Child of the Church (COTC) Productions, co-founded by director and vocalist Lucia della Paolera and composer Gobby, presents Spirit and Soul Become Confused. Drawing its title from J. S. Bach’s 1726 sacred cantata (Geist und Seele wird verwirret) for contralto, BWV 35, this staged music performance in two parts for fourteen musicians weaves together radically rearranged baroque, classical, folk, pop, and electronic music into a cohesive tapestry. The performance features original costumes, set, choreography, and laser projections inspired by the cantata’s libretto.
In Part 1, the cantata is reorchestrated by della Paolera, Gobby, and cellist Timothy Rusterholz to include synthesizers, saxophones, clarinet, drums, string quartet, bass, trumpet, and mezzo-soprano. Using the miracles described in the cantata as a catalyst, COTC injects new music and choreography directly into Bach’s composition, stretching open the piece to give space to new sounds and connotations. In Part 2, the performers, now joined by harp and guitar, navigate through a maze of sorrows in many shades—from somber to clownish, personal to communal. Original compositions by COTC musicians Gobby (trumpet), Timothy Rusterholz (cello), and Jake Dester (alto saxophone) are interwoven with reorchestrated renditions of works by George Frederic Handel, Georg Philipp Telemann, Luciano Berio, Juaquín Rodrigo, Sérgio Assad, and Raphael. Fusing a wide range of music, old and new, Spirit and Soul Become Confused is a trance-like, continually mutating, and expansive work.
Participating artists:
Directed & Produced by: Lucia della Paolera
In Collaboration with: Gobby
Musical Direction: Lucia della Paolera, Gobby, Timothy Rusterholz
Movement Direction: Monica Mirabile
Set Design: Dorian McKaie
Costume Styling: Lester Garcia
Graphic + Costume Production: Justine Lugli
Projection Design: Michael Guidetti
Lighting Design: Seth Tillett
Musicians:
Francesca Amadée Caruso violin
Matt Aronoff bass
Ludovica Burtone violin
Lucia della Paolera mezzo soprano
Jake Dester alto saxophone
Gobby trumpet
Juan José Jiménez drums
Brian Krock clarinet + piccolo
Alex LoRe soprano saxophone
Justine Lugli viola
Rianne Mision guitar
Timothy Rusterholz cello
Esther Sibiude harp
Thomas Hobson Williams synthesizer
Created with support from:
NYSCA – Composer Commission
ID Studio – Fiscal Sponsor
A livestream will be available free of charge at 8pm on the day of the performance and archived for future viewing. Watch below or on YouTube.
