Formandi Festival
Organized under the umbrella of the Universidad de Guadalajara, the Formandi Festival, scheduled July 14-20, is an academic, artistic and social project that brings together young musicians from around the country and abroad to participate in private classes, masterclasses, concerts, chamber music, orchestra, solo competition, conferences, among other activities, with a faculty of wide international experience.
Performing will be trombonist Faustino Diaz and flutist Miguel Ángel Villanueva, accompanied by the Formandi Festival orchestra, plus the young winners of the festival’s concurso.
Conjunto de Artes Escénicas, Friday, July 20, 8:30 p.m. 100 pesos.
More circus arts
The Festival Periplo 2018 presents “Perhaps, Perhaps ... Quizas,” a tragic-comedic work featuring a female clown seeking the perfect man.
Conjunto de Artes Escenicas, Saturday, July 21, 8:30 p.m. 150-350 pesos.
Ballet Gala
The Allegro! Gala International de Danza features talented 15-year-old Tapatio dancer Enrique Bejarano, who recently was awarded the Grand Prix of New York Prize in its junior category. The major goal of the gala is to raise funds so Bejarano can spend the next four years studying at the Princess Grace Ballet Academy in Monte Carlo. Dancing since he was six, Bejarano was a pupil of local teacher Doris Topete. He says his dream is to perform with the Royal Ballet in London. Additionally, the production showcases dancers from the Washington Ballet and Cuban National Ballet.
Conjunto de Artes Escenicas, Saturday, July 21, 8 p.m. 250-450 pesos.
The UdG ballet
Famed folk dance troupe returns for a short series of performances showcasing typical dances from the state of Campeche.
Teatro Degollado, Sunday, July 22, 6 p.m.
Monday concerts
Free concerts by contemporary local, national and, sometimes, international pop and rock artists of various genres. August 6: Dirty Black Beans (rockabilly, blues, swing). August 13: Cian.
Teatro Alarife Martín Casillas, Mondays, 8 p.m. Free.
More on Mondays
Monday concerts of differing genres. July 23: Pianist Manuel Guillen. July 30: Chilakil Brass.
Palcco, Mondays, 8:30 p.m. 100 pesos.
Tuesday recitals
The Jalisco Culture Secretariat’s “Martes de Musica y Opera” series showcases talented classical musicians at free-of-charge Tuesday evening recitals. July 24: Contratenor Santiago Cumplido with Carolina Rodríguez Russum on piano. August 7: Ensamble Cantiga Virreinal. August 14: Yalissa Cruz Espino (cello), Rosa María Valdez (piano) and speical invited guest Sergio Emilio Parra (piano).
Teatro Alarife Martín Casillas, Tuesdays, 8 p.m. Free.
Ballet
The Ballet de Jalisco present “La Fille mal gardée” (The Wayward Daughter), a comic ballet in two acts, inspired by Pierre-Antoine Baudouin’s 1789 painting, La réprimande/Une jeune fille querellée par sa mère.
Teatro Degollado, Friday, August 10, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, August 11, 6:30 p.m. and Sunday, August 12, 12:30 p.m.
Traditional Mariachi festival
As in past years, the 13th Encuentro Nacional del Mariachi Tradicional (Traditional Mariachi Festival) will precede the big annual mariachi bash, with performances scheduled at several city venues from August 18 to 24. Whereas the modern mariachi band with its mix of brass and strings, charro outfits and big, bold sound has come to represent Mexico and Jalisco in particular throughout the world, traditional mariachi musicians represent a style closer to son music, the form that gave birth to mariachi in the 19th century. They often wear much less ostentatious loose-fitting white peasant shirts, usually with black or white pants and huarache sandals. The big difference, though, is that they do not employ brass instruments, sticking with guitars and violins, guitars and harps, or some other mix of string instruments.
Various venues in metro Guadalajara, August 13-19. Free.
Rock Pack: The legends of rock
A concert experience featuring the lead vocalists, past and present from bands such as Chicago (Bill Champlin), Journey (Kevin Chalfant), Boston (Fran Cosmo), Santana (Alex Lingergood) and Toto (Bobby Kimball). and more.
Teatro Diana, Wednesday, August 22, 9 p.m.
God Save the Queen
One of the most highly-rated Queen tribute bands in concert.
Palcco, Thursday, August 23, 9 p.m. 250-350 pesos.
Marquis Hill Quartet
Award-winning trumpeter, composer, and bandleader Marquis Hill is a highly skilled jazz musician with a bent toward soulful post-bop. A native of Chicago, Hill won first place in both the 2012 International Trumpet Guild’s Jazz Improvisation Competition and the 2013 Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Solo Competition. He has performed with a wide array of artists including Benny Golson, Rodney Whitaker, Steve Turre, and others.
Conjunto de Artes Escénicas, Thursday, August 23, 9 p.m.
Cirque du Soleil’s Mexican odyssey
The famed Montreal-based troupe brings its Mexican-themed show, Luzia, to Guadalajara for a series of presentations Thursday, August 30, through Sunday, September 16.
Luzia is inspired by the richness of the Mexican culture, its name fusing the sound of luz (light in Spanish) and lluvia (rain), two elements at the core of the show’s creation. The show features a cast of 44 artists from 15 countries and is Cirque du Soleil’s 38th production since 1984.
Its promoters in this country describe the show as “a sumptuous journey through an imaginary Mexico – a surreal world suspended between dreams and real life.”
After showing in Chicago last year, one reviewer called Luzia, “ a superb … special show … with uncommon narrative sophistication: a creation rooted in place that allows you to print many aspects of yourself on its stories.”
The show’s venue is the Big Top that will go up at the Explanda Lopez Mateos (Avenida Lopez Mateos and Cubilete). Tickets cost 890-2,290 pesos, available from Ticketmaster and some other online outlets. Performance times are as follows:
Thursday, August 30, 9 p.m.
Friday, August 31, 9 p.m.
Saturday, September 1, 5 and 9 p.m.
Sunday, September 2, 1 and 5 p.m.
Tuesday, September 4, 9 p.m.
Wednesday, September 5, 9 p.m.
Thursday, September 6, 9 p.m.
Friday, September 7, 9 p.m.
Saturday, September 8, 5 and 9 p.m.
Sunday, September 9, 1 and 5 p.m.
Tuesday, September 11, 9 p.m.
Wednesday, September 12, 9 p.m.
Thursday, September 13, 9 p.m.
Friday, September 14, 9 p.m.
Saturday, September 15, 5 and 9 p.m.
Sunday, September 16, 1 and 5 p.m.
GR RECOMMENDS: Chilakil Brass
Five talented Tapatios brass performers present a wide and classy repertoire with styles ranging from classical to opera, popular, Mexican traditional jazz, movie themes and more. Their performances are always a lively listen. Comprised of Samuel Flores (trombone) and Chay Flores (trumpet) – founders of the group in 2010 at the Universidad de Guadalajara Escuela de Musica – Joaquín Trejo (French Horn), José Luis López (tuba) and Luis Mateos (trumpet).
Palcco, Monday, July 30, 8:30 p.m. 100 pesos.