News Roundup, Aug. 31, 2023
Classical/art music will soon fill the performance halls, starting with this weekend.
Two chamber ensembles – Camerata San Antonio and AGARITA are opening their respective seasons, both with promising programming and great performers.
Camerata is launching its fall season with “19th Century Echoes,” which centers on the musically rich period between World War I and World War II. The three- concert series will feature the music of Wolfgang Korngold, Fritz Kreisler and black American composer Florence Price. “This period – the first half of the 20th century — carries forward 19th-century traditions,” stated violist Emily Freudigman, co-founder of Camerata San Antonio. “The string quartets by Korngold and Kreisler continue on the harmonically decadent language of Mahler and Strauss, while Price’s quartet uses the language of Dvorak, Grieg and Brahms.” Still, each composer’s voice is uniquely their own.”
We suggest reading the program notes which are very well written and interesting. (As is usual with Camerata, the concert is performed at three different locations. (Sept 1 at 4 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 800 Jefferson St., Kerrville; Sept. 2 at 3 p.m. Christ Episcopal Church, 510 Belknap Place, San Antonio, and Sept. 3 at 2 p.m., Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit, 11093 Bandera Rd., San Antonio.
Tickets are $20, available at www.cameratasa.org or by calling 210-492-9519. Season passes are also available.)
In addition to its members, the AGARITA opening concert will feature two guest players: violinist Daniel Chong and violist Jessica Bodner of the GRAMMY-winning Parker String Quartet. The concert’s program is inspired by the diverse influences of American folk music. Included composers are American black women composers, Florence Price and Jesse Montgomery, in addition to Steve Riech, John Williams, George Gershwin, John Novacek, and, from the “old world,” composer Antonin Dvorak, who visited the United States and composed music inspired by his experiences. (Sept. 2 at 7:30 p.m.; Luella Bennack Music Center, University of the Incarnate World; 4301 Broadway, 78209; free but you need to get tickets at www.Eventbrite.com/agarita-members-of-the-parker-quartet-tickets)
The big Colombian star Karol G’s Manana Sera Bonito Tour will stop at the Alamodome this weekend. In 2018, she won the Latin Grammy Award for Best New Artist, and she has been nominated for a number of other awards. Her genre is reggaeton but she experiments with other styles. This is a short tour in support of her new album ”Manana Sera Bonito.” (Sept. 7 at 7 p.m.; Alamodome, 100 Montana St., Tickets are $50 – $525. www.alamodome.com)
MANA, possibly the best-selling Latin music group that sold more than 25 million records, will be in San Antonio this weekend, with its “Mexico Lindo y Querido” tour at the AT&T Center. (Sept. 2 at 8 P.M.; 1 AT&T Center Parkway, 78219; 210-444-5140; tickets through Ticketmaster, $35- $229+)
A Tribute to the Music of Walt Disney at Jazz, TX is a treat, according to reports. Musicians Brandon Guerra, Adam Carrillo, and friends, play some of the most memorable tunes from the past 100 years of Walt Disney films. They play them in the style of a 1960s jazz quartet. On the repertoire: songs from “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin,” “Mary Poppins,” “Toy Story,” and more. Jazz Texas also has a full-service kitchen and bar. (Aug. 31, 7:30 p.m.; Jazz TX, 312 Pearl Parkway, Building 6, suite 600; tickets at www.jazztx.com Jazz pianist, Doc Watkins – who owns Jazz, TX – and his orchestra will play there Sept 2 at 9:30 p.m.)
For country music fans, there’s “Country Night” at Howl at the Moon, featuring Shania Twain, Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen and other country music favorites. (Sept. 1 at 6 p.m.; 111 W. Crocket St., #201)
If you want to visit Kerrville, you may combine it with a concert by Ian Moore, whose music is “uniquely original with his own gumbo of styles and sounds.” (Sept. 2 at 6:30 p.m.; Arcadia Live Theater, 717 Water Sr., Kerrville, 78028; boxoffice@thearcadialive.org; 830-315-5483)
Let’s talk about theater news. A letter from the CEO of the Public Theater – which is running a fundraising campaign to stay alive – noted that $80,000 have been contributed toward the goal of reaching $500,000. So, if you care about having an active thespian company in the historic San Antonio Playhouse, contribute what you can. To donate to the ongoing campaign, go to:
www.thepublicsa/org/savetheplayhouse. Many San Antonians have cherished memories about attending shows there.
