News Roundup, Feb. 2, 2023
Musical Bridges Around the World is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year with a four-day UNITYFest, with jazz and classical music concerts taking place Feb. 2-5 at several locations around town.
Founded by Russian-born pianist, Anya Grokhovski in 1998, the organization’s first concert took place in the founder’s home and later expanded to house concerts in the homes of supporters and other music lovers who wanted to hear chamber music as it was intended to be heard – in a chamber, meaning in smaller spaces.
Eventually, the music started reaching more people through a lucky combination of circumstances. As Suhail Arastu, the current MBAW Director of Advancement, explained, it was Father David Garcia, the former rector of the San Fernando Cathedral, who invited Grokhovski to hold concerts in his church. He had just come back from Europe where he had seen music concerts in many churches and cathedrals, which often have excellent acoustic conditions. The organization has been growing ever since, but its mission remains the same: “…to celebrate our shared humanity by providing access to global art for all.”
And it has done that for years by bringing top artists from around the globe to perform in San Antonio.
This year’s UNITYFest follows up in the footsteps of MBAW’s former International Music Festival. Arastu explained that the name-change suggestion came from Erika Prosper, wife of San Antonio’s mayor Ron Nirenberg, who is a member of MBAW’s Global Advisory Council.
So, here’s what coming up: Silver Jubilee: Celebrating the Founders will open the festivities by bringing together the founder’s musically talented family and some of her students, and special guests, including pianist and former husband, Valery Grokhovski; brother and violinist Mark Cheikhet; pianist and former sister-in-law Elena Portnaya; bassist and SA Phil member, Zlatan Redzic; percussionist Darren Kuper and the Agarita Chamber Players, a San Antonio-based chamber music quartet. That’s a concentration of talent you may not want to miss. (Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. Buena Vista Theater, UTSA downtown campus, 501 W. Cesar Chavez Blvd.; free but tickets required: https://musicalbridges.org/event/silver-jubilee-celebrating-thefounders-unityfest/ ticket registration is capped at 500; all others are put on a waitlist.)
Jazz Masters concert will feature one of the leading jazz ensembles in the country, the Bill Charlap Trio, that includes pianist Charlap, bassist Peter Washington, and percussionist Kenny Washington. Their 2021 Blue Note album features a mix “from the American songbook” and best known jazz composers.
(Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. (doors open for ticket holders at 6 p.m.); Jo Long Theater, Carver Community Cultural Center, 226 N. Hackberry St.; free; tickets at https://musicalbridges.org/event/jazz-masters-unityfest/)
Tea for Two/UNITYFest Is a showcase for the Russian-French piano duo,Ludmila Berlinskaya and Arthur Ancelle, who are “among the highest-ranking piano duos on the world stage right now.” Each year, they are invited to perform at the world’s great halls, such as Radio France Auditorium, Moscow and St. Petersburg Philharmonic Halls, the Moscow Conservatory, and others. (Feb. 4 at 7 p.m.; Coates Chapel, UTSA Southwest-School of Art, 300 Augusta St.; tickets https://www.duocerlinskaiaancelle.com)
On Sunday, a big concert in the H-E-B performance Hall at the Tobin is planned. French-Korean pianist and Gurwitz 2020 International Piano Competition Silver Medalist, Yedam Kin, will return to San Antonio to perform Chopin’s Piano Concerto No.1 – and more – accompanied by the Gwangiu Symphony Orchestra of South Korea. Kim, who resides in Paris, has won several international piano competitions. This event has been organized in partnership with San Antonio’s Sister City, Gwangju, the local Department of Arts and Culture and other partners. In addition to Chopin, the program includes Korean folk songs and Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9, “From the New World.” (Feb. 5 at 2 p.m., Tobin Center, 100 Auditorium Circle; free, ticket processing managed by the Tobin’s box office:
https://www.tobincenter.org-box-office/2023-02/east-meets-west-unityfest-2023)
Should you want to support Musical Bridges, you can take part in a fundraising event, Silver Soiree at the Peacock Alley Sunday evening (St. Anthony Hotel, 300 E. Travis at 5 p.m.; $100.
