Arts Alive San Antonio

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 Pouiliot “celebrated for his captivating artistry,” says the press announcement. Frank, whose music explores her multicultural identity through complex sonic landscapes, often draws inspiration from Latin America’s folk traditions, poetry, mythology, and the natural world, creating “a unique and powerful musical language that is both deeply personal and universally resonant.”
(Feb. 21-22 at 7:30 p.m.; Scottish Rite Hall, 308 Ave E, 78205; doors open at 6:30 p.m. tickets are
$25-$85; www.saphil.org/tickets-and-packages/)

The San Antonio Chamber Music Society is bringing to town another stellar quartet, the award-winning
Poiesis Quartet which is replacing the originally scheduled Dior String Quartet which had to cancel its tour. Founded during Oberlin Conservatory’s Advanced Quartet Seminar program in 2022, the Poiesis was the 2023 Grand Prize winner of the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. Within their first year of playing together, they also received other awards and medals. The group seeks to program music of all styles and genres. (March 2 at 3:15 p.m.; Trinity Baptist Church, 319 E. Mulberry Ave.; for tickets and more info go to www.sacms.org)

Mid-Texas Symphony presents “Puttin’ on the Ritz” on Sunday. When jazz met classical in the 1920s and 30s, it created irreverent masterpieces such as Milhaud’s “Creation of the World” and Ibert’s Divertissement. The orchestra’s principal trumpet, Andrew Gignac, who plays in both classical and jazz style, “will make you swoon in jazz standards, such as “Embraceable You” and “Puttin’ on the Ritz.”
Also on the program are: Elman’s “And the Angels Sing” and Milhaud’s “La creation du monde, op 81
(the creation of the world) (Feb. 23 at 4 p.m.; Brauntex Performing Arts Theater, 290 W. San Antonio St.; New Braunfels , 78130; tickets are $30-$55; 830-708-6430 or boxoffice@brauntex.org)

Tuesday Musical Club Piano Duos in Concert; Four piano duos of Tuesday Musical Club members will entertain with performances of favorites by Milhaud, Rachmaninoff and De Falla. (Feb. 23 at 4 p.m., Tuesday Musical Club Clubhouse, 3755 St. Mary’s St., 78212; free) satuesdaymusicalclub@gmail.com.)

At the CARVER Community Cultural Arts Center catch FAVORITE SON & FRIENDS. Since the band’s formation in 2013, it has played in some of Texas’ most famous venues and has collaborated with various musicians in a myriad of projects. Friends accompanying Favorite Son for this performance include local players Brandon Padier; Isa Paillao, Anthony Soriano and Jordan Stern. (Feb. 22 at 8 p.m.; Carver Center, 226 N. Hackberry, 78202; 210-207-2234)

The Gypsy Kings, popular all over the world, will stop in San Antonio today. (Feb. 21 at 8 p.m.; Majestic Theater, 224 E. Houston St.; tickets are $49-$200; www.majesticempire.com

The Symphony of the Hills will present the season finale concert “Bach, Beethoven, Boom!” on Thursday, Feb. 27. The program includes Beethoven’s “Egmont Overture”; Bach’s Violin Concerto in E Major; Mahler’s Symphony No.1 “Titan”; and Tchaikovsky’s famous “1812 Overture.” (Feb. 27 at 7 p.m.
Cailloux Theater, 910 Main, Kerrville, TX; box office 830-896-9393; more info on www.synphonyofthehills.org)

The main dance event this weekend is Ballet San Antonio’s production of “Peter Pan.” It’s a new production, with new choreography, score and design. To read more, go to our article from Feb.18.

The Children’s Chorus of San Antonio is presenting “Concert in the Chapel,” meaning the Chapel of the Incarnate Word College. Participating are San Antonio’s middle school and high school musicians, along with singers from the Southwest High School Ramoth Choir, directed by Crystal Tamaren. Choral performances in the Chapel are like no other, says the announcement and we agree. The acoustics are wonderful. (Feb. 23 at 4 p.m.; free but seating is limited to 450 attendees.; The Chapel is located at 4503 Broadway, 78209; 314-629-4078; 8vamch@gmail.com)

Another dance event of note is Momix:Alice also at the Tobin Center. Known internationally for presenting exceptional works of physical beauty, MOMIX is a company of dancer-illusionists under the direction of Moses Pendleton that has been dazzling New Orleans’ audiences since 1993. In Pendleton’s new creation “Alice” inspired by Lewis Caroll’s classic “Alice in Wonderland” tale, the dancers extend themselves by means of props, ropes and other dancers and experience all kinds of transformations.
(Feb. 26 at 12 p.m.; tickets are $19.75 – $59.50; at 210-223-8624 or tickets@tobincenter.org)

Also at the Tobin, you can spend an evening with Amy Grant next week. (Feb. 28 at 7:30 p.m.; tickets start at $69; box office info above.)

On the visual arts front, the significant news is about Bihl Haus Arts that used to be a vibrant mid-town visual arts center until its founder left for a life in California. The gallery was still there but not much was taking place there. But things are looking up. Recently an exhibit of art by Armando Sanchez was briefly on view. If the new movers-and shakers follow the traditions of the founder, the concentration at this time should be on the ON & OFF Fred Tour. For that tour, artists who live or have studios nearby are expected to open their studios to visitors who may purchase some of their work. We’ll keep you posted about Bihl Haus as things develop: www.bihlhausarts.org.

Local artist Kaldric Dow will share his art knowledge with participants to help them create unique collages inspired by his portrait collage work. The participants will leave with their own collages and new skills. (Feb. 22 at 2p.m.; San Antonio Public Library.)  Kaldric Dow’s exhibit “Collaged Heirlooms” was recently shown at the Central Library. For more info call 210-207-2500; sapl.marketing@sanantonio.gov)

Noche de Rasquachismo is a free event that honors the McNay Art Museum’s  “Rasquachismo: 35 Years of a Chicano Sensibility” exhibit with an evening packed with art-making, storytelling and community connection. It’s free but registration is required; 210-805-1768 or contact www.education@mcnayart.org

Poetry As Prayer///Poesia Como Rezo is an experiential learning process experiment with poetry and bookbinding a poetry book.  The group will have two days of experimentation through writing and visual works in which participants will be guided by creative exercises and bookbinding techniques. (Feb 23 at 1 p.m.; Artpace San Antonio, 445 North Main Ave, 78204; 210-2124900; info@artpace.org)

The San Antonio Book Festival, in partnership with Texas Public Radio, presents Eve L. Ewing with her new book, “Original Sins: The Miseducation of Black and Native American Children and the Construction of American Racism.” (Feb. 21 at 6:30 p.m. at Texas Public Radio Alvarez Theater, 321 W. Commerce St., 78205; for more call 210-614-8977 or 210-750-8951.
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