Two Public Lectures
These FREE events are part of an exciting collaboration between San Diego Early Music Society and the La Jolla Symphony & Chorus, featuring two SDEMS-sponsored public lectures that complement LJS&C’s upcoming performances of J. S. Bach’s St. John Passion.
Dr. Daniel R. Melamed, “The Elements of a Bach Passion.” Introduction by Dr. Ruben Valenzuela.
Tuesday, February 24, 7:30 p.m.
Conrad Prebys Music Center, UCSD, Room 127
Paid parking in the Gilman parking structure, 3100 Gilman Dr.
What was a passion setting in J. S. Bach’s time? What was its purpose? When and where was it heard? What textual and musical materials was it made from? How were its words and music meant to be understood in Bach’s day? If we are going to understand what Bach’s St. John Passion might mean today, we need to start with these questions about the piece as its librettist and composer regarded it in 1724.
Daniel R. Melamed is professor emeritus of musicology at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. He is director of the Bloomington Bach Cantata Project and co-author, with Michael Marissen, of BachCantataTexts.org, a freely available source for historically informed translations of the texts of J. S. Bach’s vocal music. His book Hearing Bach’s Passions, for general readers, is available from Oxford University Press. He also serves as president of the Mozart Society of America.
Dr. Michael Marissen, “The Portrayal of Jews and Christians in Bach’s St. John Passion.” Introduction by Dr. Ruben Valenzuela.
Tuesday, March 10, 7:30 p.m.
Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center
4126 Executive Dr., Rehearsal Room
Free on-site parking.
Illustrating his talk with musical examples, Marissen will speak on the ways Bach depicts Jews and Christians and on how Bach musically heightens not only various marvelous sentiments but also various troubling sentiments found in the New Testament and some key writings of Martin Luther.
Michael Marissen is the Daniel Underhill Professor Emeritus of Music at Swarthmore College. He is co-author, with Daniel R. Melamed, of BachCantataTexts.org, a freely available source for historically informed translations of the texts in J. S. Bach’s vocal music. He has written many essays on music and religion for general-audience venues, including the Huffington Post and The New York Times. His most recent books are Bach & God and Bach against Modernity, both available from Oxford University Press. He has also served on many panels with rabbis and ministers promoting dialogue among Jews and Christians.
and then attend…
Passion & Devotion
La Jolla Symphony & Chorus
March 14, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
March 15, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral
2728 Sixth Ave. San Diego, CA 92103
Johann Sebastian Bach – St. John Passion
Join La Jolla Symphony & Chorus for a one-of-a-kind collaboration with community partner San Diego Ballet. La Jolla Symphony & Chorus will perform Bach’s St. John Passion, a work akin to opera in its scope and drama.
The musical performance will be complemented by atmospheric elements and choreographic excerpts featuring dancers from the San Diego Ballet, incorporating classical and contemporary dance.
This unique concert will take place in the gothic architectural setting of St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, creating a beautifully immersive acoustic experience.