Concert
Noche de Amor II

Fri–Sat, Feb 13–14, 7pm
Los Logros, w/Alejandro 
Mora Fonseca, Letua & Lamine Thiam
Teatro Ángela Peralta 
Hernández Macías 62
50/70/100 pesos

“Noche de Amor II” celebrates St. Valentine’s Day with Los Logros—vocalists Ron Shawn and Ken Vaun accompanied by Liz Stone on piano—performing enchanting love songs. Joining them on stage are assorted musicians and Sengalese dancer and drummer Lamine Thiam

Noche de Amor II is a benefit show for ALMA, the assisted living home for the elderly in San Miguel. 

Concert
Billy “Blanco” White

Fri, Feb 13, 7:30pm
Shelter Theater
Vicente Guerrero 4
180 pesos

A new show with more than 10 instruments accompanied by harmonic chanting has to be about the love of music. Catch Blanco tonight and let the experience carry you over the weekend.

Benny, Pilaseca & Benny Ibarra

Sat, Feb 14, 6pm
Plaza de Toros, Recreo 52
400/200 pesos

Famous singer, television actor and former member of the pop band Timbiriche, Benny Ibarra takes center stage at the Plaza de Toros for a concert that will surely make the girls swoon! Joined by local rock band Pilaseca, and his father, also named Benny, the concert promises to be a night to remember. These muso’s have heart as they extend a helping hand to benefit Hospice and DIF (Social Services agency).

Arias from romantic operas
By Beverly Russell

Sunday Matinee Concert Series
Clara Dunham, Gaby Perales, 
Xavier Hernández, Mauro Ledesma
Sun, Feb 15 & 22, 2:30pm
Teatro Santa Ana
Biblioteca Pública
Reloj 50A
150 pesos

What could be a more delightful way to spend a Sunday afternoon than listening to some of the great romantic arias from enchanting operas?

The singers are already well known to San Miguel music aficionados: Clara Dunham, soprano; Gaby Perales, soprano; and Xavier Hernández, tenor. Mauro Ledesma accompanies them on piano.

Clara Dunham, a singer and actress, is appearing in the current production of Mame. Gaby Perales made her debut at a Christmas concert at El Sindicato to much acclaim. Xavier Hernández, aside from giving recitals and concerts with his talented pianist wife Lilliana Gutiérrez, is the highly respected choirmaster of Voces Unidas, St. Paul’s Choir and Kantare, the children’s chorus. Mauro Ledesma has played piano duet concerts in Querétaro and San Miguel’s Café Crayola to sold-out audiences.

Expect to hear some of the most famous arias and duets from Puccini’s Tosca and La Bohème, Mozart’s Don Giovanni and The Magic Flute and Verdi’s Traviata, Tickets are available at the theater.

Swing & TaMo the Wild in concert

Swing &TaMo the Wild
Fri, Feb 20, 7:30 pm
Teatro Angela Peralta
Hernández Macías cnr Mesones
120/90/60 pesos

Swing & TaMo the Wild is a choice of melodies, mostly jazz songs, conveyed with sensitivity and refinement by TaMo TuMa & guitarist Ken Basman. This pair of artists, true and touching, are just wild enough to make this musical trip a great one, their voices mingling easily through sounds and moods inviting you to flow with the music.

TaMo TuMa is a singer, performer and a multimedia artist of Mexican and English origins. With a lyrical training (Geneva Conservatory) she says she owes her artistry to the voice-master/actor Zygmundt Molik of the Grotowski Theatre with whom she trained. Her eclectic musical background of classical, jazz, soul and art-rock and her inventiveness have provided the tools to a style of her own. Painter of Sound, each note, each breath of TaMo TuMa is important, not an instant is devolved to evidence. Her rich and wide-ranged voice and crisp manner of delivering text leaves no one untouched. Since 1986, she has lead and produced projects ranging from a 10-piece New Music band to a number of daring duos and solos and has performed in such temples as the Knitting Factory in New York, Berlin, Barcelona, Zürich, Montreux, Willisau, Ottawa, Freiburg International Jazz Festivals. The vocal performances of TaMo TuMa recall the innovation qualities of a Laurie Anderson with the emotion of an Edith Piaf. A special guest ba
ssist will join them for the occasion. Tickets are on sale at the Theater box office.

Piano music for movies

Piano Concert
Antonio Cabrero Mendoza
Sat–Sun, Feb 14–15, 5:30pm
Sala Quetzal
Biblioteca Pública
Reloj 50A
100 pesos

Pianist Antonio Cabrero has a flair for combining his classical training with traditional jazz and his own exotic inspirations. Cabrero is known throughout Mexico as a symphony conductor, but his piano concerts have assumed new relevance in recent years, due to his passion for improvising over jazz standards and music from Spain, Mexico and India. During his studies in New York, he researched classical music of India and many of his improvisations are based in those musical structures. Every Wednesday, he has a different program combining American music, jazz, Latin American and classical melodies. 

His “Greatest Piano Music for Movies” program features 15 famous themes, to be named by the audience, from the Warsaw Concerto to “Play It Again Sam” and Walt Disney favorites. The first three people who guess all movie titles will receive a free Romantic Piano CD by Antonio Cabrero. Let’s have fun—bring pen and paper and submit your list at the end.

Because it is Valentine’s Day weekend, this program is repeated Saturday and Sunday, so lovers, friends and family can enjoy it either day

Leading the new guitar movement
By José Manuel Alcántara 

Classical Guitar Concert
José Manuel Alcántara
Sat, Feb 21, 5pm
Teatro Santa Ana
Biblioteca Pública
Reloj 50A
100 pesos

José Manuel Alcántara is having his successful seventh classical guitar concert in San Miguel. After living and studying for five years in Europe, he began a series of contemporary Latin-American music projects.

