The Symphony is Back… News Roundup, Feb. 4, 2021
The big news this weekend is the return of the San Antonio Symphony to its performing home at the Tobin Center. Yes, they will perform in-person on stage, albeit in a reduced configuration and with only about 275 people in the audience. Still, it’s something to be optimistic about. This is the orchestra’s first in-person concert since March 2020.
“This has been an extraordinarily challenging time, and as we begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel, we are thrilled to be leading the way in returning to consistent, live concerts at the Tobin,” said Executive Director Corey Cowart,” in the press release.
As can be expected, the concertgoing rules have been adapted to present conditions. This weekend’s concerts will last only one hour and there will be no intermission. Audience members are asked to wear masks from the moment they walk through the doors until they leave the building. And there will be temperature checks, hand sanitizing stations, and special audience routing throughout the Tobin. Only 30 musicians will be on stage.
One of them is principal cellist, Ken Freudigman, the co-founder of Camerata San Antonio. “It feels great to be back on stage and making music again,” he said after Thursday’s rehearsal. “After 11 months though, being around a lot of people is kind of strange! But the health and safety committee has done an amazing job to set the conditions for us all to feel safe at work during this challenging time.”
Social distancing is, of course, part of the new stage setup. “It took about an hour to get used to the sound at these distances but we’ve already adjusted to the new reality, and it’s going to sound wonderful,” added Freudigman.
The first back-to-the-stage program includes Mozart’s Divertimento in D K136; George Walker’s “Lyric for Strings;” “Coventry Meditation for Strings” by Czech composer, Vilem Tausky, and Haydn’s Sinfonia #34. Both concerts will be conducted by David Danzmayr, who has conducted orchestras throughout the U.S. and Europe. Freudigman described him as “an engaging and dynamic conductor who seems to have not only an affinity for the classics but does well with modern works as well.”
Single ticket purchases for the performances Friday and Saturday “will be walk-up only” at the Tobin’s box office. Patrons who want to renew their subscription for the season should contact the Symphony’s box office at boxoffice@sasymphony.org or call 210-554-1080. To watch the livestream from home, go to www.sasymphony.org/livestream-donation/ to donate $21. (Friday, Feb. 5 & Sat., Feb.6 at 8 p.m.; Tobin Center, 100 Auditorium Circle.) The next pair of concerts is scheduled for Feb.19-20.
Since February is Black History Month, a number of arts groups will be offering programming focusing on African-American themes. The Public Theater of San Antonio has extended its run of “Thurgood” for four “special encore performances.” Written by George Stevens, Jr., the one-man play is the story of the first African-American Supreme Court justice, Thurgood Marshall, and his role in the Brown vs. Board of Education case. (Online performances only, $10: Feb. 10, available to watch until 11:45 p.m., http://bit.ly/3olOmdw; Feb. 18, same as on Feb. 10, http://bit.ly/3rmDmmJ; Feb. 20th and 27th streaming starts at 7 p.m.)
On Feb. 12, The Woodlawn Theater will feature four talented black performers in its regular Woodlawn After Dark Cabaret program: Marie Bunch, Edward Burkley, Walter Sanders III, and Danielle King. Sounds like a not-to-be-missed show! The singers will be accompanied by pianist Darrin Newhart. (Feb. 12 at 8 p.m., $5 per household. To register go to www.woodlawntheatre.org and click on “Experience.”)
And the Classic Theatre of San Antonio is inviting you to watch its Dreamweek Community Conversation with a group of black women, discussing the choices they had to make as black women that affected their “Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Happiness.” (The latter was the main theme of the 2021 Dreamweek.) To watch the video of the discussion, which is preceded by a moving chorus of singing voices, click on DreamWeek Community Conversation: Amplifying Black Female Voices (Part4) – YouTube
We recently discovered the San Antonio African-American Community Archive & Museum as a source of information about black history and a sponsor of various events, including an exhibit opening at La Villita later in the month. Right now, you can visit the organization’s site at www.saaacam.org to learn more about its mission and purpose.
You can also learn a lot from the film “Walk on the River: A Black History of the Alamo city,” which received the 2019 San Antonio Independent Filmmakers grant. To find out how to watch go to https://www.melaneyesmedia.com.
On the lighter side, we would like to remind you of the fun exhibit at the Carver Community Cultural Center: “The Glorious Ways She Moves – Black Venus,” an exhibit of paintings by Barbara Felix who used real San Antonio women as her models and inspiration. “My interpretive portraits illustrate the exuberance and individuality of each muse I celebrate,” states the artist. (www.thecarver.org, 210-207-7211)
Here’s good news for fans of blues, classic country and punk: yes, all three of those styles and then some. Scott H. Biram plays all of them and he will be at Sam’s Burger Joint this Saturday. He also happens to be an ordained preacher! Shows sell fast. All seating is at tables to facilitate social distancing. (330 E. Grayson St., 210-223-2830; tickets $36 – $100; doors open at 7:30 p.m., show starts an hour later.) Two Tons of Steel will play Friday, Feb. 12.)
And jazz lovers will be very happy to learn that Jazz TX has reopened for business. You can again enjoy jazz master Doc Watkins and his Quartet while sipping and dining at the intimate Pearl venue. In addition to jazz, they play blues, TX swing, salsa, and Latin jazz. (312 Pearl Parkway, Building 6, suite 6001; 210-332-9386, www.jazztx.com; Online reservation for 6 people require a $50 pre-payment per person. Friday-Saturday at 7 p.m.)
Another “jazzy” event is the San Antonio Museum of Art’s Touch-free Family Day: Jazz It Up on Feb. 7, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. You can pick up an art kit with everything you need to create a mixed media jazz collage, write a poem or paint something else of your choice. Visit the museum’s American galleries where you’ll see works inspired by jazz. (Free with museum admission; (SAMA, 200 W. Jones Ave.; 210-978-8140; www.samuseum.org.) The museum’s Valentine’s Day dinner-and-visit combo is sold out.
Luminaria is inviting artists to submit proposals for the 2021 Luminaria Artist Foundation Grants, which are given for the creation/development of new original work. Proposals must be submitted through www.AnyArtist.org by Feb. 24. Smaller, up to $500 grants, are also available to cover costs of equipment, educational opportunities, travel and other technical costs associated with creating art and career advancement. This grant is funded by the city and intended for San Antonio residents only. For more info go to www.LuminariaSA.org
As already mentioned above, the theme of the 2021 Dreamweek was “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness,” so Luminaria partnered with Dreamweek to curate an online community gallery displaying works that reflect that theme. You can view the Artistic Dreams Gallery at https://dreamweek.org/artistic-dreams/
In Brief
The Southwest School of Art has postponed our favorite FIESTA event – the FIESTA Art Fair until 2022. The Classic Theatre has changed the dates of its upcoming productions, “Antigone” and “Our Town.” The new dates are April 8-25 for “Antigone” and May 13-30 for “Our Town.” Both will be staged at the Botanical Garden. Gemini Ink is offering an interesting class – “Writing for Heroic Power: Homer, Dante & Virgil in Light of Modern Realities, to be taught by the organization’s board president Charles Massiatte. (2nd Thursday of each month, Feb.-May; $25 per class; all four $$75; www.geminiink.org)