ultimately great testaments of faith and endurance.

The music performed in Spirit Child was written by Spaniards working in the Americas in the 1500s and early 1600s or by composers born in the New World. Composers include Juan Gutiérrez de Padilla, Gaspar Fernandes, Francisco Guerrero, and several others; the music all comes from Mexican archives, with texts in Spanish, Nahuatl, Quechua, Latin and Portuguese.

Tickets are available in advance at www.jouyssance.org/current-season or at the door, at $25 (General Admission), $20 (Seniors/SCEMS members), or $10 for students with current school ID.

A complimentary post-concert holiday reception will follow each performance.

As part of its educational outreach program, and funded in part by the Colburn Foundation, Jouyssance can offer free admission to members of the American Choral Directors Association, as well as their students.

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 122 S. California Ave., Monrovia.

more info: https://www.jouyssance.org/current-season

January 10-19th, 2025 :Fridays, Saturdays at 7:30PM, Sundays at 3:00PM (Highland Park)

Pacific Opera Project: La Scuola de’ Gelosi by Antonio Salieri (1778)

Pacific Opera Project presents the U.S. premiere of Salieri’s sparkling comedy, La Scuola de’ Gelosi. Join them for an 18th-century affair, with table seating, wine, food, and an opera so deliciously good, you’ll never forget it.

POP kicks off the new year with the US premiere of Antonio Salieri’s La scuola de' gelosi. POP’s colorful period production of this comedy of errors features some of the best of Salieri’s music, with a plot mirroring Mozart’s Così fan tutte, originally premiered at Teatro San Moisè, Venice, 12/28/1778.

Music by Antonio Salieri; Libretto by Caterino Mazzolà; Orchestral Arrangement by Peter Jones

Runtime: 2.5 hours, including a 20 minute intermission

This production is presented on the elaborate proscenium set originally built for POP’s 2023 production of Ercole su'l Termodonte. Kyle Naig will lead from the harpsichord, and Josh Shaw directs.

Tickets: Traditional seating $15/$25/$35

tables for 2 or 4 people: pairs of tickets from $95 -$120 (table for two),

All tables come with a platter of chacuterie and a bottle of wine.

You may pick your wine variety when you arrive.

The Highland Park Ebell Club 131 S Avenue 57 Los Angeles, CA 90042

more info: https://www.pacificoperaproject.com/la-scuola

Saturday, January 11, 2025, 7:30 pm (Beverly Hills, repeats Jan 12 in San Marino)

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Baroque Program with Countertenor Reginald Mobley, Trumpeters Paul Merkelo, and David Washburn: Vocal and Trumpet Works by Handel, Purcell, Vivaldi, Others,

Baroque Series Is Curated by Concertmaster and Director of Chamber Music Margaret Batjer.

GRAMMY-nominated Countertenor Reginald Mobley, who sang at the coronation of King Charles III in May 2023, interprets Vivaldi’s rendition of the 13th century poem Stabat Mater, a meditation on sorrow, forgiveness, and the divine, The program also includes songs by Purcell and Dowland as well as Handel’s Eternal Source of Light Divine, written for Queen Anne’s birthday in 1713. Paul Merkelo, who has served as solo trumpeter with the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal since 1995, and LACO Principal Trumpet David Washburn display their considerable skills on a selection of regal Baroque trumpet gems by Handel and Tartini as well as the world premiere of Jeff Beal’s LACO-commissioned End of Empire, a concerto for two trumpets.

The soloists join LACO violinists Misha Vayman, Jacqueline Brand, Josefina Vergara, Jason Issokson, and Tamara Hatway; violists Jonathan Moerschel and Colleen Sugata; cellists Andrew Shulman and Trevor Handy; bassist David Grossman; oboists Claire Brazeau and Adrienne Malley; bassoonist Jonathan Stehney; keyboardist Patricia Mabee; and lutist Kevin Cooper.

PROGRAM:

G.F. HANDEL The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba

G.F. HANDEL Eternal Source of Light Divine

G.F. HANDEL Overture from Rinaldo

G. TARTINI Trumpet Concerto in D major

JEFF BEAL End of Empire (LACO Commission; World Premiere)

J. DOWLAND Come Again

H. PURCELL O Solitude

J. DOWLAND Flow My Tears, arranged for strings

A. VIVALDI Stabat Mater

Tickets ($47-$84) and information, please visit www.laco.org or call 213 221 3920.

Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 9390 N. Santa Monica Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

more info: www.laco.org

Sat, Jan 11th, 2025 at 7:30 pm (see Jan 10 listing)

Pacific Opera Project: La Scuola de’ Gelosi by Antonio Salieri (1778)

Sun, Jan 12th, 2025 at 3:00 pm (see Jan 10 listing)

Pacific Opera Project: La Scuola de’ Gelosi by Antonio Salieri (1778)

Sunday, January 12, 2025, 4 pm (San Marin , repeats Jan 11 in Beverly Hills)

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Baroque Program with Countertenor Reginald Mobley, Trumpeters Paul Merkelo, and David Washburn: Vocal and Trumpet Works by Handel, Purcell, Vivaldi, Others,

Baroque Series Is Curated by Concertmaster and Director of Chamber Music Margaret Batjer.

GRAMMY-nominated Countertenor Reginald Mobley, who sang at the coronation of King Charles III in May 2023, interprets Vivaldi’s rendition of the 13th century poem Stabat Mater, a meditation on sorrow, forgiveness, and the divine, The program also includes songs by Purcell and Dowland as well as Handel’s Eternal Source of Light Divine, written for Queen Anne’s birthday in 1713. Paul Merkelo, who has served as solo trumpeter with the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal since 1995, and LACO Principal Trumpet David Washburn display their considerable skills on a selection of regal Baroque trumpet gems by Handel and Tartini as well as the world premiere of Jeff Beal’s LACO-commissioned End of Empire, a concerto for two trumpets.

The soloists join LACO violinists Misha Vayman, Jacqueline Brand, Josefina Vergara, Jason Issokson, and Tamara Hatway; violists Jonathan Moerschel and Colleen Sugata; cellists Andrew Shulman and Trevor Handy; bassist David Grossman; oboists Claire Brazeau and Adrienne Malley; bassoonist Jonathan Stehney; keyboardist Patricia Mabee; and lutist Kevin Cooper.

PROGRAM:

G.F. HANDEL The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba

G.F. HANDEL Eternal Source of Light Divine

G.F. HANDEL Overture from Rinaldo

G. TARTINI Trumpet Concerto in D major

JEFF BEAL End of Empire (LACO Commission; World Premiere)

J. DOWLAND Come Again

H. PURCELL O Solitude

J. DOWLAND Flow My Tears, arranged for strings

A. VIVALDI Stabat Mater

Tickets ($47-$84) and information, please visit www.laco.org or call 213 221 3920.

The Huntington, Rothenberg Hall, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, CA 91108

more info: www.laco.org

Sunday, January 12, 3:00 pm, Janet and Ray Scherr Forum (Thousand Oaks, repeats Jan 12, 14, 16, 17)

Camerata Pacifica Presents Baroque: Emergence

This Baroque Program blends Historical Insight with Contemporary Improvisation, featuring Bach’s Iconic Two-Part Inventions, with eminent Flutist Emi Ferguson on Traverso, and Lauded Keyboard Player Dan Tepfer on Amplified Clavichord, spotlighting two of the quietest Baroque instruments. The intimate and illuminating program, promises both familiarity and surprise, creating a fascinating dialogue between Baroque traditions and contemporary improvisation. While many will instantly recognize the first notes of Bach’s opening invention, the evening delves deeper into the inspiration behind these works. Tepfer will share his groundbreaking take on Bach’s Inventions, pairing Bach's original music with his own improvised inventions in the nine missing keys. Additionally, Ferguson and Tepfer together will showcase music by Francesco Antonio Bonporti, a composer whose “inventions" influenced Bach himself.

For this performance, Tepfer is drawing from his acclaimed 2023 solo album J.S. Bach / Dan Tepfer, Inventions / Reinventions on StorySound Records. He explains the album’s concept, “Each of Bach’s Inventions, is a brilliant miniature demonstration of classical narrative form in music, carried out in under two minutes. I perform the Inventions as Bach wrote them, and, for the nine missing keys, improvise my own inventions. Not in Bach’s style but rather in my own voice. They don’t react directly to Bach’s miniatures; instead, they react to the abstract and general structural concept that supports them.” He notes “that Bach was well known in his lifetime as an improviser… it was at the core of his being.” The unique project demanding consideration skills as both a jazz and classical pianist bolsters Tepfer’s reputation as “one of the moment’s most adventurous and relevant musicians” (New York Magazine).

