Arts Alive San Antonio

The Day of the Dead and All Souls Day are not the same thing but both are devoted to the remembrance of the departed, though in different ways. In San Antonio, the various commemorations and celebrations, stretch over several days, blending into one festive period. We like fiestas here!

Several events are planned downtown. This weekend, a major fest will take place at Hemisfair Park, with music performances on five stages, poetry readings, storytelling for kids, dance, a drum procession, a fashion show, and, yes, altars. It all starts with an opening ceremony Saturday morning at 10 a.m.  Performers include; Mariachi Nuevo Jalisco, Santiago Jimenez Jr., Eddie & the Valiants, Azul Barrientos and the Guadalupe Dance Company. Altogether, there will be more than 50 performers entertaining the crowd. (Closes at 11 p.m. Saturday and at 9 p.m. Sunday)

The 2022 Dia De Los Muertos: Celebrando Las Misiones is organized by the City of San Antonio World Heritage Office, centering on the theme of “The Cycle of Life and Death,” especially as represented by the legendary migration of monarch butterflies between the United States and Mexico, and the symbolic association of this epic journey to the Day of the Dead.” Activities begin at the Mission San Jose Granary at 2 p.m. with altars built by families of descendants of people who once lived at the mission compound. The “ofrendas” will be blessed by Danza Azteca de Yanaguana, followed by a dance & drum procession from Mission San Jose to Mission Marquee Plaza. People will be invited to contribute to the community altar there. An overview of Dia de los Muertos will be presented by “Grandma Coyote” better known as Emma Ortega. Live music and all kinds of performances will follow, including music by Mariachi Azteca de America, poetry by Amalia Ortiz and Ballet Folklorico Sol de San Antonio. (Oct. 29 at 3 p.m.; free; Mission Marque Plaza, 3100 Roosevelt Ave., 78214)

One Day of the Dead event that we are looking forward to is happening closer to the All Souls Day at Centro Cultural Aztlan. On Nov. 2, artist couples will build original altars. They include: Don Nunez and Frances Marie Herrera; Luis Valderas and Kim Bishop; Oscar Galvan and Alicia Zavala Galvan; Andy Villarreal and Elizabeth Rodriguez; Fred Garza Guzman and Janie McClinche; Roy Martinez and Ray Tizoc Martinez, and Nanette Freyre and Ruth Guajardo. These are talented people who are bound to come up with original ideas. In addition, there will be an arts &crafts market, and musical entertainment by Juan & Armando Tejeda, El Tallercito de Son and Liza Ybarra & Cantares de mi Tierra. (Nov. 2, 6-9 p.m.; Centro Cultural Aztlan, 1800 Fredericksburg Rd., #103; 210-432-1896, www.centroaztlan.oeg

How about a Day of the Dead flamenco performance? We think it’s a great idea. You can experience it at the Carmens de La Calle Café where the local ensemble, Ruta de la Seda (Silk Road) will pay tribute to the famed Carmen Amaya, a legendary flamenco dancer. You can also have dinner there. (Nov. 2, 7-9:30 p.m.; 320 N. Flores, 78205)

More flamenco at the Carmens de la Calle: “Flamenco & Frida: Love Between Brushes.” Apparently, Frida Kahlo had a brief love affair with Jose Bartoli from Catalonia. Her love letters to him will be read during the show. (Oct. 30, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Menu will include tastes of Spain and Mexico)

And here’s a high-caliber theatrical performance, “Mistica,” by Ballet Nepantla, the New York City-based dance company founded by South Texas native, Andrea Guajardo. Her last two shows in San Antonio were sold-out. The company’s style is a fusion of traditional Mexican dance and contemporary stage dance. “Mistica” honors ancestors by celebrating the creative and spiritual energies of “indigenous, Afro and Hispanic roots.” (Oct. 29 at 8 p.m.; Carver Community Cultural Center, 226 N. Hackberry, 78202; tickets are $35; call 210-207-7211; website https://thecarver.org/ballet-nepantla-mistica/)

And there’s more!

The San Antonio Choral Society is partnering with the Southwest ISD Performing Arts Department, Veterans Memorial High School Choir and Samuel Clemens High School Choir, to present a Dia de los Muertos program honoring the lives of lost loved ones. This collaborative concert will feature more than 120 voices, performing Spanish folk songs, a Mariachi selection, music from the fantasy animated film Encanto, and more. (Oct. 29 at 6 p.m.; Southwest High School, 11914 Dragon Lane, 78252; free)

Say Si, the arts education program for talented youth, also has an event: Da Valor a Lo Pequeno: A Muertitos Celebration. It will include a street procession, a silk-screening workshop, a live theater performance, film screening, and a showcase of student art. (Oct. 28, 6-9 p.m.; 1310 S. Brazos St., 78207; free; 210-201-4950, www.saysi.org/muertitos-fest/)

And if you like spooky tales, here’s an event for you: “Spooky Tales by the River: Where Streams and Stories Flow” presented by the San Antonio Storytellers Association and the San Antonio River Foundation at Confluence Park. (Oct. 29 at 7:30 p.m.; 310 W. Mitchell. 78204; for more info write toconfluencepark@sariverfound.org)

Not everything is spooky, however!

