Camerata Pacifica, considered one of the nation’s leading chamber ensembles, presents acclaimed flute virtuoso Emi Ferguson, and RUCKUS, "the world’s only period-instrument rock band" (San Francisco Classical Voice), in a lively performance of a selection of Bach’s transcendent Sonatas and Preludes. According Ferguson, these idiosyncratic performers reimagine Bach for the 21st-century, infusing his music “with equal parts tradition, funk, whimsy, and fun.” The all-Bach program is presented in four locations across Southern California, from the San Gabriel Valley to Santa Barbara, with performances on Tuesday, February 28, 7:30 pm, at The Huntington’s Rothenberg Hall in San Marino; Thursday, March 2, 8 pm, at Zipper Hall in Downtown Los Angeles; Friday, March 3, 7:30 pm, at Santa Barbara’s Music Academy of the West; and Sunday, March 5, 2023, 3 pm, at Museum of Ventura County in Ventura.
Ferguson, “a star early-music flutist” (New York Classical Review), stretches the boundaries of what is expected of modern-day musicians. Her unique approach to flute can be heard in performances that alternate between the silver flute, historical flutes and auxiliary flutes, and encompass repertoire that spans Renaissance to contemporary works. Ferguson appears in concert and at festivals around the globe. She has also appeared at several TEDX events and been featured on The Discovery Channel, Vox’s “Explained” series on Netflix, and Amazon’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” She was a featured performer, alongside Yo-Yo Ma, Paul Simon, and James Taylor, at the 10th Anniversary Memorial Ceremony of 9/11 at Ground Zero, where her performance of “Amazing Grace” was televised worldwide and is now part of the permanent collection at the 911 Museum. As a historical flutist, in addition to serving as Principal Flute of the Handel and Haydn Society, Ferguson is a frequent guest artist with such period groups as Voices of Music, the American Classical Orchestra, and Trinity’s Baroque Orchestra.
Ruckus is a shapeshifting, collaborative “Baroque band“ with a visceral and playful approach to early music. The band’s performances, hailed as “superb” (Opera News) are described as “achingly delicate one moment, incisive and punchy the next” (New York Times). Ruckus’s core is a continuo group, the Baroque equivalent of a jazz rhythm section: guitars, keyboards, cello, bassoon and bass. Other members include soloists of the violin, flute and oboe. The ensemble fuses the creative spirit of early music with the grit, groove, and jangle of American roots music to create a unique sound. In 2022, Rukus served as baroque band in residence at The Ojai Festival.