I can’t lie — I wasn’t sure what I was expecting when I heard Musica Angelica was hosting a Bach organ concert with lasers. However, I certainly wasn’t disappointed. The April 11 event with Organist-in-Residence Christoph Bull at First Congregational Church Los Angeles was phenomenal.
The party started outside before the show with Caribbean food from the Tropic Truck and the courtyard decked out with a full bar (and great mocktails), tables (with tablecloths) and chairs, heat lamps and classic rock music.
When I first walked into the church, I said, “Wow!” The sanctuary was aglow with blue accent lighting, and smoke machines gave the space a mysterious feel. The organ was an impressive beast of an instrument! The Great Organs of First Church are actually several organs joined together, making it one of the largest church pipe organs in the world — with 18,094 speaking pipes, 328 ranks, 15 divisions and 278 speaking stops.
Bull’s performance was immaculate. It encapsulated the essence and spirit of baroque music, especially Bach, to a T, with Bull putting his own delightful twists and interpretations on Bach’s pieces, sometimes mixing them with other artists such as Britney Spears with the Dorian Toccata, or the German electronic music group Kraftwerk with the Toccata in F Major, or even Mendelssohn with the Prelude in D Minor from the Well-Tempered Clavier. After his wonderful interpretation of the Organ Concerto in A Minor, he even added a second movement quoting specific elements of the piece. If you’re a Bach purist, he may not be for you, but I think the entire concert was incredible and this is the perfect way to bring classical music to new ears, especially by making the typically conservative feel of the church feel more accessible.
Speaking of delightful twists and enhancing accessibility, the laser show was amazing. It often synced up with the music, making the church feel like a rock concert, only even better because the rock stars were Bach and Bull, especially when the lasers collided with the incredible arches and elaborate architecture of the church. The atmosphere of the lasers almost emanating from around the organ was spectacular. One small thing I would’ve changed, though, is the direction of some of the lasers. Many of the most spectacular effects happened behind the audience, with the beams lighting up the ornate designs at the back of the church. If there had been some lasers aimed toward the front, the visual magic already present could have been enhanced further.
I enjoyed the concert immensely. A huge hats-off to Christoph Bull, Artistic Laser Productions and Musica Angelica for the unforgettable experience!
—Haydn Schlinger, Culture Spot LA
For information about upcoming concerts, including St. Matthew Passion this weekend, visit https://www.musicaangelica.org. For more about Christoph Bull, the Great Organs and FCCLA, visit https://www.fccla.org.
Photo by Haydn Schlinger