Joyce Didonato’s

‘Eden’ project, coming to La Jolla this week, explores and encourages our connection to nature — and each other

Multiple Grammy Award winner and Metropolitan Opera star Joyce Didonato has been very worried about climate change. Given that she is a self-described activist, Didonato decided to do something about it. And given that she is a self-described “belligerent optimist” world-renown singer, Didonato created a five-continent world tour to spread hope and seeds — literally — to audiences everywhere.

Called “Eden,” the multifaceted project brings together music, drama and education to explore how we personally connect to nature. The repertoire was carefully selected for the tour and the album of the same name, which was released early last year.

“I find it quite powerful to sail through four centuries of incredible music, basking in the genius of composers from Gluck and Myslivecek to Ives and Handel,” Didonato said in a recent email interview. “It seems that great composers go almost into a different gear when nature is their inspiration.”

Didonato will perform “Eden” on Wednesday at the La Jolla Music Society’s Baker-baum Concert Hall. She will be accompanied by Europe’s period-instrument ensemble Il Pomo d’oro, led for this evening by concertmaster Zefira Valova.

“They are incredible musical and theatrical partners,” Didonato said. “They are eager to try new things, eager to be featured in a challenging and new kind of program. … We have a synergy and a trust in each other that is quite difficult to describe but is immediately felt by the audience.”

The first song in “Eden” is Charles Ives’ “The Unanswered Question,” in which the instrumental disconnect

La Jolla Music Society presents Joyce Didonato: “Eden”

When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday

Where: Baker-baum Concert Hall at the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla

Tickets: $94-$152

Phone: (858) 459-3728

Online: theconrad.org

is deliberate and profound.

Maxim Emelyanychev of Il Pomo d’oro arranged “Question” and several other pieces in the program to accommodate chamberorchestra versions.

The Ives piece is followed by “Eden,” an original song composed by Rachel Portman, who won an Oscar in 1997 for her original score for the movie “Emma.” Commissioned by Didonato, “The First Morning of the World” is accompanied by poetry written by Gene Scheer.

It begins: There is a language without question marks … you can read it in the rings of trees.

“And we are off on a profound journey, just with his words!” Didonato said. “Gene picked up very much on my desire to bring every audience member along with us towards more connection. … It was a strong priority for us on this project to infuse people with hope by the end.”

Sprouting and flowering

Mira Mesa’s 35-member Challenger Middle School choir will join Didonato onstage to perform “Seeds of Hope,” which was collated from lyrics and melodies written for “Eden” by 11- to 13-year-old students at a London-area school.

Under the guidance of Challenger choir director Marielena Teng, the students will find that the performance is just the tip of the iceberg. The youngsters will also participate in four workshops here exploring climate-change themes.

Allison Boles, the La Jolla Music Society’s director of learning and engagement, explained that the “Eden” team offered two options: to be a “root” or “seed” city. Root cities hold at least three workshops for the school of their choosing.

“We said yes to the root city, because the more we can do the better,” Boles said. “Music and education fits into what we’re doing. Personally, I think music can change hearts and minds. This is the best way to make discoveries and learn.”

With support from the “Eden” team, each city develops its own curriculum. In San Diego, educator and expressive arts therapist Elizabeth Tobias will lead the four sessions, all but one at The Conrad.

“I’ve worked with Elizabeth and am thrilled she was selected,” Boles noted. “She’s a very talented artist and educator.”

The first session took place last week and explored climate change on a personal level. After Wednesday’s concert in La Jolla, the second session will focus on water, with a visit from staff from Chula Vista’s