Mariachi at LCS
The Lake Chapala Society will hold a mariachi and tequila bash, May 5, 3-6 p.m. to host a lively happening to help the local Mariachi Real de Axixic hit the road for a summer performance tour to Costa Rica.
Barely one year out of the gate, the ten-man band has already built up a sterling reputation for dazzling showmanship and recognition as lakeside’s best in the mariachi genre. The group is led by Daniel Medeles, the dynamic young blood from Ajijic’s most distinguished musical dynasty. Drawing on his own schooling in classical music, he tapped on a wide circle of friends and colleagues to bring together the area’s top talent to delight audiences with the country’s emblematic sounds.
The Cinco de Mayo fiesta will feature three sets by the Mariachi Real, with the guest appearance of popular Jocotepec vocalist Lola La Tequilera. In between, guests will have the opportunity to sample more than 15 tequila labels brought in by Vinos y Licores Paz and to learn the intricacies of proper tasting of the class firewater during a seminar.
General admission is 150 pesos per person, with tickets on sale at LCS, Centro Cultural Ajijic, from any of the mariachi players and at the gate. LCS members pay 100 pesos for tickets purchased in advance.
Centro Cultural Ajijic
Mothers and children will be feted Friday, May 5, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a cultural festival at the Centro Cultural Ajijic. Scheduled are workshops in painting, clay modeling, music, sketching and reading, raffles of art, books and vouchers from local businesses, topped off with a concert of rare musical pieces. Call 766-2373 for more information.
Gala concert
The Rotary Club of Jocotepec-Chapala is organizing a gala concert Saturday, May 6, 9 p.m. at restaurant El Patio, Hidalgo Norte 89, Jocotepec. An orchestra of 13 instrumentalists and vocalists, interpreting both classical masterpieces (Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart, Bizet) and modern ones (“My Way” by Frank Sinatra), will be held in a magnificent garden strung with lights. The proceeds will go to the construction of a new pet shelter in Jocotepec and to the Rotary Foundation. Tickets, 400 pesos, include wine service and canapés. For reservations, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call Lorenzo de Blois at 331-359-7519.
Exhibits
The Centro Cultural Ajijic opens two new exhibits May 6. Downstairs: Alicia “Lixi” Castellanos shows recent oils on canvas entitled Remembranzas. Upstairs: Christian Hernández Vázquez exhibits works on canvas that brings to mind Chapala area art masters Antonio and Jesus Lopez Vega, Isidro Xilonzochitl, Daniel Palm and Juan Navarro, called Dream Retrospective (past, present and future). A welcome cocktail with botanas will begin the event, 5-8 p.m.
Piano Recitals
A series of free piano recitals organized by the University of Guadalajara is scheduled the following Thursdays, 7 p.m. at the Centro Cultural Gonzalez Gallo (old train station) in Chapala:
May 11: Mauricio Allera Malo interprets pieces by Bach, Chopin, Debussy and Manuel M. Ponce.
May 18: Susana Bueno Gomez will play music by Bach, Mozart, Chopin, Hernandez Moncada, Ruiz Armengol and Ruiz Galinso.
May 25: Stefania Morales Ponce de Leon, a student of the University of Guadalajara, will interpret a program including pieces by Muzio Clementi, Miguel Bernal Jimenez, Isaac Albeniz and George Gershwin. For more information, call the Centro Cultural Gonzalez Gallo at 765-7424, Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., or Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Friday, May 26, 7 p.m., pianist Antonio Quiroz Martinez, a graduate of the University, will interpret works by Mozart, Chopin, Debussy and Mexican composer Armando Montiel Olvera.
Saturday, May 27, 6 p.m., a concert is given by the Guitarreto Ensamble, which includes David Navarro Luna, Roy Joel Perez Sahagun, Marco Helio Mondaragon Alvarez and Edgar Guadalupe Romo Garcia. Cover is 100 pesos.
JPO bus trip
Viva la Musica!’s last bus trip to see the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra at the Degollado Theater this season is on Friday, May 12. As part of Guadalajara’s May Cultural Festival, the orchestra will present Sibelius’ Violin Concerto, featuring Dutch violinist Liza Ferschtman. The bus departs 6:30 p.m. on the Carretera, near Farmacias Guadalajara. Tickets, 600 pesos (700 pesos for non-Viva members), must be purchased at least one week in advance. They are available at the Lake Chapala Society (LCS) ticket booth on Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to noon.
Met Opera bus trip
Viva la Musica!’s final bus trip of the season to Live from the Met Opera screenings at the Teatro Diana in Guadalajara is on Saturday, May 13. “Der Rosenkavalier”, by Richard Strauss and starring Renee Fleming and Elina Garenca, will be presented in a new production. The bus departs 10:30 a.m. on the Carretera, near Farmacias Guadalajara. Met Opera bus trip tickets, 450 pesos (550 for non-Viva members), must be purchased at least one week in advance. They are available at the LCS ticket booth on Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to noon.
Sculpture exhibition
Rigoberto Navarro, Betto Rock and invited artists are presenting sculptures in stone, metal, wood, clay and recycled material made by local artists Friday, May 13, 5 p.m. at Casa Luna, Ocampo 22 Ajijic
Free concerts in Ajijic
Four musical artists will give free concerts at the Centro Laguna Mall in Ajijic, Satuday, May 20. Violoncheloops, a mix of Cello and ambient-experimental music kicks off the fun at 5 p.m. Soft Pillow, Mexican pop on guitar takes over at 5:30 p.m., J.C. Taylor sings and plays the guitar at 6 p.m. and Hector Santiago plays rock using various instruments at 6:30 p.m.
Viva summer concerts
Viva la Musica! is planning a series of “Summer in the Village” concerts in June, July and August. Each will cost 300 pesos, or 800 pesos for the three-day event package. The proposed concerts are: a piano solo recital with an up-and-coming Mexican pianist/composer, operatic duets with a Canadian mezzo-soprano, and piano/viola recitals with talented Mexican musicians.