Arts Alive San Antonio

Fiesta is still with us and it brings us some good music this weekend. But let’s start with the promising
Musical Bridges Around the World’s Sunday concert “Happy Birthday Schubert.” Poor Schubert lived only for 31 years but he sure left a huge musical legacy, including 600 songs. The San Antonio Cathedral concert will mark the composers 225 birthday in a show featuring the Dallas-based Julius Quartet and Ukrainian–born soprano, Yelena Dyachek, who will sing several beautiful songs. (April 10, 7 p.m.; San Fernando Cathedral, Main Plaza; free but tickets required: https://musicalbridges.org) {See article from April 6 on this site)

Another, rather unique concert, will take place at the Chapel of the Incarnate Word, where 14 acclaimed organists will participate in playing the 14 movements of Marcel Dupre’s “Stations of the Cross” Friday, April 15 at 3 p.m. This extended prayer service and concert is part of the Caritas Concerts, recently founded by organist and music teacher, Mary Ann Winden and The Sisters of the Incarnate Word. The 14 organists will play on the Chapel’s magnificent Schoenstein organ.  

SOLI Chamber Ensemble’s season finale, “Prisms,” will feature the world premiere of “Holbein Dances” by Puerto-Rican American composer, Armando Bayolo, who has twice been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in music. Known for playing contemporary composers, the SOLI quartet will also perform compositions by Ukrainian composer Bohdana Frohlyak and American composers Jessie Montgomery, and Texas native, Edna Alejandra Longoria. The last two “portray a perspective on the pandemic in their respective works, both written in 2020. (April 11 at 7 p.m.; San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston Place, 78209; Patio seating $25; Lawn seating $15 (bring chairs or blankets). Purchase tickets at www.solichamberensemble.com.)

Camerata San Antonio is presenting an “ALL RAVEL” program for its season finalein three performances:April 8 at 4 p.m. at the Kerrville First Presbyterian Church; April 9 at 3 p.m. at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit inNorthwest San Antonio, and at the University of the Incarnate World on April 10, also at 3 p.m. (tickets $20 available online or by calling 210-492-9519.)

Among the Fiesta events, here’s one that attracted our attention: Fiesta Family Blues Festival, presented by the San Antonio African-American Community Archive and Museum at The Espee downtown (St. Paul Square) It consists of two parts. The first part, noon-4 p.m. will feature the Agarita Chamber Players, Dan & Claudia Zanes, and T-Bow Gonzales (free). For the evening part,
6 p.m. -11 p.m., you’ll need a ticket because it’s a fundraiser. Performers include the Keeshea Pratt Band, Soul Man Sam, Eddie & the Allniters and the Raa-Raa Zydeco, with Keith Scott as host. Tickets are $45-$750. During the free family time, all kinds of fun activities will be there for kids and adults to enjoy, including Biohazard Brass Band from Fort Sam Houston, a participatory drumming circle, a petting zoo, local artisans, Fiesta medals, and more. https://saaacam.org.

Agarita will also perform one of its Humble Hall outdoor concerts Friday at 5 p.m. at the Jefferson Bodega in District 7, 1005 Donaldson Ave. Bring folding chairs. The Alamo Heights High School String Quartet will open the show. (Free)

The Heart of Texas Concert Band is presenting a concert focused entirely on the music of Robert Russell Bennett. “You may not recognize the name, but you have heard his music” says the announcement. The selected program features both music composed and arranged by Bennett, and it’s part of the band’s Composer Showcase series. Bennet was an award-winning arranger for famous Broadway and Hollywood musicals as well as a prolific composer in his own right. (April 10 at 3 p.m.; Johnson High Schoool, 23203 Bulverde Rd., 78259; free admission)

The big dance event this weekend is the return of the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico De Amalia Hernandez, the beloved, dynamic, flashy and colorful company that showcases Mexican folk dance traditions performed by top dance artists. Hernandez started the company to preserve traditional dance forms, making her company a most welcome ambassador of her nation. Over the years, the company has given more than 5,000 performances and received some 300 awards for artistic merit. (April 10 at 7 p.m.; Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle; tickets $29.50 – $75, tickets@tobincenter.org or call 210-223-8624)

Another Tobin offering is “South Pacific,” though it’s not clear who or what company actually produced this production of one of the most iconic American musicals, first staged in 1949. There will be a pre-show presentation by Trinity professor, Nathan Stitch,” about the role ‘South Pacific’ plays in our cultural history.” A Q&A with the cast follows the show. If you are not particularly interested in all that talk, just enjoy the beautiful songs. (April 9 at 8 p.m.; Tobin Center – see address above; tickets $49.50 – $94.50; tickets@tobincenter.org or call 210-223-8624)

Unfortunately, the Majestic Theater has announced the cancellations of two popular shows that were scheduled for this coming week: Celtic Thunder and Il Volo Sings Morricone. 

As many of you know, April is also National Poetry Month, and a lot is going on that front. San Antonio is blessed to have many talented and active poets. We have told you about the Ekphrastic Poetry Contest and we are publishing all the winning entries on several consecutive Mondays. For the contest, five local museums selected an artwork in their respective collections to serve as inspiration for poems. Sunday, the Briscoe Museum will have a celebration “The Poetry of Art” featuring readings. (210 W. Market St., 210-299-4499, www.briscoemuseum.org) On April 13, there will be a similar event at the Palmetto Center on the campus of Northwest Vista College. (April 13 at 12:30 p.m.; Maverick Poets: Visual Art and Spoken Word, Palmetto Center, 3535 N. Ellison Drive, 78251; 210-486-4527)

The Blue Star Contemporary and Sala Diaz will be hosting an evening with poet Clemonce Heard, focusing on his recent poetry collection, “Tragic City.”  His poems “investigate the events of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. (April 14 at 6 p.m.; the Spire at 230 Center Street)

Also part of Poetry Month is MEGA CORAZON, a spoken word marathon presented every day in April by URBAN 15. All poetry styles are represented. To watch go to https://urban15.org/live-stream.

And there’s more!

The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Ccnter is bringing back its successful one-woman play, “Carmen from Mexico.” Written and performed by actress/playwright Anna De Luna, it’s a multi-media play with live music accompaniment, telling the story of De Luna’s mother’s immigration from Mexico and the struggles that she went through. The production will also travel to Denver’s Su Teatro Cultural & Performing Arts Center later in April. The play is directed by experienced thespian, Jorge Pina. (April 15-16 at 8 p.m.; Guadalupe Theater, 1301 Guadalupe St.;  $12, www.guadalupeculturalarts.org or call 210-271-3151)

 This is also the last weekend to see “35mm” at the Public Theater. (800 W. Ashby, 78212, 210-733-7258) This is a novel kind of musical that combines photography and performance in a series of vignettes.

We seldom include events happening well outside our region but this one has a Texas connection. The Pasadena Playhouse is staging “Ann,” the play based on the former Texas governor, Ann Richards’ time in office, written and performed by Holland Taylor. The former governor’s daughter, Cecile Richards will join Taylor on stage for a discussion about leadership, legacy and creating change “in these times.” (For more info contact the playhouse at www.passadenaplayhouse.org or call 626-356-7529)

Visual artists may be interested to learn that the University Health System is looking for artworks for its Women’s and Children Hospital. The call is open until Dec. 15; https://www.publicartist.org/ca;;.cfm?id=5972