Camerata Pacifica Baroque: Strawberry Fields at Music Academy of the West

Camerata Pacifica’s Baroque program “Strawberry Fields,” offering a unique glimpse into the vibrant musical and social fabric of 18th-century England, is a foot-stomping celebration of two iconic composers who, though they never met, shared a passion for music and dance: George Frideric Handel and Ignatius Sancho.

Featuring the return of audience favorites violinist Rachell Ellen Wong and baroque continuo band Ruckus, along with flutist Emi Ferguson, music director of Camerata Pacifica Baroque series, “Strawberry Fields” interweaves their unique arrangements of three of Handel's inventive trio sonatas with Sancho's upbeat 12 Country Dances for the Year 1779. The name of Camerata Pacifica’s program is inspired by the colorful title of one of the 12 movements in Sancho’s work: “Strawberries and Cream.”

Presented at four Southern California locations, the performances of the Baroque program are Tuesday, February 25, 7:30 pm, at The Huntington’s Rothenberg Hall in San Marino; Thursday, February 27, 8:00 pm, at Zipper Hall in Downtown Los Angeles; Friday, February 28, 7:00 pm, at Santa Barbara’s Music Academy of the West; and Sunday, March 2, 2025, 3:00 pm, at Thousand Oaks’ Janet and Ray Scherr Forum.

For tickets ($75 at The Huntington, Music Academy of the West, and Zipper Hall; $91, including fees, at Janet and Ray Scherr Forum) and information, visit www.cameratapacifica.org.