Romantic Music, Laughter and Coffee
-News Roundup-
We have finally reached calmer days following the New Year’s hoopla, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t anything interesting or exciting going on this weekend.
In fact, Camerata San Antonio, is starting 2020 – and the new decade – with Unabashed, a selection of unabashedly Romantic music featuring compositions by Robert Schumann and August Klughardt.
Schumann, who most likely was bipolar, suffering highs and lows that come with that condition, had a fairly troubled life but composed a great deal of emotionally evocative music, some of which was inspired by his love for his wife Clara. In 1842, he wrote all three of his chamber quartets in one short burst of creativity. The last of the three is the String Quartet in A Major, Op.41/3, which will start the Camerata concert. “It opens with his “Clara” motif – a two-note sigh that calls to his wife Clara, setting the tone for a lyrical love letter,” says the press material.
Ted Libbey, the author of The NPR Listener’s Encyclopedia of Classical Music, called Schumann “music’s quintessential Romantic, always ardent, always striving for the ideal.”
In the second part of the program, concertgoers will hear the Piano Quintet in G Minor, Op. 43, by Klughardt, a less known German composer of the 19th century, whose works are “close to the high noon of German late romanticism,” according to a musicweb-international.com review.
Pianist Viktor Valkov will join Camerata’s string players: Matthew Zerweck (violin) Anastasia Parker (violin), Emily Freudigman (viola) and Ken Freudigman (cello).
As usual, there will be three concerts in three cities – Boerne, Kerrville and San Antonio.
(Jan. 3 at 7:30 p.m.; First United Methodist Church, 205 James St., Boerne, 78006; admission by donation or pre-purchased ticket; Jan. 4 at 3 p.m., Schreiner University’s Rodman Steele Recital Hall, 2100 Memorial Blvd., 78028; Tickets $8 – $20; Jan. 5 at 3 p.m., University of the Incarnate Word Concert Hall, 4301 Broadway, 78209; tickets $8-$20. brownpapertickets.com)
San Antonio theaters are still preparing for their first crop of 2020 productions, but there is one new show this weekend that promises to entertain you with songs and laughter. It’s called More Senior Moments and it’s the sequel to the 2016 hilarious “Serious Moments,” the musical romp that looked at aging from different perspectives and a lot of humor. The author of both plays is San Antonian Linda Kaufman who also wrote all the songs. “The show combines the humorous and poignant themes that aging brings,” noted the playwright.
Directed by prominent director Tim Hedgepeth, the musical features a top-notch cast that includes Anna Gangai, Byrd Bonner, Jo Grabow, Linda Melendrez, DuWayne Greene and Lorraine Anastasio. Aaron Prado and his jazz trio will accompany the singers. (Jan. 4- 12, Saturdays at 7 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m.; Barshop Jewish Community Center, 12500 NW Military; tickets $20-$25, call 210-302-6820)
Fans of San Antonio-based, nationally-known author Jay Brandon will be happy to learn that his newest book From the Grave has just been published – his 20th! Brandon, who is a lawyer, specializes in legal thrillers and From the Grave once again deals with court proceedings but with an unusual twist. We will only reveal that the protagonist, who is a disbarred attorney, has to lose the case he has been recruited for, in order to win his license back.
The Kirkus review of the novel described it as “Highly accomplished… work from a pro,” while Booklist noted that “The pace is brisk and the writing elegant… Fans of legal thrillers should give this priority.”
We have read a number of Brandon’s books, so we feel comfortable recommended his newest oeuvre to both his faithful readers and all readers of fiction.
Brandon will have two book-signing appearances in San Antonio: Jan.9 at 7 p.m. at the Barnes & Noble San Pedro Crossing and Jan. 29, 5-7 p.m. at the Twig.
Coffee lovers should be in heaven Saturday during the 8th San Antonio Coffee Festival which will take place in La Villita, in the heart of downtown. It’s an opportunity to learn more about various brews and coffee in general, sample freshly roasted coffee from beans gown all over the world, and meet and talk with coffee artisans.
It may not be an art event per se, but La Villita is home to art galleries and artisan shops that will be open for browsing and exploring. You may even find an original piece of art at a very reasonable price. Of course, music is part of the scene, too. (Tickets $8-$22 and they sell fast. The 2019 fest sold out before the actual day of the event. Part of the proceeds will be given to the Little Church of La Villita to support its Food Pantry; 418 Villita St., 78205; for info go to www.SanAntonioCoffeeFestival.com)
We don’t usually include audition announcements in our News Roundups but we’ll make an exception here. The Woodlawn Theater will be premiering On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan later in the season, and they are looking for a talented cast to help them pull it off, including a singer/actress to portray Gloria. The auditions are scheduled for Jan. 6 and 7. The final audition for the role of Gloria will take place in front of a live audience and judges will cast their final votes. (Woodlawn Theater, 1920 Fredericksburg Rd., 78201. 210-267-8388)