Arts Alive San Antonio

The San Antonio Philharmonic will present a pair of great concerts this weekend, featuring the music of Johannes Brahms and Antonin Dvorak. On the program are three works by Brahms- “Tragic Overture,”
“Nanie” and “Song of Destiny.” Dvorak’s eloquent Cello Concerto will conclude the evening. The concerts will be conducted by Canadian conductor Jean-Marie Zeitouni and will feature cellist Sterling Elliot.
Following the powerful and emotional “Tragic Overture,” the Mastersingers Chorus will be featured in Brahms’ settings of poetry by Schiller and Holderlin. The featured cellist “enthralls with Dvorak’s cello Concerto,” says the concert announcement. (May 10 and May 11 at 7:30 p.m.; First Baptist Church of San Antonio, 515 McCullough Ave, 78215; tickets are $35-$75 at www.SAPhil.org)

Musical Bridges Around the World (MBAW) also has a special concert for its season finale: jazz star, Magos Herrera and her Jazz Trio. She will perform highlights from her newest album, “Aire,” including original music and a well-known Latin American repertoire. According to the press release, NPR has compared her voice to Edith Piaf’s, the famous French songstress of decades past. The Latin Jazz Network described her as “one of the greatest contemporary interpreters of song.” She was also listed as one of the most creative Mexicans in the world by Forbes Magazine. (May 12 at 7 p.m., San Fernando Cathedral on main Plaza downtown; free but registration required at https://sfc-aire.eventbrite.com)

There’s also beautiful chamber music: “Macrocosm” performed by the SOLI Chamber Ensemble, in celebration of the group’s first concert which took place on May 13, 1994. Thirty years of music making is definitely something to celebrate. The concert will feature works by Daniel Di Togni and Elliot Miles Mckinley, in addition to pieces by three winners of their 30x30x30 project: Alex Barsom, Brittney Benton and Alexa Canales. The concert will end with the world premiere of Mckinley’s
Symphony No. 2 for Four Players. The SOLI Ensemble has always championed new contemporary music.
(May 13 at 7 p.m.; San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston Pl., 78209)

The South Texas Symphonic Orchestra invites San Antonians to experience the music of Hollywood from film favorites that many people remember and love, including “Hamilton,” Phantom of the Opera,” “West Side Story,” “The Lion King” and others. (May 11 at 7 p.m., UTSA Main Campus, Fine Arts Building, Retama Auditorium Recital Hall; 1 UTSA Circle, 78249; free)

YOSA, the Youth Orchestras of San Antonio, will present “Wildlife Harmonies,” new music from the Composers Alliance of San Antonio inspired by animals at the San Antonio Zoo. YOSA will also perform Respighi’s delightful “Pines of Rome” with special guest, The San Antonio Brass Band, and more. (May 12 at 7 p.m.; Tobin Center, 103 Auditorium Circle, 78205; tickets are $5-$24 at 210-223-8624 or www.tobi.tobincenter.org)

Accordion lovers will be interested in the Big Squeeze Showcase which celebrates accordion music. Presented in partnership with The Bullock Texas State History Museum, the event will feature the well-known band, La Calma, as the headline act. Other performers are Rodrigo Gonzalez, Adiel Vasquez, Alyssa Villareal, Ruby Acosta, Juan Longoria and others. (May 11 at 11 a.m., The Bullock Texas State History Museum, 1800 Cinfress Ave., Austin, TX 78701; 512-936-4610; https://www.thestoryoftexas.com/)

And there’s more music of different styles and a big name or two. On May 10 and 11, Willie Nelson & Family will fill the Whitewater Amphitheater in New Braunfels, with special guest, Robert Earl Keen. At this point, only general admission tickets are left, meaning standing room only. (May 10, doors open at 6:30p.m.; show starts at 8 p.m.; standing room only at $101.64; May 11 sold out; Whitewater Amphitheater, 11860 FM 306, 78132.)