PROGRAM:

BONPORTI Selections from Inventione Opus X

J.S. BACH/EMI FERGUSON Partita Recomposed

J.S. BACH / DAN TEPFER Inventions / Reinventions

For tickets ($75 at The Huntington, Music Academy of the West, and Zipper Hall; $91, including fees, at Janet and Ray Scherr Forum) and information, visit www.cameratapacifica.org.

more info: www.cameratapacifica.org, info@cameratapacifica.org, 805-884-8410

Janet and Ray Scherr Forum, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362

Tuesday, January,14, 7:30 pm, The Huntington (San Marino, repeats Jan 12, 14, 16, 17)

Camerata Pacifica Presents Baroque: Emergence

This Baroque Program blends Historical Insight with Contemporary Improvisation, featuring Bach’s Iconic Two-Part Inventions, with eminent Flutist Emi Ferguson on Traverso, and Lauded Keyboard Player Dan Tepfer on Amplified Clavichord, spotlighting two of the quietest Baroque instruments. The intimate and illuminating program, promises both familiarity and surprise, creating a fascinating dialogue between Baroque traditions and contemporary improvisation. While many will instantly recognize the first notes of Bach’s opening invention, the evening delves deeper into the inspiration behind these works. Tepfer will share his groundbreaking take on Bach’s Inventions, pairing Bach's original music with his own improvised inventions in the nine missing keys. Additionally, Ferguson and Tepfer together will showcase music by Francesco Antonio Bonporti, a composer whose “inventions" influenced Bach himself.

For this performance, Tepfer is drawing from his acclaimed 2023 solo album J.S. Bach / Dan Tepfer, Inventions / Reinventions on StorySound Records. He explains the album’s concept, “Each of Bach’s Inventions, is a brilliant miniature demonstration of classical narrative form in music, carried out in under two minutes. I perform the Inventions as Bach wrote them, and, for the nine missing keys, improvise my own inventions. Not in Bach’s style but rather in my own voice. They don’t react directly to Bach’s miniatures; instead, they react to the abstract and general structural concept that supports them.” He notes “that Bach was well known in his lifetime as an improviser… it was at the core of his being.” The unique project demanding consideration skills as both a jazz and classical pianist bolsters Tepfer’s reputation as “one of the moment’s most adventurous and relevant musicians” (New York Magazine).

PROGRAM:

BONPORTI Selections from Inventione Opus X

J.S. BACH/EMI FERGUSON Partita Recomposed

J.S. BACH / DAN TEPFER Inventions / Reinventions

For tickets ($75 at The Huntington, Music Academy of the West, and Zipper Hall; $91, including fees, at Janet and Ray Scherr Forum) and information, visit www.cameratapacifica.org.

more info: www.cameratapacifica.org, info@cameratapacifica.org, 805-884-8410

The Huntington’s Rothenberg Hall, 1151 Oxford Rd, San Marino, CA 91108

Thursday, January 16, 8:00 pm, Zipper Hall (Downtown Los Angeles, repeats Jan 12, 14, 16, 17)

Camerata Pacifica Presents Baroque: Emergence

This Baroque Program blends Historical Insight with Contemporary Improvisation, featuring Bach’s Iconic Two-Part Inventions, with eminent Flutist Emi Ferguson on Traverso, and Lauded Keyboard Player Dan Tepfer on Amplified Clavichord, spotlighting two of the quietest Baroque instruments. The intimate and illuminating program, promises both familiarity and surprise, creating a fascinating dialogue between Baroque traditions and contemporary improvisation. While many will instantly recognize the first notes of Bach’s opening invention, the evening delves deeper into the inspiration behind these works. Tepfer will share his groundbreaking take on Bach’s Inventions, pairing Bach's original music with his own improvised inventions in the nine missing keys. Additionally, Ferguson and Tepfer together will showcase music by Francesco Antonio Bonporti, a composer whose “inventions" influenced Bach himself.

