Director Martin Haselbock and his Musica Angelica Baroque Orchestra, after a two-year respite due to Covid, finally were able to play in front of a live audience at First Congregational Church of LA, and it seemed as if it was a seamless transition from online concerts.

This Christmas concert brought happiness and joy to all as their melodic music filled the sanctuary of that great stain-glass-filled edifice.

Two very capable soloists entertained. Soprano Teresa Wakim and trumpeter Siegried Koch.

And concertmaster Ilia Korol masterfully led the fourteen piece orchestra, including Haselbock playing on two different keyboards.

The bright spot of the performance was the final piece of the second half. J.S. Bach's only church cantata, "Jauchzet Gott in Allen Landen," scored for solo soprano and trumpet, featuring Grammy-nominated Wakim and Koch. Their chemistry was remarkable accompanied by the finely-tuned orchestra.

Also included in the program was George Handel's two arias - an ode to Queen Anne in "Eternal Source of Light Divine" and "Let the Bright Seraphim" based on John Milton's poetry - and a concerto devoted to wind instruments by Georg Philipp Telemann.

It was a great way to celebrate the Christmas season.