Artwork by Entropy.
Friday, November 20, 2020 @ 7:00pm
LIVE ON SFGC’S YOUTUBE CHANNEL
Valérie Sainte-Agathe, Artistic Director
Céline Ricci, Stage Director & Ars Minerva Artistic Director
Corey Jamason, Harpsichord
SF Girls Chorus and Ars Minerva, the SF-based organization specializing in Baroque performance, co-present a unique video collaboration featuring excerpts from Vivaldi’s only surviving oratorio Juditha Triumphans. Written in 1716, and based on the Book of Judith, the work was specifically conceived as an all-female oratorio (for five female voices and choir). Vivaldi wrote the work for the Ospedale della Pietà, an orphanage primarily for girls.
Rather than a virtual approximation of a more traditionally staged performance, this presentation will use only carefully-curated selections from Juditha Triumphans adapted into a special virtual performance by SFGC’s Premier Ensemble, including video clips, artwork, and movement, edited by videographer Mike Axinn of One to One Box. An in-person full stage adaption is planned for a future season.
Ars Minerva, led by Mezzo-Soprano Céline Ricci, has been described by the SF Chronicle as an “intrepid local company” and praised for “taking on on the mission of rescuing forgotten Baroque operas from the shadows.” Ricci is also one of SFGC’s Soloist Intensive Instructors.
GRAMMY-nominated harpsichord and SFCM Chair of Historical Performance Corey Jamason will feature as guest artist for this project. Described by the Los Angeles Times as displaying “the careful, due balance of objective detachment and lofty passion,” Jamason appears with numerous Bay Area ensembles including American Bach Soloists with whom he is principal keyboard.
The livestream performance will also feature a selection of Baroque arias by women composers of the Baroque era, performed by members of SFGC’s Soloist Intensive.
PROGRAM
Juditha Truiumphans (excerpts) Antonio Vivaldi
Così non la voglio Barbara Strozzi
Mercé di voi Barbara Strozzi
O dilecto O amatissime Jesu Leonarda
SFGC relies on donations to support our creative performances and programming. Please consider making a donation at the cost of an in-person ticket of $25 to offset the cost of video production and guest artist appearances. All donations in support of Juditha Trimphans will be split with our presenter, Ars Minerva.
Original artwork, inspired by the story of Judith, crafted by members of the Premier Ensemble of the San Francisco Girls Chorus.
By Annika Pyo, Premier Ensemble Member
By Eliana Schiller, Premier Ensemble Member
By Firefly-Freeman Cherry, Premier Ensemble Member
The 2020-2021 season is made possible, in part, by support from San Francisco Grants for the Arts, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and other institutional, corporate, and individual funders.