Concert Review - Musica Angelica (High Baroque Gems 1), Oct 2, 2004 Los Angeles

n its opening concert of the 2004/2005 season, at the elegant Zipper Hall, Musica Angelica demonstrated why it is Southern California’s premier period music ensemble. The small group of virtuosi (9 violins/violas, 2 violas da gamba, 1 doublebass, 1 harpsichord) played with fire-breathing brio and heartrending warmth that made the jaded old Baroque chestnuts fresh and fun again.

The Pachelbel Canon was therefore shed of its ponderous weight, put upon by years of the Romantic tradition, and given a rhythmically buoyant reading on only four instruments (2 violins, 1 viola, 1 cello), with an invigorating, rarely-heard Gigue to cap it off.

Handel’s set of 12 concerti grossi, Op. 6 is one of those gems, like Mozart’s last three symphonies, written in a burst of creative energy in the span of only one month. The G-major Concerto Grosso borrows its opening theme from, not surprisingly, another Handel work (opera “Imeneo”), and is redolent of Italian sunshine that Handel so loved. The Musica Angelica players clearly relished its rustic qualities, tossing the delightful motif from one instrument to another, like winged fairies darting from flower to flower in a Tuscan garden.

Vivaldi’s Concerto for oboe in D-minor ably showcased the mellifluous virtuosity of noted Baroque oboist Gonzalo Ruiz. He was joined by violinist Elizabeth Blumenstock (also with Berkeley’s Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra) in J.S. Bach’s Concerto for oboe and violin (BWV 1060) in a dialog of poetry and disarming congeniality.

The ensemble was augmented with timpani, winds and 3 valveless horns for Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 4. Maestro Harry Bicket directed a brightly cheerful performance from his ornate Venetian harpsichord.

The dark clouds gathered briefly, in honor of Musica Angelica’s late founding director Michael Eagan (1949-2004), in the touching pathos of Bach’s Air on G string. It was an achingly beautiful rendition that would have made Mr. Eagan grin from ear to ear.

The show must go on. And Music Angelica has quite an impressive lineup in the coming months. Handel’s first oratorio, “Il Trionfo del Tiempo e del Disinganno” is next up in November. Do not miss it.

For tickets and information on future concerts, call (310) 458-4504 or visit www.musicaangelica.org

Truman C. Wang is editor-in-chief of Classical Voice, whose articles have appeared in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, the Pasadena Star-News and other Southern California publications.