For this performance, Tepfer is drawing from his acclaimed 2023 solo album J.S. Bach / Dan Tepfer, Inventions / Reinventions on StorySound Records. He explains the album’s concept, “Each of Bach’s Inventions, is a brilliant miniature demonstration of classical narrative form in music, carried out in under two minutes. I perform the Inventions as Bach wrote them, and, for the nine missing keys, improvise my own inventions. Not in Bach’s style but rather in my own voice. They don’t react directly to Bach’s miniatures; instead, they react to the abstract and general structural concept that supports them.” He notes “that Bach was well known in his lifetime as an improviser… it was at the core of his being.” The unique project demanding consideration skills as both a jazz and classical pianist bolsters Tepfer’s reputation as “one of the moment’s most adventurous and relevant musicians” (New York Magazine).

PROGRAM:

BONPORTI Selections from Inventione Opus X

J.S. BACH/EMI FERGUSON Partita Recomposed

J.S. BACH / DAN TEPFER Inventions / Reinventions

For tickets ($75 at The Huntington, Music Academy of the West, and Zipper Hall; $91, including fees, at Janet and Ray Scherr Forum) and information, visit www.cameratapacifica.org.

more info: www.cameratapacifica.org, info@cameratapacifica.org, 805-884-8410

Zipper Hall, The Colburn School, 200 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Fri, Jan 17th, 2025 at 7:30 pm (see Jan 10 listing)

Pacific Opera Project: La Scuola de’ Gelosi by Antonio Salieri (1778)

Friday, January 17, 7:00 pm, Music Academy of the West (Santa Barbara, repeats Jan 12, 14, 16, 17)

Camerata Pacifica Presents Baroque: Emergence

This Baroque Program blends Historical Insight with Contemporary Improvisation, featuring Bach’s Iconic Two-Part Inventions, with eminent Flutist Emi Ferguson on Traverso, and Lauded Keyboard Player Dan Tepfer on Amplified Clavichord, spotlighting two of the quietest Baroque instruments. The intimate and illuminating program, promises both familiarity and surprise, creating a fascinating dialogue between Baroque traditions and contemporary improvisation. While many will instantly recognize the first notes of Bach’s opening invention, the evening delves deeper into the inspiration behind these works. Tepfer will share his groundbreaking take on Bach’s Inventions, pairing Bach's original music with his own improvised inventions in the nine missing keys. Additionally, Ferguson and Tepfer together will showcase music by Francesco Antonio Bonporti, a composer whose “inventions" influenced Bach himself.

For this performance, Tepfer is drawing from his acclaimed 2023 solo album J.S. Bach / Dan Tepfer, Inventions / Reinventions on StorySound Records. He explains the album’s concept, “Each of Bach’s Inventions, is a brilliant miniature demonstration of classical narrative form in music, carried out in under two minutes. I perform the Inventions as Bach wrote them, and, for the nine missing keys, improvise my own inventions. Not in Bach’s style but rather in my own voice. They don’t react directly to Bach’s miniatures; instead, they react to the abstract and general structural concept that supports them.” He notes “that Bach was well known in his lifetime as an improviser… it was at the core of his being.” The unique project demanding consideration skills as both a jazz and classical pianist bolsters Tepfer’s reputation as “one of the moment’s most adventurous and relevant musicians” (New York Magazine).

PROGRAM:

BONPORTI Selections from Inventione Opus X

J.S. BACH/EMI FERGUSON Partita Recomposed

J.S. BACH / DAN TEPFER Inventions / Reinventions

For tickets ($75 at The Huntington, Music Academy of the West, and Zipper Hall; $91, including fees, at Janet and Ray Scherr Forum) and information, visit www.cameratapacifica.org.

more info: www.cameratapacifica.org, info@cameratapacifica.org, 805-884-8410

Music Academy of the West, 1070 Fairway Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93108

Sat, Jan 18th, 2025 at 3:00 pm (see Jan 10 listing)

Pacific Opera Project: La Scuola de’ Gelosi by Antonio Salieri (1778)

Sun, Jan 19th, 2025 at 3:00 pm (see Jan 10 listing)

Pacific Opera Project: La Scuola de’ Gelosi by Antonio Salieri (1778)

SUNDAY, JANUARY 19, 2:00-3:30 pm

Friends of Music at St. Bede's Presents: Ken Aiso, baroque violin; David Garrett, viola da gamba; Sonia Lee, harpsichord.

An afternoon of Baroque music performed on period instruments.

Program:

François Francoeur, Violin Sonata in D major, op. 2, no. 10

Johann Sebastian Bach, Sonata for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord in D major, BWV 1028