Embassy Sponsors Series of Free Concerts

By C. Gallardo

The ensemble Bach Collegium San Diego offered spectacular performances during the Baroque Music Festival (State Dept.)

Sponsored by the U.S. Embassy, early music ensemble Bach Collegium San Diego offered three spectacular performances during the Baroque Music Festival in Concepcion, San Xavier, and Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Also, the group offered a farewell concert at the San Francisco Temple in the city of Tarija, where the audience gave them a standing ovation.

Bach Collegium San Diego was founded in 2003 by Ruben Valenzuela and this is the first time they had the opportunity to visit Bolivia. The members of the ensemble are virtuoso players of ancient instruments, such as the harpsichord, violin, theorbo, and baroque flute. Their repertoire consisted of pieces by European composers like Handel and Corelli, but also included pieces of music of the Bolivian missionary archives that were recently restored.

The members of the group were declared "Guests of Honor" by the towns of Concepcion and San Javier and they had an opportunity to see traditional dances performed by students of several local schools.

The program was sponsored in cooperation with Asociación Pro Arte y Cultura of Santa Cruz, the Municipal Government of Tarija, and Centro Boliviano Americano of Tarija.