Jacaranda: Passion

JS Bach’s stubbornly challenging but supremely rewarding Easter Oratorio (1725) has never been performed in Los Angeles! One might expect such a situation with some small piece that came to light because of recent Bach scholarship, but this 40-minute companion to the 180-minute Christmas Oratorio will receive its LA premiere in 2022. Perhaps the virtuoso requirements of vocal soloists, chorus, and orchestra (three trumpets, three oboes!) were too daunting for such a compact work to be undertaken before. Nevertheless, Jacaranda’s mission is to introduce neglected works to concert life in Southern California. The Jacaranda team will offer you fiery brilliance, sublime and spirited singing, and rousing instrumentalists including the organ refurbished in 2019. Ten years ago, we provided the same service for Lou Harrison’s ravishing Suite for Violin & Strings with a very pregnant Alyssa Park. She returns to give this wonderful candidate for entry into the standard repertoire – a booster shot!