Exhibit
Rabbit in the Moon Gallery presents a show of original prints, etchings and block prints by Juan Navarro, Luis Pinedo, Pat Apt, Xilotl and Jesus Lopez Vega.
The opening is Saturday, December 2, 2-5 p.m. Ramon Corona 5B, Ajijic (just north of the Lake Chapala Society).
Operation Smile benefit
Mexican divas, including Lupita Jimenez, Gaby Rizo, Lorena Aguilar and Paloma Rio, perform at the Auditorio de la Ribera in a benefit for Operation Smile, Saturday, December 2, 6 p.m. “Ojos Tapatios” will be accompanied by the Amaral Chorus and the International Viva Mexico Mariachi of Francisco Aguilar. Tickets, 350 pesos, are available at BarCo and Yoli’s Salon, or by calling Lupita Jimenez, 333-105-0631.
Opera HD screening
Lakeside Little Theatre presents an HD screening of the live production of “Il Volo” with Plácido Domingo, in a “Notte Magica” tribute to the Three Tenors, Saturday, December 2, 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, December 3, 3 p.m.
After winning over the global public on their tour through Europe, the United States, Mexico and South America, Il Volo returned to Italy for a magical night of music, paying tribute to another famous trio, The Three Tenors. This trio of young Italian tenors, today’s operatic pop phenomenon, have delighted audiences in prestigious venues worldwide. Una Notte Magica was the name of the legendary concert performed in 1990 by three tenors – José Carreras, Plácido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti – and 26 years later, Il Volo came to Florence to commemorate them.
Tickets, 250 pesos, are available at LLT’s box office 10 a.m. to noon, every Wednesday and Thursday and one hour before curtain. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (376) 766-0954.
ASA Posada
The Ajijic Society of the Arts will hold their annual Christmas party, Monday, December 4, at La Bodega Restaurant in Ajijic. A short meeting will be held at 10 a.m. and then it’s on to cocktails, pastries and protein.
Viva Vivaldi!
Los Cantantes del Lago presents “Viva Vivaldi!” Tuesday, December 5, 7 p.m. and Wednesday, December 6, 4 p.m. at the Auditorio de la Ribera. The choir will be joined by the Orquesta Filarmónica Infantil and the Coro de la Ribera de Chapala, both under the direction of Daniel Medeles. As well as Vivaldi’s “Gloria,” Los Cantantes del Lago and their guests will perform holiday pieces from around the world. Timothy G. Ruff Welch, the choir’s musical director, has put together a diverse program that is fun, exhilarating, thoughtful and vibrant. Tickets, 250 pesos, are available at Mia’s Boutique, Diane Pearl, from loscantantesdellago.com or at the Auditorio de la Ribera.
Black Strings
La Mision Restaurant hosts Black Strings, the father/son duo of Victor and Ignacio Garcia, for a benefit dinner-concert for Butterflies en Mexico on Tuesday, December 5. This charity works together with La Mision in Hacienda de la Labor, a village of 150 people, east of Chapala, to develop leadership and better the community. Doors open 4:30 p.m. for a no-host bar, dinner is at 6 p.m. and the concert at 7:30 p.m. The menu is an appetizer, a choice of filet mignon or salmon, an unlimited dessert buffet and two glasses of wine for 700 pesos. Warm clothing for the community is needed and can be dropped off at La Mision. For more information, contact Bernadine, (387) 761-0360.
Bohemian night
A special night of music, poetry, food and drink is on for Thursday, December 7, beginning 7:30 p.m. at Luna Cacau, Jesus Garcia 187 in San Antonio Tlayacapan. Octavio Ignacio Perez will recite his poetry; music is by Mexican composer/musician Rafa Torres and Riosenti from Germany. The cost is 120 pesos and includes one drink and tamales. Beer, tequila, mescal, hot chocolate and café de olla will be on sale.
Family affair
The Hermosillo family singers will perform a Christmas concert Thursday, December 7, 7 p.m. in a Viva La Musica sponsored concert at the Auditorio de la Ribera. Antonio, Gaby and their children Mariana, Lucia and Jorge will be joined by tenor Jose Fernando Rodriguez and present a program of choral and solo voices and violin pieces. Tickets, 300 pesos, are available at Diane Pearl, Mia’s Boutique, the Auditorio and the Lake Chapala Society.
Calendar Girls
The Lakeside Little Theatre’s final production for 2017 is Tim Firth’s “Calendar Girls,” an adaptation of a film with the same name. This is a slightly risqué comedy based on a true story of Women’s Institute members in Yorkshire, England who posed nude for a calendar to raise money for leukemia research.