In this concert, he confronts the classical guitar with a fresh approach, blending influences of both European and Latin American musicians. He is part of the Sweelinck Conservatory’s Contemporary Music Ensemble, which recently participated in the Gaudeamus International week at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam. The ensemble also played in New Zealand’s Music Festival in Ijsbreker and the Berlin Musical Festival organized by the Goethe Institute of Amsterdam.

At present, José Manuel is leading the new guitar movement in Querétaro, which aims to be an open show for the new generation of guitarists of the city. His last concert in Teatro Santa Ana was a great success, so buy your tickets in advance at the theater box office.

Gypsy music night

Concerts
Javier Estrada
Fri, Feb 13 & 20, 7:30pm
Sala Quetzal
Biblioteca Pública
Reloj 50A
100 pesos

Guitarist Javier Estrada sings and plays noche de fiesta gitana, the enchanting music from the south. His light touch across the strings and the melodies of the gypsies set an intimate mood. These outstanding concerts are part of the Biblioteca Pública’s cultural program. Tickets are available at the theater box office. For concerts at 7pm or after, enter through the Café Santa Ana entrance at Reloj 50A. Seating is limited for Sala Quetzal events.

Folklore harp and flamenco guitar
By Gabriela Servin

Concerts
Sergio Basurto
Mon, Feb 16, 7:30pm
Thu, Feb 19, 7:30pm
Sala Quetzal
Biblioteca Pública
Reloj 50A
150 pesos

Sergio Basurto plays traditional rhythms from Latin America and Mexico on guitar and folklore harp. Latin America has many kinds of harps, including the Venezuelan harp, Mexican harp and arpa llanera, the harp of the plain.

They are made of thin wood (cedar and pine) and are much lighter than the European harp. Playing style and techniques are dynamic in contrast to the softer European tone. The sound is bright with a shorter sustain period after the plucking of each note.

Music Festival announces line-up and pre-season tickets 
By Camie Sands

San Miguel Chamber Music Festival
Passion and Precision in Music
Sat, Aug 1–Sun, Aug 16
Teatro Ángela Peralta
Mesones 82
Season US$275/$360

Miami String Quartet returns this year

The 31st San Miguel Chamber Music Festival runs August 1–16 with the theme “Passion and Precision in Music.” Twelve professional concerts will be presented along with a vibrant “music in the streets” advanced student program.

“We’re passionate about the music and the wonderful musicians who come here. We have put together a festival that will please first-time listeners to aficionados, just like our incredibly successful festival did last year,” said Barbara Porter, president of the Chamber Festival Board of Directors.

The Miami String Quartet was an audience favorite last year, according to the festival’s in-theater survey. They have agreed to return and will again play a concert at the Benedictine Monastery (Monasterio de Nuestra Señora de Soledad) near Atotonilco. Two US-based groups also will arrive in San Miguel from playing in the best festivals and venues around the world. The critically acclaimed Borromeo String Quartet performs over 100 concerts of classical and contemporary music across three continents each season. The Jupiter String Quartet was recently awarded first prize in the Banff International String Quartet Competition, grand prize in the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and Chamber Music America’s Cleveland Quartet Award.

These concerts will be rounded out by national favorites, the Carlos Chaves String Quartet and the Shezarro Quartet, which comes out of the Guanajuato Symphony with a solid reputation.

Under the direction of Alan Durbecq, the Carlos Chaves String Quartet will also be the in-residence ensemble for the scholarship Mexican music student program. Durbecq plans to present advanced student groups in Teatro Ángela Peralta on Mondays and Tuesdays at no cost to the public. (Season ticket holders can use their own seats should they choose to attend.)

“The Ahn Trio and Synergy Brass who performed during the thirtieth season last summer realized that San Miguel is one of the perfect places in the world to gather students together for intense learning and playing, and to be inspired by our lively arts scene,” said Porter. “So, we’re happy to report that they intend to return to San Miguel with 20 advanced music students, each to be part of the festival student program.”

The global economic situation is the only bump-in-the-road that might prevent this from happening. If the extra 40 students invited from the US attend, the city will be treated to up to 10 concerts daily in public places by these students combined with our 20 Mexican scholarship students. We’re stretching to bring an incredibly accessible and exciting Chamber Music Festival to San Miguel this summer.

Juan Villaseñor, owner of Ten Ten Pie Restaurant and festival treasurer, said, “If season tickets are purchased before March 31, buyers receive additional benefits. Last year 11 concerts were included in the season ticket package, this represents a saving as there is no price increase over last year until the end of March.

When season tickets are purchased before March 31, the Yale Alumni 100 Voice Choir is included in the package as well. As importantly, a “blue-ribbon” reserved seating area at the Monasterio de la Soledad (and transportation if needed) to hear the Miami String Quartet, and reserved area seating at San Juan de Dios are included. Lastly, season ticket holders will be admitted at no cost to any extra concerts announced (such as is expected by the Synergy Brass Quintet) as the season progresses. Plus season ticket holders are invited to the festival opening and closing cocktail receptions. Box seats are US$360 and Orchestra (floor) seats are $275, or peso equivalent.

To purchase season tickets, volunteer, or provide guest lodging for a university student, stop into the festival office inside Bellas Artes, Hernández Macías 75. Limited pre-season hours: 11am–1pm. Contact Director Camie Sands at info@festivalsanmiguel.com,  154-8722 office or 154-6920 home. For more information on groups, performance dates and programs, see www.festivalsanmiguel.com.