The new 100A theater program at the Tobin Center has had a lot of success with its inaugural show,
“39 Steps.” Performances continue through Sept 10 but tickets are selling fast. A number of performances are already sold out. Tickets for Sept. 8-10 shows are easier to get. This is a funny show that won both the Tony and the Drama Desk Award when it premiered in New York. (Check dates and times on the Tobin’s website, https://www.tobincenter.org; Tickets at tickets@tobincenter.org or call 210-223-8624)
And there’s a lot more going on across the city. The still young Teatro Audaz is presenting the premiere of “Somewhere Over the Border,” a heartbreaking story of a young Mexican woman, who is pursuing her American dream but had to leave her young son behind. The show is a musical, with book, music and lyrics by Brian Quijada, and direction by Laura Garza. (Opens Sept 2; continues Friday-Sunday through Sept. 17; McAllister Auditorium, 1300 San Pedro, 78212; tickets are $15-$35, see website
http://www.teatroaudaz.com for times and tickets)
A new production of “Into the Woods” is opening this weekend at the Wonder Theater, housed in the
Woodlawn Theater building. The James Lapine – Stephen Sondheim musical features story-book characters, such as Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Witch, as they travers the woods in hope of fulfilling their wishes before it’s too late. Everyone’s wish is granted but consequences of their actions return to haunt them later with disastrous results. Rick Sanchez is the director and Lizel Sandoval is the choreographer for the show. (Opens Sept. 1 and runs through Sept. 24; Friday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 3 p.m. Woodlawn Theater, 1920 Fredericksburg Rd., tickets are $18-$32; 210-267-8388; https://www.wondertheatre.org)
“Against The Grain” a story of a school coach who is suspected of inappropriate behavior, continues its run at the Overtime through Sept. 9 (Friday-Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday, Sept 3 at 3 p.m.; Overtime Theater, 5409 Bandera Rd., Ate 205, 78238; 210-557-7562; http://theovertimetheater.org)
The Jump-Start Theater will be presenting a “Writing for the Theater Workshop” with playwright Diana Burbano. Participants will explore scene structure, action, events, voice and dialog. At the end, there will be workshop performances. Burbano will complete her SA visit with a solo performance at Jump-Start Theater. (Sept. 6 – 8, from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m.; performance Sept. 9 at 8 p.m.; Jump-Start Theater, 710- Fredericksburg Rd.; sliding scale payment from $0 to $60. To enroll contact www.jump-start.org)
The major visual arts event this month is the Fotoseptiembre Festival of creative photography. Lots of events across the area, but here are a few that founder Michael Mehl suggested as the must-see ones. So, we are just going to list them here since we trust his judgment.
- Fotoseptiembre 2023 Online Exhibits curated by Michael Mehl. Find them online at www.fotoseptiembreusa.com
- Exhibits in galleries and spaces
- ANTHONY GARCIA, XELENA GONZALEZ: Stirring Currents of Dreams You Have Yet to Fathom –Immersion Collaborative exhibit (Blue Star Complex #104B. 1420 S. Alamo, San Antonio, 78210
REBECCA DIETZ: Equilibrium, a collaboration of photography and contact improvisation dance by Jordan Fuchs and Melissa Sanderson, organized by MBS Gallery; 1115 S. Alamo, 78210, 210-507-4185
AL RENDON: Mi Cultura, Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway, 210-357-1900; www.wittemuseum.org
MAUREEN ‘MOMO’ BROWN: Aerial Abstractions – Views From My Window Seat; Momo & Pompa Contemporary Art Gallery, 10401 I-10 West, 78230, 210-588-9675; 210-588-9675
Various photographers, curated by Mary Margaret Johnson and Clint Datchuk; Bright Coffee, 1705 Blanco, 78212, 956- 592-4517; www.brightcoffeesa.com
DEBORA KELLER-RIHN: Glimpses of Eternity; curated by Bill Fitzgibbons, Dock Space Gallery, 107 Lone Star Blvd., 210-723-3048; bill@billfitzgibbons.com
ANSEN SEAL: What Moves You, curated by Meredith Doby; Head Space, 109 Piamoor, 78210; www.headspacesatx.com
LIZ POTTER: The Harmony of Emulsion; curated by James Joffe; St. Mary’s University Library Art Gallery; one Camino Santa Maria, 78228; 210-436-3441; https://stmarytx.edu