Arts Alive San Antonio

Opera San Antonio has emerged from the pandemic faze to stage a grand-opera production of Rigoletto, one of the masterpieces of the entire operatic repertoire. It’s a bold and expensive undertaking and we would like to urge readers to support it by attending one of the performances: tonight, Thursday, May 5 or Saturday, May 7.

Thanks to the efforts of general and artistic director E. Loren Meeker and her staff and colleagues, including music director, Francesco Milioto, this Rigoletto features its own 52-member orchestra and 21-member choir, in addition to top soloists, such as James Westman who has already put his stamp on this role in other productions in the U.S. and Canada. The story revolves around the title character who is the court jester for the Duke of Mantua, and goes along with his master’s abuse of people and especially women, until his own daughter becomes the nobleman’s victim. To read more about the production, see our article from May 3 on this site. (May 7 at 7:30 p.m.; a pre-show lecture at 6:30 p.m.; Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle; tickets start at $40; tickets@tobincenter.org
or call210-223-8624)

Good music will also be heard this weekend at the First Baptist Church when the Musicians of the San Antonio Symphony (MOSAS) return to the stage to perform the second concert under the auspices of their own nonprofit called MOSAS Performance Fund. This concert will be conducted by the former San Antonio Symphony music director, Sebastian Lang-Lessing, who was until very recently the music director emeritus of SAS. Due to the unresolved situation with the Symphony Society of San Antonio and the long-lasting musicians’ strike, Lang-Lessing lost his title as “emeritus” but he will indeed conduct the orchestra on May 12 to show his support for the musicians.

The program will open with Ukrainian composer Miroslav Skoryk’s Melody, which will be a great introduction to this artist who was awarded the titles of People’s Artist of Ukraine and Hero of Ukraine. He died in 2020. Also on the program: Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto featuring Ilya Shterenberg, and Beethoven’s Symphony No.7. (May 12-13 at 7:30 p.m., doors open at 6:30 p.m.; First Baptist Church, 515 McCullough Ave., tickets $20 plus $10 parking and fees; www.fbcsa.org/mosas)

The Musical Bridges Around the World season concludes this Sunday, May 8, with a performance by Yedam Kim, the silver medalist of the 2020 Gurwitz International Piano Competition which was held here, in San Antonio. A native of South Korea, she now lives in Paris and pursues a very active performing career. She will play three Scarlatti sonatas; Rachmaninov’s Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Op.42; Debussy’s Pour le Piano and Chopin’s Scherzo Op. 39, No.3.

Kim is taking the place of previously scheduled Jiali Li, the 2020 gold medalist who could not travel from China due to COVID restrictions. And the originally announced Russian String Orchestra is also unable to travel due to travel restrictions against Russia stemming from the Russia-Ukraine war.

And let us remind you about Agarita’s event featuring underwater sound installations by composer Nadia Botello.  You can watch the program from a pool deck or swim to the sounds.  In addition, the quartet will also play music by Debussy, Dvorak, Jessica Meyer, Philip Glass, Timo Andres and Chris Rogerson. A reception will follow. (May 6 at 7:30 p.m., doors open at 6:30; Alamo Heights Pool, 250 Viesca St., 78209; free, no reservations needed.)

The Children’s Ballet of San Antonio will present an original dance version of Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp in three performances this weekend, at the Majestic Theater. About 200 young dancers will be in the show, from toddlers to 18- and 19-year-olds, most of whom are already quite accomplished ballet dancers. CBSA’s founder and artistic director, Vanessa Bessler, has created a more culturally accurate version of the old Arabic tale, going as far as hiring a French-Lebanese composer to write substantial portions of the score using authentic instruments from that part of the world. The best loved songs from the Disney movie, however, are still included. To learn more, see our story from May 4 on this site. (May 6, 7 p.m., May 7 at 2 and 7 p.m.; Majestic Theater, 224 E. Houston St., 78205; tickets $45-$55 at CBSA website, www.children’sballetofsanantonio.org/productions-and-events)

And there may be another reason to spend some time at the Majestic this weekend. Two popular Latin music songstresses Alejandra Guzman and Paulina Rubio will appear together on the same stage Sunday. Both are superstars in Mexico and between them they have sold more than 50M records. Rubio was twice included – in 2012 & 2013 – among the 50 Most Powerful Women in Mexico by FORBES, Mexico. (May 8 at 7:30 p.m.; address as above; tickets start at $59.50., box office 210-226-3333, info@majesticempire.com)

