NEWS ROUNDUP, Oct. 14, 2021
Music, music everywhere! Where to begin?
Two outstanding chamber music ensembles are having concerts next week. SOLI Chamber Ensemble, which performs music by 20th and 21st-century composers, is presenting its second concert of the season, “Fractals,” described as “an exploration of infinite color, shape and voice, as composers weave new sounds and combinations into the ever-evolving kaleidoscope of music.”
Scheduled for Oct. 18, the program includes works by Gabriela Ortiz, Fazil Say, Quinn Mason, Xi Wang, Aaron Prado and Kinan Azmef, all of whom are alive and well. One of them, Prado, is a San Antonian. In addition to playing contemporary chamber music, the SOLI group is also known for commissioning new works, and two of those, are included in the “Fractals” program: “Essays on Solitude and Other Ambiguous Emotions,” a 2021 composition by Kinan Azmeh, and “Suit for the Between Time,” by Prado.
In an interview a couple of weeks ago, SOLI’s clarinetist, Stephanie Key, was especially enthusiastic about Azmeh’s piece, which will be premiered at this concert. Originally from Syria, Azmeh has received commissions from a range of American orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. “Essay on Solitude” showcases Key’s instrument -the clarinet. (Oct. 18, 7 p.m.; San Antonio Botanical Garden; 555 Funston Pl., 78209; tickets $15 – $25; seating is limited and tickets must be purchased in advance through www.solichamberensemble.com)
The other chamber concert is “Postcards from the Border” performed by the Agarita Chamber Players. The program was inspired by the documentary work of photographer Joel Salcido and writer Oscar Casares who traveled along the U.S.-Mexico border to record and write about life in that region. The original reports were published in Texas Monthly under the same title. Agarita players decided to pair the “poignant images” with music. Featured music will include pieces by Ravel, Guastavino, Paul Wianko, Biber, Brahms and Liszt. (Live and in-person. Oct. 15, 7:30 p.m., at the Carver Cultural Community Center, 226- N. Hackberry, 78202; free & open to the public; masks required)
This Friday, Oct. 15, you can also watch another music virtuoso play his heart out. We are talking about guitarist, Joe Bonamassa, who will be at the Majestic Theater for a single show, accompanied by his band. Guitar World Magazine called him “the world’s greatest blues guitarist.” The numbers tell his story. He has 25 No. 1 Billboard Blues Albums, more than any other artist. (Oct. 15, 8 p.m.; Majestic Theater, 224 E. Houston; tickets star at $83.50; box office 210-226-3333; info@majesticempire.com)
Rising country music star, Kane Brown, will shine at the AT&T Center, Saturday, Oct. 16. He started his career by posting his performance videos online, and has since won several industry awards and been nominated for almost all of them. (Oct.16, 7 p.m., At&T Center, 1 AT&T Parkway; tickets $40.50 – $389.50; 210-444-5000, www.attcenter.com)
Tejano fans may want to head to Selma Friday night to enjoy David Beck’s Tejano Weekend at the Blue Bonnet Palace.  According to reports the songs will be sung in English. The venue has a spacious outdoor patio that accommodates more than 2,000 people. (Oct. 15, 10 p.m., doors open at 8 p.m.; Blue Bonnet Palace, 17630 Lookout Rd., 78154; 210-651-6702, www.bluebonnetpalace.com; also www.davidbeckstejanoweekend.com/)
A big literary event this weekend is Gemini Ink’s Inkstravaganza, which will posthumously honor poet, teacher, activist and playwright Gregg Barrios who recently passed away. It’s a two-act celebration, so to speak. The first event is a garden party at the McNay Art Museum Friday, with a rich program of readings and performances, combined with munchies and libations. This will be followed by a virtual program on Saturday, featuring reminiscences, panel discussions and conversations about Barrios and his impact. (For more information see our article from Oct. 11 on this site.) {Oct. 15 at 6:30 p.m., $100; McNay Art Museum. Saturday virtual event $75; For tickets go to www.geminiink.org or call 210-734-9673}
A free literary event sponsored by the literary & art magazine VOICES DE LA LUNA is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 20 at 5 p.m. at the Twig Book Shop. It’s a book reading/signing with several authors published by the Word Design Press. The three are Robert Flynn, Mo Saidi and Natalia Trevino. Publisher James Adair will serve as moderator. (Oct. 20, 5-7 p.m.; Twig Book Shop, 306 Pearl Pkwy, Suite 106, 78215, 210-826-6411; www.worddesignpress.com)
On the live theater front, there’s news from the Overtime Theater andthe Woodlawn Theater.