As for Arastu, who joined MBAW ten years ago as a board member with a business background but no music expertise, he is now a budding cello player, in addition to being part of the staff. “I have always had an interest in the arts and was jealous of my younger brother who participated in theater,” he said. He doesn’t consider himself a performing artist, but during the pandemic he started studying the cello, and now performs once a year at the staff holiday party. “I look forward to it and to leaning a new repertoire,” he said with a chuckle.
So, What Else Is Going 0n?
ABBAFAB, “the premier ABBA experience” will be presented at the Empire Theater on Feb.4.
From Abba’s earliest hits to ‘Mamma Mia,’ the ABBAFAB tribute band will take you “on a technicolor journey that is unmatched.” (Feb. 4 at 8 p.m.; Empire Theater, 226 N. St. Mary’s, tickets $39.50-$49.50, through Ticketmaster.)
Shen-Yun is back for another round of shows at the Tobin. This is the colorful, spectacular dance and music showcase with high-tech backdrops, inspired by the culture of ancient China. (Feb. 3-4 and Feb. 18-19, 7 p.m.; tickets start at $83.50; tickets@tobincenter.org or call 210-223-8624)
The San Antonio Community Wind Ensemble will present “Conniption,” featuring the music of Dvorak, Stamp, Reed, Bryant, and others. (Feb. 5 at 2:30 p.m., Texas A and M University-San Antonio Auditorium; One University Way, 78224; free and open to the public; 210-784-1000)
The Magik Theater’s new show, “Heroes Twins: Blood Race” is “an action-filled adventure that is also an allegory about inequality, justice and liberation.” Written by Ramon Esquivel, the story was inspired by classic Mayan narratives. (Feb. 4 through March 5; times vary though most performances are at 2 p.m.; Magik Theatre, 420 S. Alamo, 78205; 210-227-2751; tickets@nagiktheatre.org)
The news from the Overtime Theater is about naming a new Artistic director – Angie Hernandez, a well-known theater professional, who currently works for the Public Theater of San Antonio. (We’ll tell you more about her plans for the Overtime next week.)
For laughs, you may want to see “Four Old Broads,” a comedy about a colorful group of assisted living residents who are desperately trying to plan a Sassy Seniors Cruise vacation, but keep getting sidetracked by various people and routine events. The performance benefits the League of Women Voters Comal Area. (Feb. 4 at 7:30 p.m.; Circle Arts Theater, 124 Elizabeth St., New Braunfels, 78130l 830-837-6172, https://www.circleartstheatre.org/
The San Antonio Museum of Art is celebrating Black History Month with an ekphrastic poetry reading & a dance performance inspired by Bill Traylor’s artwork in the museum’s collection. San Antonio’s poet laureate, Andrea “Vocab” Sanderson is in charge of the event. (Feb. 7 at 6 p.m.; SAMA, 200 West Jones Ave., 78215; 210-978-8100, www.samuseum.org/)
Sala Diaz, a small but significant gallery in Southtown has opened a new exhibit of Barbara Felix’s paintings: “The Glorious Way She Moves” – New Works. The artist exhibited earlier works under the same title a couple of years ago at the Carver Center. In this body of work, she explores “the fullness and depth of the female form from youthful innocence to glorious maturity.” (Opened Feb. 2, on view through Feb.24; Sala Diaz, 517 Stieren St.; By appointment, 512-809-9283; casie@saladiazart.org)
And here an exhibit tailored for Valentine’s Day. It features artists couples. The artists in each pair work in a range of media and techniques. As their pieces hang side by side, “they play with each other while revealing distinct perspectives.” (Opens Feb. 3 at 5 p.m.; Mauro Murillo Art Studio, 111 Adams St., 78210; 210-430-6296, vikky@vikkyjones.com)
Gemini Ink is offering “Diving Into The Weird,” a class with Leticia Uricla that explores blending horror, folktales and magical imaginings into your writing. (Feb 7,14,21,28 & March 7 and 14, via ZOOM; $150 for nonmembers, $130 for members; 210-734-9673, https://www.geminiink.org)