"I must confess that it was surprisingly satisfying to hear, in great part because of the polished and consistently stylish playing of the chamber orchestra's instrumentalists and the equally refined and historically-informed singing of the Bach Collegium"

...Sandiego.com,
Ken Herman 2007


"Under the Collegium’s Music Director Ruben Valenzuela, a perfect subdued and exquisite sound was elicited from the supple small chorus of eight voices and the players of period instruments with their pure and softened timbres."

...Sandiego.com,
George Weinberg-Harter 2007


"What San Diego rarely experiences (has it ever?) is a serious, period-instrument performance done in the style and proportion that the composer himself might have actually recognized...Enter Ruben Valenzuela and his plucky Bach Collegium San Diego, who staged a breath-taking and eye-opening (or should we say ear-opening) period instrument performance of Messiah Sunday evening at St. Paul’s Cathedral under the guest conductor Stephen Sturk."

...Sandiego.com,
Ken Herman 2007


"Ruben Valenzuela knew how to impress with his organ playing. The richly ornamented organ chorale Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele by J.S. Bach resounded at the beginning, and at the end his virtuoso Fantasia in G-Major was celebrated with bravura. Thus were demonstrated the advantages of the instrument in the Schillerkirche, achieving a ringing sound using contrasting registers."

...Thüringer Landeszeitung,
Unaccredited 2005


"Valenzuela's talents as a Bach conductor were displayed at their fullest. Their sound was fresh, clean, and bright, yet at the same time warm. The balance was flawless, bringing out the music's often complex contrapuntal lines with delectable clarity."

...The San Diego Reader,
Jonathan Saville 2004

Welcome to Season 2008-2009 A Feast of Purcell, Handel, and Haydn

It is my pleasure to introduce you to season 2008-2009. Our 6th season will pick up just where we left off with our acclaimed performances of Bach's B minor Mass still ringing in the air. In the coming season we will continue to bring imaginative programming and foster exciting artistic partnerships, all of which will undoubtedly enrich our San Diego music community.

We are honored to introduce Richard Egarr, Music Director of the celebrated Academy of Ancient Music, as our Artistic Advisor. To mark this appointment, and to further introduce Mr. Egarr to San Diego audiences, he will perform Bach's Goldberg Variations as a special event at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library. Other season highlights include performances of Monteverdi Madrigals and Renaissance Polyphony, both locally and abroad, with a return to the XVI Festival Internacional del Órgano Barroco in Mexico City. In addition, the chorus of the Bach Collegium continues its partnership with the San Diego Chamber Orchestra with performances of Haydn's Creation under my direction, in addition to our annual performance of Handel's Messiah under the direction of Jung-Ho Pak. In the spring, soloists of the Bach Collegium will offer a chamber music program highlighting well-known favorites, and lesser-known gems of Purcell, Handel, and Haydn. Lastly, we close our season by marking the 250th anniversary of Handel's death with performances of the rarely heard oratorio, and masterpiece of musical drama, Theodora under the direction of Richard Egarr. I look forward to sharing another year of exciting musical explorations with you. Welcome to season 2008-2009.

Ruben Valenzuela, Music Director & Conductor

Season 2008-2009

Programs, artists, and locations subject to change

MUSICA POETICA ARTUSI CHALLENGES MONTEVERDI

Saturday 18 October 2008

Venue TBD

Upon the publication of Monteverdi’s Fifth Book of Madrigals in 1605, the theorist Giovanni Artusi viciously attacked the “crudities” and “license” of the modern style of composing. Our first program will highlight the polyphonic ideal of the sixteenth century in direct opposition to the music of the seventeenth century as exemplified by Monteverdi and his contemporaries.

Ruben Valenzuela, conductor

Return to Top

F. J. HAYDN'S THE CREATION, 1798

Sung in English with a newly edited text by Paul McCreesh.

Monday 9 February 2009 at 7:30pm
Sherwood Auditorium (Museum of Contemporary Art)
700 Prospect St, La Jolla 92037

Tuesday 10 February 2009 at 7:30pm
Del Mar Country Club, Rancho Santa Fe
6001 Clubhouse Dr, Rancho Santa Fe 92091

Friday 13 February 2009 at 7:30pm
St Paul's Cathedral, San Diego
2728 6th Ave, San Diego 92103

We begin the new year with a performance of Haydn’s monumental oratorio The Creation to mark the 200th anniversary of Haydn’s death. The Creation is often considered Haydn’s greatest work through its bold use of orchestral color, adventurous harmony, exceptional rhythmic and melodic inventiveness, and overall unity with an almost operatic vividness and power.

Ruben Valenzuela, conductor

Soloists:
Anne-Marie Dicce, soprano
Vladimir Maric, tenor
John Polhamus, bass

For ticket information please visit: www.sdco.org

Return to Top

A CELEBRATION OF THREE MASTERS: PURCELL, HANDEL, AND HAYDN

April 2009

Venue, Date, and Time TBD

Repertoire TBD

Ruben Valenzuela, Music Director

Return to Top

G. F. HANDEL'S THEODORA, 1749 - Season Highlight

June 2009

Venue, Date, and Time TBD

An Oratorio in Three Acts

Richard Egarr, guest conductor

Soloists:
TBD



Return to Top

Special Events

J. S. BACH'S GOLDBERG VARIATIONS

Sunday 2 November 2008
Athenaeum Music & Arts Library
1008 Wall St, La Jolla 92037

Members: $25
Non-Members: $30

Richard Egarr, harpsichord



For ticket information please visit: www.ljathenaeum.org



Return to Top

XVI Festival Internacional del Órgano Barroco:
MUSICA POETICA ARTUSI CHALLENGES MONTEVERDI

10 - 15 November 2008
Mexico City

Explore the music of Monteverdi and his contemporaries.

Repertoire TBD

Ruben Valenzuela, conductor

Soloists:
TBD

Return to Top

G. F. HANDEL'S MESSIAH - Highlights

12 December 2008 at 7:30pm
Solana Beach Presbyterian Church
120 Stevens Ave, Solana Beach 92075

13 December 2008 at 7:30pm
St. James by-the-Sea Episcopal Church
743 Prospect St, La Jolla 92037

14 December 2008 at 4:00pm
California Center for the Performing Arts
340 N Escondido Blvd, Escondido 92025

Collaboration between the chorus of the Bach Collegium San Diego and the San Diego Chamber Orchestra

Jung-Ho Pak, conductor

Soloists:
TBD

For ticket information please visit: www.sdco.org

Return to Top

- Past Concerts -