On October 20 & 21, 2018, Jouyssance Early Music Ensemble presented concerts featuring early choral music from the Americas. In addition to excerpts from the first New World opera, this program featured a host of secular and sacred music by Franco, Araujo, Fernandes, Velasco, Padilla and others. Jouyssance was also joined by guest musicians Jack Sanders (guitar), Ethan Williams (harpsichord) and Shanon Zusman (bass/viola da gamba).

We’re delighted to share video highlights and program notes from this event with you here on the blog!

Jouyssance performed "Sancta Maria" by Hernando Franco (1532-1585) as part of our Musical Journey to Nueva España concert on October 20, 2018 at St. Paul the Apostle in Los Angeles, CA.

On October 20, 2018 Jouyssance performed this opera as part of our Musical Journey to Nueva España program at St. Paul the Apostle in Westwood, Los Angeles. Widely considered to be the first opera composed and performed in the Americas, this piece by Tomás de Torrejón y Velasco with a Spanish libretto by Pedro Calderón de la Barca tells the story Venus and Adonis.

This concert was made possible in part by a grant from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.