The San Antonio Philharmonic has really hit the ground running this fall. The third concert pair of its inaugural season is scheduled for this weekend. For those who are not up on arts developments in the city, we must add that the SA Phil consists of musicians who were members of the now defunct San Antonio Symphony, so they are a known and much appreciated group. The upcoming pair of concerts will be conducted by the last SAS music director, Sebastian Lang-Lessing.

On the program: two dramatic masterpieces – three excerpts from Richard Wagner’s opera “Tristan and Isolde,” and Symphony No. 5 by Dmitri Shostakovich. The conductor considers the Symphony No. 5, the most important symphony of the 20^th century “because it was meant to please Soviet ruler, Joseph Stalin, but in truth reflects on the rise of fascism in Europe and the threat of a world war.” It’s scary to also reflect on the possibility of another wide-spread war in Europe at this very moment. (Oct. 28-29 at First Baptist Church of San Antonio, 515 McCullough Ave., tickets are $30-$65, available at www.SAphil.org)

Another very promising, albeit much smaller concert, coming up this weekend, is being presented by Musical Bridges Around the World. MBAW is bringing to town the renown Janoska Ensemble, composed of the three Slovakian Janoska brothers and their bassist brother-in-law Julius Farvas. The quartet is known for its distinct style that makes music of the past sound more contemporary. They will perform music from their third album “The Big B’s,” a reference to Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Bartok, Bernstein and Brubeck. You can hardly go wrong with that kind of repertoire. The press release explains where Slovakia is, but, perhaps, it suffices to indicate that it is in the heart of Europe, sharing a border with Ukraine. Both are Slavic countries with similar languages. Slovakia was part of Czechoslovakia until the two split in 1993. The Janoska Ensemble was part of MBAW’s season twice before, in 2017 and 2019, and virtually in 2020. (Oct. 30 at 7 p.m.; San Fernando Cathedral in Main Plaza; free but registration required: https://musicalbridges.org/event/the-big-bs-musical-evenings-at-san-fernando-cathedral/)

OktobinFest is described by the Tobin Center as “an exploration and celebration of the cultural blend that makes San Antonio great,” It is also a free, outdoor event with lots of music, art, crafts and food. Conjunto Heritage Taller will perform, as well as Pinata Protest, Off the Grid and Tuba Meisters. It’s the local version of Oktoberfest. (Oct. 29, 2-9 p.m.; Will Maylor Smith River Walk Plaza; free community event.)

For something not related to seasonal fiestas, you may want to reconnect to the roots of Rock N’ Roll with “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story” at the Empire Theater. All the hits will be included. (Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. and Oct.29 at 2 p.m.; Charline McCombs Empire Theater, 226 N. St. Mary’s St.; tickets are $39-$59; 210-226-3333, www.majesticempire.com)

Fans of Elton John will be happy to hear that he’s visiting our city again. It’s going to be a huge concert, (Oct. 29 at the Alamodome, 100 Montana St.; tickets start at $144; www.alamodome.com)

For laughs, get yourself to the Jump-Start theater for the premiere of “Senior Play – Growing Old Ain’t For the Faint of Heart,” an original play by Kimberlyn Montford and Chuck Squier. The story follows four residents and their art therapist in an assisting living facility. (Opens Oct. 30 and continues Nov. 4 & 5 at 8 p.m., and Nov. 6 at 3 p.m.; 710 Fredericksburg Rd.; tickets are pay what you wish, between zero and $25; available at www.jump-start.org ; 210-227-5867)

Other news: The Cactus Pear Music Festival has announced that its recently chosen music director, Ryo Yanagitani has chosen to pursue “different opportunities.” He is being replaced by “friend and world-class musician” Jeffrey Sykes, as interim artistic director.

There’s also news from the Classical Music Institute, which is expanding its concert series and creating new collaborations with the other Tobin resident companies. In fact, it will provide the orchestra for Opera San Antonio’s season opener “Pagliacci.”  To read more about that, see our feature article from Oct. 25, on this site. “Pagliacci” is a short but powerful and emotionally engaging opera, with gorgeous arias.

 The City’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission is again inviting interested individuals to submit art work thar visually represents the theme of 2023 Martin Luther King March and Commemoration: “Together We Can Be The Dream” Entries should be submitted by Nov. 14 at 5 p.m. The contest is open to current Bexar County residents, with student artists being particularly encouraged to participate. All two-dimensional media are accepted, including painting, photography, computer graphics and artwork created with colored pencils, markers and crayons. The selected artwork will be used to promote the 2023 commemoration which will take place on Monday, January 16, 2023. For guidelines go to www.SanAntonio.gov/MLK.