The Overtime is opening a new show, “Tricksters: The Zeus Heist,” written and directed by Scott McDowell who is the author of multiple Overtime productions, including the original “Tricksters.”
In the new piece, “the Old Gods walk among us especially the mischievous Trickster Gods. When word reaches the Tricksters that one of their own was destroyed by Zeus, King of the Gods, it’s time for the Tricksters to pull together and shake up the heavens and steal some thunder.” That’s the synopsis of the play, rendered here verbatim. Sounds like fun! (Oct. 15 – Nov. 6, Fridays-Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m.; Overtime Theater, 5409 Bandera Rd., Ste 205, 78238; 210-577-7562, www.theovertimetheater.org; tickets $15 available at the door or online at www.ShowTix4u.com; masks are encouraged.)
The Woodlawn recently announced its season, brimming with favorite musicals, starting with “Hairspray” and Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” and continuing throughout 2022 with “A Chorus Line,” “The Color Purple,” and “White Christmas. The Woodlawn is one of the few arts organizations whose season is defined by the calendar year as opposed to the traditional Sept-Mayseasons followed by so many performing arts companies. Season tickets will be available in early 2022. www.woodlawntheatre.org.
At the Public Theater of San Antonio, the run of “Tick, Tick… Boom!” is wrapping up this weekend, with 7:30 p.m. performances Friday & Saturday, and a Sunday show at 2 p.m. (San Pedro Playhouse, 800 W. Ashby Pl, 78212; tickets $30 – $45; 210-733-7258, www.thepublicsa.org)
We are going to wrap up our NEWS ROUNDUP with museum and gallery news. The Witte Museum is opening “The Secret World Inside You,” an educational and relevant exhibit that examines the complexities of the human microbiome, meaning the invisible “microscopic” bacteria and viruses that live in your body, on your skin and in your mouth and help regulate a lot of processes in your body. We’ll tell you more about this exhibit after we see it but it sounds like a very timely subject and one that most people don’t know enough about. For special programs during the duration of the exhibit, the museum is working in partnership with several health institutions such as the South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Texas at San Antonio, the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District and others. (Opens Oct.16, Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway, 78209; www.wittemuseum.org)
At the San Antonio Museum of Art you’ll find “40 Years, 40 Stories” an exhibition of works drawn from the museum’s own collection to celebrate the 40th anniversary of its founding. Interim Chief Curator, Jessica Powers, explained in a statement that many of the works had not been seen in recent years, though the exhibit features a few new pieces that will be shown for the first time. The 40 works come from different parts of the world, “representing cultures on six continents and thousands of years of human achievements.” What’s also included are some images of the process of moving and handling the works, something that the public doesn’t usually get to see. (Opens Oct. 16, San Antonio Museum of Art, 200 W. Jones Ave., 210-978-8140; www.samuseum.org)
We told you several weeks ago about the San Antonio Art League and Museum’s Artist of the Year exhibit which is still on view and definitely worth a visit. And here’s a good time to go – Sunday, Oct. 17, between 3 and 5 p.m. Why? Because the artist himself, Raul Rene Gonzalez will be giving you a tour. It’s free but you need to let them know that you are coming at https://fb.me/e/2ApExPm6D.
And here’s something that sounds like fun: Drum Circle with TamboRhythms, a free community outdoor event offered by the Tobin Center. You don’t need to bring anything. A limited number of drums and hand percussion gizmos will be available. TamboRhythms founder, Jorge Ochoa, is an occupational therapist and group drumming facilitator. His company promotes FUNctional living through rhythmic expression regardless of age or previous musical experience. (Oct. 16 at 9 a.m. Will Naylor Smith River Walk Plaza) Apparently, it’s regular event taking place every third Saturday of the month.