One of the country’s finest chamber orchestras, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) will be performing Johann Sebastian Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos No. 2-5, led by Margaret Batjer.
Johann Sebastian Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos No. 2-5
Among the greatest achievements of the Baroque era, Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos employ varied instrumentation that highlights the virtuosity of each musician. How did these familiar 300-year-old tunes become favorites in the classical music canon? Los Angeles Times writer Mark Swed puts it best, “The concertos don’t have anything to do with anything, other than being a demonstration of Bach’s amazing ingenuity and his inordinate ability to delight.”
Musicians:
Margaret Batjer, Leader
Josefina Vergara, Violin
Sarah Thornblade, Violin
Meredith Crawford, Viola
Jonathan Moerschel, Viola
Nicolas Valencia, Viola
Andrew Shulman, Cello
Armen Ksajikian, Cello
David Grossman, Bass
Ben Smolen, Flute
Sandy Hughes, Flute
Claire Brazeau, Oboe
David Washburn, Piccolo Trumpet
Patricia Mabee, Harpsichord
Specific repertoire:
Concerto No. 2 in F major
Concerto No. 3 in G major
Concerto No. 4 in G major
Concerto No. 5 in D major
Beloved by audiences and praised by critics, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, known to Angelenos as LACO, is a preeminent interpreter of historical masterworks as well as a champion of contemporary composers. Headquartered in the heart of the country’s cultural capital, LACO has been proclaimed “America’s finest chamber orchestra” (Public Radio International), “LA’s most unintimidating chamber music experience” (Los Angeles Magazine), “resplendent” (Los Angeles Times), and “one of the world’s great chamber orchestras”(KUSC Classical FM).
LACO was founded in 1968 as an artistic outlet for the recording industry’s most gifted musicians. Founder, cellist James Arkatov, envisioned an ensemble that would allow these conservatory-trained players to balance studio work and teaching with pure artistic collaboration at the highest level. The Orchestra presented its first performances with the financial backing of philanthropist Richard Colburn and managerial expertise from attorney Joseph Troy, who also became the Orchestra’s first president. Sir Neville Marriner, Gerard Schwarz, Iona Brown, Christof Perick and Jeffrey Kahane, LACO’s illustrious music directors, each built upon a tradition of joyous music-making performed by exceptional artists. Jaime Martín, praised as “a visionary conductor, discerning and meticulous” (Platea Magazine), joined LACO as Music Director at the start of our 2019/20 season.
LACO has made 31 recordings, toured Europe, South America and Japan, performed across North America, and garnered eight ASCAP Awards for Adventurous Programming.