Arts Alive San Antonio

Let’s begin with ballet news! San Antonio has only one professional ballet company, and this company has only a couple of productions a year. Premiering this weekend is a brand-new production, inspired by Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream.”  The company sent emails saying “Hey San Antonio!
Demetrius, Oberon, Puck, and others can’t wait to meet you!”

The production was choreographed by Rafael Ferreras who explained the story he’s presenting.

“The story surrounds two lovers, Hermia and Lisandro, whose love is questioned and protested by family and friends. Full of laughter and mischief, the ballet is a comedy of misunderstandings not to be missed… For me, this performance of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” captures the feeling you have when you first wake up in the morning and you’re half awake, in a dream world.”

Before joining BSA as rehearsal director in 2020, Ferreras performed with a number of companies, including New Jersey Ballet and Tulsa Ballet, and has worked with famous choreographers, such as Paul Taylor, Nacho Duato, Trey McIntyre, and others.  (Feb. 23 at 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 24 at 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 25 at 2 p.m.; tickets are $81.90 – $132.00; Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle, tickets@tobincenter.org 210-223-8624)

Music is always alive and well in our city.  The San Antonio Philharmonic will perform its Classics 6 concert, conducted by Ludwig Carrasco, and featuring guest mezzo-soprano Crystal Jarrell Johnson, in addition to the powerful San Antonio Mastersingers chorus that has performed with symphony orchestras for decades. The program “explores art and poetry through music,” says the press release. Michael Ippolito’s Nocturne was inspired by Joan Miro’s 1940 painting of the same name. Also on the program is John Corigliano’s “Fern Hill” which will include the soloist and the Mastersingers. That composition reflects on the eponymous poem by Dylan Thomas. Finally, Mussorgsky’s famous “Pictures at an Exhibition” takes the listener on “a sensory tour of ten paintings in an art exhibition.” Conductor Carrasco was recently appointed artistic director of the National Symphony Orchestra of Mexico.
(Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m.; First Baptist Church of San Antonio, 515 McCullough, 78215; for tickets, $55-$75, contact SAPhil at 210-201-6006, sales@saphil.org; for more info go to www.saphil.org.)

The AGARITA Chamber Players will have a concert with the famed Spanish classical guitarist, Pablo Sainz-Villegas this weekend. He is often referred to as the successor of Andres Segovia. This is the second collaboration between him and the AGARITA ensemble. (Feb, 24 at 7:30 p.m.; San Antonio Botanical Garden; the Betty Kelso Center, 555 Funston Place, 78209; free) For more info on AGARITA go to www.agarita.org.)

The South Texas Symphonic Orchestra will present a concert featuring Turkish pianist Eymen Geylan who is a graduate student at UTSA and for whom the upcoming concert is a graduation requirement.
The STXSO was founded and is led by musician and conductor Ronnie Sanders. The concert sounds very promising; see our story “A Concert Not-to-Be- Missed this Saturday” on this site. (Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m.at UTSA, Main Campus, Fine Arts Building Retama Auditorium Recital Hall; 1 UTSA Circle, 78249; free) The concert will include an original composition by Frederico Chavez-Blanco.

The Kerrville-based Symphony of the Hills will feature San Antonio violinist and teacher, Ryan Coppin, who will perform “The Last Ascending” for the upcoming concert next Thursday. Conductor and artistic director, Eugene Dowdy, considers Vaughan Williams’ piece – based on a poem by George Meredith – to be “a magical, spring-like work.” The program also includes Verdi’s Overture to “Nabucco,” Schumann’s Symphony No.1, “Spring” and more. (Feb. 29 at 7 p.m.; Cailloux Theater, 910 Main, Kerrville TX; tickets are $29-$59 at www.caillouxperformingarts.com or by calling the box office 830-896-9393)

More music: Piano Men: Generations – The Music of Billy Joel and Elton John. Two men – Two pianos – One Extraordinary Band. The show presents the evolution of two remarkable careers. The famous guys are portrayed here by father and son, Terry and Nick Davis, who “channel the spirit, passion and talent of the great entertainers.” (Feb. 29 at 7:30 p.m.; H-E-B Performance Hall at the Tobin Center; 100 Auditorium Circle $33.50; tickets@tobincenter.org or call 210-223-8624)

Superstar, Diana Ross’ Beautiful Love Performances Legacy 2024 tour will bring her to the Majestic Theater on Sunday. The performer, who was named “Entertainer of the Century” by Billboard in 1976
has received many accolades over the years and still fills concert halls. (Feb. 25 at 7 p.m., Majestic Theater, 224 E. Houston; tickets $149-$425 at www.majesticempire.com/events)

The visual arts are also lively and dynamic in San Antonio.
At the San Antonio Museum of Art, you can admire the impressive body armors shown in “The Age of Armor: Treasures from the Higgins Armory Collection from the Worcester Art Museum.” Armor has been used in various ways all around the world but full suits of steel plates were made only in Europe and only for a brief time in the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance. In addition, to celebrate Black History Month, the museum is highlighting Black artists from its collection. (San Antonio Museum of Art, 200 W. Jones Ave., 78215; 210-978-8140; www.samuseum.org)

The McNay will be opening a new exhibit – “De La Torre Brothers: Upward Mobility” – which explores culture on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. The press release indicates that it’s a large exhibit, spread through four galleries. (Opens to the public on March 1, on view through Sept. 15, 2024.; McNay Art Museum, 6000 N. New Braunfels, 78209, 210-824-5368, www.mcnay.org)

Artpace has announced the spring premiere of “San Antonio Sessions,” a series of performances that will take place on the building’s rooftop, funded by the Russell Hill Rogers Fund for the Arts. To kick off
the series, San Antonio artist, Magan Solis, will present “The Exorcism of Glory West,” a multi-media performance “for adults only.” (Feb. 22, 6-8 p.m., 445 N. Main; free with free parking at 513 N. Flores)

Luminaria, the fall festival of the arts, has issued a call for artists from Texas and beyond to apply for participation in the outdoor fest. The call opened Feb. 20 and closes on March 17 at midnight. The tentative date for the 2024 Luminaria is Oct. 19. The application is open at www.AnyArtist.org. For more info go to www.luminariasa.org.

The San Antonio Book Festival has sent an announcement about a conversation between author/journalist Michele Norris and Eric Castillo about “What Americans Really Think About Race.”
Norris’ new book “Our Hidden Conversations” tackles that subject. Book signing follows. (Feb. 26 at 7 p.m.; Carver Community Cultural Center, 226 N. Hackberry, 78202; 210-207-2234, https://thecarver.org/events/j-darius/)

And, we should mention the Stock Show and Rodeo that is closing this weekend. The Feb. 24 performances are: Wildcard followed by William Beckman at 12 p.m., and Clint Black at 7:30 p.m., at the Frost Bank Center, 210-444-5000.