Chamber Singers and Chamber Orchestra to perform Handel's 'Jephtha'

The UCSC Chamber Singers and the UCSC Chamber Orchestra, under the baton of Nicole Paiement, will present George Frideric Handel's rarely performed oratorio Jephtha in three concerts, November 30 and December 1 in Santa Cruz, and December 2 in San Francisco.

Jephtha was written by Handel as he was confronted with blindness, approaching death, and the loss of everything dear on earth. He grapples with the idea of submission to the inevitable and denounces destiny as a crowning injustice in this great masterwork.

UCSC faculty and alumni soloists include:

  • Jephtha, Brian Staufenbiel, voice faculty and director of the UC Santa Cruz Opera

  • Storgè, Patrice Maginnis, voice faculty

  • Iphis, Sheila Willey, M.A., music '06

  • Hamor, Laura Anderson, Porter, '03; M.A., music '06

  • Zebul, Aleksey Bogdanov, Kresge '06

The Santa Cruz concerts, on Friday, November 30, and Saturday, December 1, will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the Music Recital Hall on campus. Both concerts will be preceded by a concert talk with the conductor at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:45 p.m.).

The San Francisco concert will be on Sunday, December 2, at 3 p.m. at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 1755 Clay Street. Parking is available at the Old First Parking Garage, 1725 Sacramento Street, between Van Ness and Polk.

Tickets for all three concerts are available in advance and at the door: $10 general/$8 seniors/$6 students. UCSC staff, faculty, and Alumni Association members w/ID may purchase up to two tickets at the student price. Get tickets online at santacruztickets.com or by phone from the UCSC Ticket Office, (831) 459-2159.