Handel: El Mesías HWV 56
Bach Collegium San Diego, Ruben Valenzuela
Release Date: December 11, 2026
El Mesías is a reflection of Messiah’s history of dynamic, ever-evolving performances. Even after the premiere of his Dublin version in 1742, Handel continued tailoring his score to suit the circumstances available to him. In the same spirit, we are offering the first complete Spanish-language recording of Messiah, both as a gift to those for whom Spanish is a native language, and as an occasion to rediscover this iconic oratorio in a new light and perspective.
About The Artists
Bach Collegium San Diego was founded by Artistic Director Ruben Valenzuela in 2003 to bring dynamic programming and performances with historical considerations to performance practice. Over the last 20 seasons, BCSD has garnered national and international recognition through its exemplary talent, making it one of the most distinguished early music ensembles in the country today. In 2021, the ensemble gained national attention through its El Mesías: Messiah for a New World project, which commissioned an original Spanish libretto of Handel’s oratorio. BCSD will make its European debut at Bachfest in Leipzig, Germany in June 2024, and will also perform at other Bach sites in the German state of Thuringia.
Ruben Valenzuela is the Founder and Artistic Director of Bach Collegium San Diego (BCSD). As a conductor and keyboardist he has led BCSD in notable performances of music of the Renaissance, early and high Baroque, early Classical period, as well as music of the twentieth century. Valenzuela's performances have been described as ‘dramatic’ and ‘vibrant’ and ‘able to unlock the true power of Baroque music’ (SanDiegoStory.com). Under Valenzuela’s leadership, BCSD has achieved international acclaim through virtuosic performances of iconic repertoire, in addition to lesser-known works. Valenzuela and BCSD were the recipients of Early Music America's 2023 Laurette Goldberg Award for achievement in early music engagement. Additionally, Valenzuela was awarded the 2020 Louis Botto Award for Innovative Action and Entrepreneurial Zeal by Chorus America.
With BCSD he has toured to the Festival Internacional del Órgano Barroco in Mexico City, and to the Festival Internacional de Música Renacentista y Barroca Misiones de Chiquito in Bolivia. Recently, he led BCSD and the Pauliner Barockensemble in a noteworthy performance at Bachfest 2024 (Leipzig Germany), with additional performances in Arnstadt and Naumburg. Valenzuela is regularly called upon as a guest director and keyboardist. Notable guest engagements include Bach Vespers at Holy Trinity, New York City, Marsh Chapel Choir and Collegium at Boston University, Bach at Emmanuel Church, Boston, Juilliard415 at Lincoln Center, New York City, Washington Bach Consort, Westminster Choir College with the Orchestra of St. Luke's, and Seraphic Fire. Upcoming engagements include Handel+Haydn Society, Philharmonia Baroque, Bach Vespers at Holy Trinity, New York City, and the Academia de Música Antigua (UNAM), Mexico City.
Valenzuela's musical interests are wide ranging to include a lifelong interest in Jamaican popular music of the late 1950s and 1960s, and in particular Blue Beat (Jamaican R&B), Ska, Rocksteady, and early Reggay. He is member of the Kingston Beat All-Stars, a Los Angeles based band which performs the music of Jamaica's musical golden age. Valenzuela holds a PhD in Musicology from Claremont Graduate University.
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TRACK LIST
Handel: El Mesías HWV 56
Primera parte
Sinfonía
Recitativo acompañado: Consolad a mi pueblo
Aria: Cada valle será elevado
Coro: Y la gloria de Dios
Recitativo acompañado: Dice el Señor
Aria: Mas ¿quién resistir podrá su llegada?
Coro: Él purificará
Recitativo: Mirad, la Virgen dará a luz
Aria y Coro: Oh tú que anuncias las nuevas a Sión
Recitativo acompañado: He aquí, noches oscuras vendrán
Aria: El pueblo que estaba en tinieblas
Coro: Entre nosotros nace un Dios
Sinfonía pastoral
Recitativo: Y había pastores esa noche
Recitativo acompañado: Y he aquí que un ángel del Señor
Recitativo: Pero el ángel les dice así
Recitativo acompañado: Y en multitud, al lado del ángel
Coro: Gloria a Dios
Aria: Cantad alegres
Recitativo: Y de los ciegos se abrirán los ojos
Dúo: Vendrá Él a cuidar su rebaño
Coro: Su yugo es suave
Segunda parte
Coro: He aquí el Salvador
Aria: Él fue humillado
Coro: Fue así: lo hicimos sufrir
Coro: Y en su dolor sanamos
Coro: Mas el Señor nos congregó
Recitativo acompañado: Los que lo miran se ríen de Él
Coro: Él piensa que Dios vendrá a liberarlo
Recitativo acompañado: El dolor le abrió el corazón
Arioso: Mirad, decid
Recitativo acompañado: Se le negó permanecer en su tierra
Aria: Mas no dejarás su alma sufrir
Coro: Puertas, abrid
Recitativo: Pero ¿a cuál de sus ángeles?
Coro: Que todo ángel de Dios lo adore
Aria: Asciendes a lo alto
Coro: Y Dios nos habló
Aria: Qué hermosos son esos pies
Aria: ¿Por qué los pueblos furiosos van conspirando?
Coro: Destrozad al fin sus leyes
Recitativo: Él que mora en los cielos
Aria: Destrozados con puño de hierro
Coro: ¡Aleluya!
Tercera parte
Aria: Yo sé que mi Redentor vive
Coro: Por Adán morimos
Recitativo acompañado: Oíd, os digo un misterio
Aria: Trompeta, anunciad
Recitativo: Y se podrá cumplir la orden
Dúo: ¡Morir, morir! no, ya no es el fin
Coro: Honrad y dad gracias a Dios
Aria: Si Dios nos protege
Coro: Gloria al Cordero de Dios