Early Music is the theme this week. Musica Angelica is back in town for two concerts in Pasadena and Santa Monica after receiving great reviews from their tour of South America last month. This weekend they resume their season with an orchestral concert titled “Feste Italiane,” with works by Vivaldi, Pergolesi, Bemba, and Caldera. Later in the week, Ciaramella, a Medieval and early Renaissance ensemble known throughout the country for their informed performances and recordings, will offer a free concert at the University of Southern California. The program titled “A Piper’s Noel” includes Renaissance carols, hymns, lullabies, and instrumental pieces from England, France, Spain, Italy, and Germany, plus the Italian hymn that Handel captured in his Messiah.
Musica Angelica “Feste Italiane”
Musica Angelica is an internationally distinguished Los Angeles period-instrument ensemble dedicated to historically informed performances of Renaissance and Baroque music. Music Director and organist Martin Haselböck and the ensemble will be joined by soprano Maria Jette and violinist Cynthia Roberts this week for this Italian holiday festival.
Program – “Feste Italiane”
• Vivaldi:
Concerto Grosso in D Minor, Op.3 No.11
Concerto Grosso in A Minor, Op.3 No.8
Laudate Pueri Dominum for soprano and orchestra
Concerto in D Minor for violin and organ
• Pergolesi: Salve Regina for soprano and orchestra
• Bemba: Per il Natale for soprano and orchestra
• Caldera: Sinfonia Concertante for two violins and orchestra
Saturday, Dec. 4, 8 p.m.
Pasadena Presbyterian Church, 585 E. Colorado Blvd. (NW corner of Colorado & Madison), Pasadena
Sunday, Dec. 5, 3 p.m.
First Presbyterian Church of Santa Monica, 1220 Second Street, Santa Monica
Tickets: $55, $49, $39 / $15 students; for information or tickets, call (310) 458-4504.
Ciaramella “A Piper’s Noel”
The USC-Huntington Early Modern Studies Institute presents Ciaramella and Singers Ensemble for Music of the 15th Century on Thursday evening. The program titled “A Piper’s Noel” will include diverse selections of vocal and instrumental European Renaissance music. Ciaramella describes its goal as “bringing to life Medieval and early Renaissance music from historical events and manuscripts” and is “united by the conviction that every composition conceals a rich story waiting to be unlocked through historical research and speculative performance.”
The Singers Ensemble for Music of the 15th Century will join directors Rotem Gilbert and Adam Gilbert (recorder, shawm, and bagpipe), Greg Ingles (slide trumpet and sackbut), Doug Milliken (recorder, shawm, and bagpipe), Debra Nagy (recorder and shawm), and Erik Schmalz (sackbut).
Thursday, Dec. 9, 7:30 p.m.
United University Church, University of Southern California, LA
Free admission.
For an extensive calendar of chamber music happening all around Southern California, see Jim Eninger’s Clickable Chamber Music Newsletter.