“Oceana” is a reinvention of the Bach cantata form for a modern age by the celebrated Argentine composer Osvaldo Golijov. It is a prophetic work, setting texts by Pablo Neruda where “crashing waves have disappeared, the seas and the songs of travelers have passed away.” It is a work that celebrates the mystery of the oceans and laments their demise using the same transcendental language and musical resources that Bach employed to celebrate God and the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus in his sacred music. In this program, Border CrosSing pairs Bach’s monumental motet “Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied” BWV 225 and watery cantata “Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam” BWV 7 with Golijov’s cantata “Oceana” and motet “Demos Gracias,” illuminating rarely highlighted connections and common ground on an epic scale.

Natalia will be performing with Border CrosSing.