YOSA, the Youth Orchestras of San Antonio, and San Antonio Youth Ballet have also chosen to highlight the Near East by performing Rimsky-Korsakov’s famous work Scheherazade, May 8 at the Tobin Center. (May 8 at 7 p.m.; Tobin Center, 100 Auditorium Circle; tickets@tobincenter.org, 210-223-8624)

 We briefly mentioned in a previous NEWS ROUNDUP that some people were working on a Sterling Houston Festival, promising to find out more about those plans. Now we have more info. Houston was a San Antonio playwright, actor, author and musician and one of the founders of the Jump-Start Theater company. It seems the Classic Theater is taking the lead role in organizing a free 24-hour play festival inspired by Sterling Houston’s work. The project, referred to as Theater NOW, plans to engage some 40 different artists to present five 10-minute plays that will be written, rehearsed and presented to a live audience within one, fast-paced, 24-hour period.

This is how it is envisioned: “Provided a randomly selected quote from Houston’s work, playwrights will write throughout the night and have their original scripts handed over to directors and cast members the next morning to rehearse and present the show.” That night will be June 10-11. How to jump in: submit all materials to ClassicCasting@ClassicTheatre.org. The call is not just for playwrights but also for actors, directors and technicians. Deadline for submission is May 12. Good luck, y’all!

Interview with a Mexicanis the promising title of a play that will be presented at the Guadalupe Theater May 6-7. It is an original play by Su Teatro executive/artistic director Anthony J. Garcia. Inspired by Gustavo Arellano’s column “Ask a Mexican,” the play uses satire, humor and political incorrectness to examine stereotypes and misconceptions about Mexican culture. The Denver-based Su Teatro is one of the oldest Chicano theater companies in the United States, which is currently celebrating its 50^th anniversary. Garcia has created over 40 original plays and adaptations. (May 6-7, Guadalupe Theater, 1301 Guadalupe St., 78207; for ticket info go to www.guadalupecultualarts.org)

The Magik Theater is presenting the San Antonio premiere of Junie B. Jones: Toothless Wonder, based on the children’s book by the same name. The show is recommended for ages 5 and up. Artistic associate, Rosa Gardner stars as Junie B. (Opens May 6 and runs through June 12; Magik Theatre is in Hemisfair Park, 420 S. Alamo; tickets at tickets@magiktheatre.org; for more info visit www.MagicTheatre.org)

Blue Star Contemporary has issued a call, of its own.You are invited to dress up in your best “cosmic couture” or space-inspired suit to apply for galactic citizenship and receive a MASAporte. The idea came from the current Blue Star exhibit, Threads Bare by artist Luis Valderas. “His Alien Skins are articles of clothing that metaphorically represent the outside “skin” that people develop and wear to navigate social and cultural spaces,” explains the announcement.” So, go for it, design your space suit and show up at Blue Star May 6 at 6-9 p.m. Photographs will be taken. It could be fun! The project MASA series (MeChicano Alliance of Space Artists) was co-founded in 2005 by Valders and Paul Karam, here in San Antonio. (May 6, 6-9 p.m.; Blue Star Contemporary, 116 Blue Star; The next day the space will host Readings on Loss and Grief at 3 p.m.)

Ruby City has opened a new exhibit, Isaac Julien:True North on May 5. The installation by British filmmaker and installation artist Julien is loosely based on the journey of Matthew Henson (1866-1955), the African-American explorer who was widely believed to be the first person to reach the North Pole 113 years ago this month. The artist’s immersive three-screen projection depicts a lone figure crossing a snowy landscape. (Exhibition closes July 25, but will be reopened Sept. 8-January 2023, Ruby City, 150 Camp St., 78204; 210-227-8400, www.rubycity.org)

The Hunt Gallery is getting ready to present the work of Danville Chadbourne, one of San Antonio’s most admired and unique artists. His pieces, often made of wood, are visually attractive right away but also invite the viewer to engage with them, to interpret their symbolism. (Opening reception, May 12, 6-8 p.m.; Hunt Gallery, 4225 McCullough, 78212; 210-822-6527, https://huntgallery.net)

The city’s Department of Arts & Culture and the World Heritage Office are ready to announce the winners of the 2022 #FilmSA Contest at a special screening and ceremony Saturday night. Several dignitaries will be present, including three councilwomen – Phyllis Viagran, Adriana Rocha Garcia and Teri Castillo. The 2022 contest asked filmmakers ages 14-21 to consider the following themes:
San Antonio, a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy and the Public Art of San Antonio. Each winner will win $1,000. The participants are divided into two groups based on age: 14-17 and 18-21. The ceremony includes screenings. (May 7 at 8 p.m.; doors open at 7 p.m.; Mission Marque Plaza, 3100 Roosevelt Ave., 78214.)