By Phil Houseal Is there a place where fans of classic country music can go to hear the old tunes, dance to their favorite memories, and maybe even meet their music heroes? Yes. Here in Central Texas, they go to the Heart of Texas Country Music Festival, now in its 36th year. The name is intentional, for not only does …
Reviewed by Steven G. Kellman Karen Russell’s debut novel, Swamplandia!, the exuberant account of an alligator-wrestling theme park in southwest Florida, appeared 14 years ago. Her second novel, published now, is also imbued with a vivid sense of place, except that, instead of the author’s native Sunshine State, the setting for The Antidote is 1935 Uz, Nebraska – during …
Here’s a group we don’t hear that much about: The Olmos Ensemble, created byfour talented and experienced musicians: Eric Gratz (violin), Matthew Cohen (viola), Julian Schwartz (cello) and IlyaShterenberg (clarinet). They will perform two concerts in the upcoming days: “Music From St.Mark’s Presents Olmos Ensemble” on March 9, and “Olmos Ensemble presents Viennese Masters,” on March 10. The first concert …
AN INTERVIEW WITH DANIEL ANASTASIO, Pianist and Artistic Director of the AGARITA CHAMBER PLAYERS Interview by JASMINA WELLIINGHOFF, Editor There are references in your online material that AGARITA is reinventing the concert experience. Please explain how? Your typical classical music concert includes a few large (25+ minutes) works by canonic composers like Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Debussy, etc., with a shorter …
‘NEWS ROUNDUP. 2/28/2025 This weekend you have a chance to experience one of the most powerful choral works ever composed –Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana,” a raucous setting of 24 medieval poems that deal with themes of love, life and fate, with satirical undertones. It will be performed by YOSA – Youth Orchestras of San Antonio – under the direction of …
This weekend you have a chance to experience one of the most powerful choral works ever composed –Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana,” a raucous setting of 24 medieval poems that deal with themes of love, life and fate, with satirical undertones. It will be performed by YOSA – Youth Orchestras of San Antonio – under the direction of music director, Troy …
Reviewed by Steven G. Kellman Like the universe, The Human Scale begins with a big bang. A terrorist bomb is discovered aboard a commercial flight about to depart Jordan’s Queen Alia International Airport bound for JFK. Although the device is removed from the plane, it explodes while being disassembled, killing five security officers. A sixth, FBI agent Anthony Malik, …
The San Antonio Philharmonic’s Classics VI concerts are taking place at the orchestra’s new home, the Scottish Rite Hall downtown. On the program are Mendelssonhn’s “Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage,”Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major and Gabriela Lena Frank’s “Walkabout: Concerto Orchestra”The concerts will be contacted by Colombian American guest conductor, Lina Gonzalez-Granados, and will feature violinist Blake …
By JASMINA WELLINGHOFF, editor Almost everyone knows the story of “Peter Pan” but Ballet San Antonio is about to present a new ballet version of the old tale. So, we talked to the choreographer, Brian Enos, about the upcoming show that will take over the Tobin Center’s stage for four performances. –What version of the story have you chosen?
Reviewed by Steven G. Kellman During the final months of his life, Johann Sebastian Bach, who died in 1750, became blind. The composer underwent eye surgery, twice, without anesthesia, at the hands of “Chevalier” John Taylor, a self-aggrandizing charlatan who is believed to have blinded hundreds of hapless patients. The procedure is thought to have killed Bach. The …