The Luis Miguel Tour will stop at Frost Bank Center Saturday. (May 11 at 8 p.m.; 1 Frost Bank Center Dr., 78219; tickets $79-$231-plus, via Ticketmaster.com.)

The upcoming 42^nd Tejano Conjunto Festival will feature three days of the best in conjunto music. It is the place to be for conjunto fans. It all starts May 17. Find out more here:
https://guadalupeculturalarts.org/ Three-day pass is $50. More in a separate article.

On the dance front, there’s a new production of “Cinderella” by the Children’s Ballet of San Antonio, a nice Mother’s Day outing for mamas and kids.  The cast will take you on a magical ride to happily-ever-after in this “enchanting production,” says the press release, and you can believe it. The award-winning Children’s Ballet of San Antonio and its sponsor school, The Dance Center of San Antonio, were recently recognized as among the top 2.5 percent of ballet institutions in the nation. In addition to dance skills, the production promises opulent costumes, dreamlike digital and physical scenery and new choreography. (May 10 at 7 p.m.; My 11 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Majestic Theater, 224 E. Houston St., 78205; 210-462-7660 or visit www.childrensballetofsanantonio.org)

The School of Ballet San Antonio Is offering an immersive two-week intensive with world class faculty led by artistic director Sofiane Sylve. And there’s more than ballet – jazz, modern dance, conditioning, Pilates and more. Open to ages 8-18. The two-weeks end with a performance. (June 3-14, 9a.m.–3 p.m.; for more info info@balletsanantonio.org)

The city-owned Culture Commons Gallery downtown is currently exhibiting “Resilient and Responsive”:
Artists and the Environment.” A number of prominent artists are participating. But poets got a chance to express themselves, too – tonight, May 9, 6-8 p.m. (The gallery is at 115 Plaza de Arma, 78205.) Since the exhibit will be on display until Jan. 17, 2925, maybe the organizers will consider having a few more poetry readings. San Antonio has a rich poetry scene.

Gemini Ink is inviting poets to join them at the Poetic Republic Café where two authors – Gemini Wahhaj and Chaitali Sen will present their poetry first, followed by a community open mic. Bring you poems and stories to read. (May 10 at 6:30 p.m., in-person event.; Poetic Republic Café, 2330 S. Presa; free and open to the public.)

The San Pedro Playhouse is greeting the summer with a love story: “West Side Story,” the famous musical inspired by “Romeo and Juliet.” The musical premiered in 1957 on Broadway and it still attracts audiences thanks to the music by Leonard Bernstein and the lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. And, of course, the dynamic dancing that you, as an audience member, would love to join. The new production is directed by Rick Sanchez. The theater company collaborated with Ballet San Antonio for the occasion. In fact, the dance choreography was created by choreographer from BSA, Rafael Ferreras. In addition, four ballet dancers are part of the large cast. (Opens May 10 at 7:30 p.m. and runs through June 2, Friday-Sunday; tickets are $20-$50, including fees; available through www.ci.ovationtix.com)

New Exhibits: The Dock Space Gallery in the Lone Star Art District is presenting new exhibitions in both the Gallery and in the Annex.  “Tone Poems: Distant Dreams” by Alan Hollander in the Gallery, and “Scenes of Nature” by Kathleen Baker Pitman, Cindy Tower, and Andrea Willems in the Annex. For the opening, music will be provided by the San Antonio Jazz Authority. (May 11, 6-9 p.m.; 107 Lone Star Blvd.)

Centro Cultural Aztlan is presenting the Chicano Arts Curriculum Project: Student Exhibition. The center worked with educators, artists and historians to develop a series of lesson plans and teaching material to engage K-12 students in learning about Chicano art and traditions. As a product of that project, young artists from across San Antonio have created artwork, inspired by notable artists of our city and beyond. The current exhibit shows the results of the educational project. (Reception, May 16 at 6 p.m. Galeria Expresion at 1800 Fredericksburg Rd.#103.; free and open to the public; on view through June 6.)