Posts by Ken Herman
Bach Collegium San Diego Brings Compelling Period “Messiah” to The Conrad in La Jolla
The December 22, 2019, performance by the Bach Collegium San Diego of G. F. Handel’s complete “Messiah” in the Baker-Baum Concert Hall of the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center in La Jolla benefited greatly from the new hall’s splendid acoustics, high ceiling and clean sight lines. Of even greater import, the Bach Collegium’s fresh, insightful approach to 18th-century period performance practice gave it uncanny communicative powers to a 21st-century audience.
Read MoreSan Diego Pro Arte Voices Takes Its Movable Feast of “Texts and Music for Humankind” to Hillcrest’s First Unitarian Universalist Church
Friday at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego, Patrick Walders and his San Diego Pro Arte Voices unveiled their latest incarnation of the traditional “Lessons and Carols” format: “Peace/Hope/Joy/Love: An Evening of Texts and Music for Humankind.”
Read MoreThe Baltimore Consort Brings Its Spirited Musical Incarnation of Christmas Past to La Jolla
When the San Diego Early Music Society brought the Baltimore Consort to La Jolla in 2016, their soprano Danielle Svonavec made a strong impression. Her vivacious vocal interpretations and outgoing stage presence enlivened Baltimore’s accomplished but rather staid instrumental quintet. But the addition of the dramatic countertenor José Lemos to the Baltimore roster has clearly raised the ensemble to the next level, and his participation helped make Baltimore’s Saturday La Jolla concert A Glorious Light! one of the more exciting early music programs I have encountered.
Read MoreSacra/Profana’s Rich Tapestry of Contemporary Choral Music for the Christmas Season
Friday at the First Unitarian Universalist Church in Hillcrest, the Sacra/Profana choral ensemble took us into unusual byways as well as the darker corners of Advent in their annual Christmas concert.
Read MorePérez and Guerrero Triumph in Ecstatic Concert of Opera Favorites and Traditional Mexican Romantic Music
Wednesday night’s formidable San Diego Opera concert “One Amazing Night” at the Balboa Theatre featured soprano Ailyn Pérez, tenor Joshua Guerrero, and pianist Abdiel Vázquez, although “One Amazing Night” was more like “One Incendiary Night,” or “One Stupendous Night,” or “One Impassioned Night.”
Read MoreClassical Guitarist Pablo Sáinz Villegas Returns to the La Jolla Music Society
Accomplished Spanish classical guitarist Pablo Sáinz Villegas brought a substantial solo guitar program to The Conrad Saturday, December 7, for the La Jolla Music Society.
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