Overcoming their initial reserve, the friends drop their dressing gowns, their modesty spared only by artfully placed cakes, knitting and flower arrangements.
Puzzling their husbands, mortifying their children and inviting the wrath of the outraged conservative Women’s Institute, they spark a global phenomenon. But as media interest snowballs, the Calendar Girls find themselves exposed in ways they’d never expected, revealing more than they’d ever planned. A very English story with a very English heart, Calendar Girls is quirky, poignant and hilarious.
The play is directed by Candace Luciano and the cast includes: Georgette Richmond, Wendy Petersen, Ed Tasca, Diana Rowland, Chris L’Ecluse, Susan Quiriconi, Greg Clarke, Peter Luciano, Debra Bowers, Jean Llewellyn, Lupita Campbell, Collette Clavadetscher, Lori Grant and Pamela Johnson.
“Calendar Girls” will run Friday, December 8 through Sunday, December 17. The first Saturday and both Sunday shows are 4 p.m. matinees and the curtain rises at 7 p.m. on rest of the performances.
Tickets, 250 pesos, are available at LLT’s box office 10 a.m. to noon, every Wednesday and Thursday and one hour before curtain. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (376) 766-0954.
P’urepecha Fiesta
P’urepecha Fiesta Ajijic 2017 will take over the Ajijic Plaza Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, December 8-10. Events begin, Friday, noon, and Saturday and Sunday the fun goes from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m., the Orquestra Kuerajperi of Cheran, Michoacan will perform, accompanied by regional dancers from the pueblos of Tocuaro, TzinTzunTzan and Cheran.
Artisans from more than 20 pueblos in Michoacan will display and sell their beautiful crafts. Saturday, a pre-Hispanic P’urepecha Uarhukua fireball game kicks off 5 p.m. with a ceremony in the Ajijic Plaza, continuing at sunset with a participatory game at the edge of the lake. A conference on rebozos (Mexican shawls) is planned and you shouldn’t miss the typical regional food of Michoacan: bluecorn tortillas, curipu, corundas and atole.
Painting Guild
The Lake Chapala Painting Guild presents watercolors, oils, acrylics and impressions at Galeria/Café La 133 in San Antonio Tlayacapan, Saturday, December 9.
Drinks and canapes will be served from 4-6 p.m., as attendees listen to music by Yaeli and Paza Nuñez Arechar, and poetry and stories by members of the Ajijic Writers Group.
New Ceramic Guild
Potters Rob Miller, Frank Howell, Denis Meloche, Steve Weckel and Jeanne Green comprise the new Lake Ceramic Guild. They will show their work, both decorative and functional, at an artists’ reception at Sol Mexicano Gallery, Colon 13, in Ajijic, Friday, December 15, 3-6 p.m. Howell is also offering his annual holiday show and sale Friday and Saturday, December 1 and 2, all day at his home/studio at Lirios 40 in Mirasol.
Table lamps, wall sculptures and free standing sculptures and a full line of functional pottery – mixing bowls, small casseroles, mugs, soup mugs, utensil holders, serving bowls and much more – are available for purchase as holiday gifts.
Pre-Hispanic roots
The music and dance group Corazon del Cielo will perform Aztec and contemporary fire dances, accompanied by pre-Hispanic style instruments in a free presentation on the esplanade of the Centro Cultural Ajijic, Saturday, December 16, 7 p.m.
Classical concerts
Bravissimo! is a four-concert series held over four months, featuring singers from Guadalajara, Mexico City and Lakeside.
Mireya Rubalcaba, a mezzo-soprano from Guadalajara with a “golden voice,” has performed in operas including Carmen, Faust, Turandot, La Boheme and others. She is a member of the Coro Municipal de Zapopan and has sung at the Bellas Artes in Mexico City, Teatro Degollado, Museo Nacional, Teatro Diana and Ex Convento del Carmen. Her concert, Luz de Luna, on Sunday, December 17, contains works by Agustín Lara and Georges Bizet, among others. Next up on January 14, 2018, will be local favorite Amaranta Santos with her concert Storytellers, with works by Kander and Ebb, Randy Newman and José María Cano. Santos was formerly a back-up singer for Shakira and has graced many Lakeside theater and musical stages. February 5 brings us tenor David de la Mora with Canciones del Mundo – Songs of the World. Finally, on March 18, tenor Ricardo Calderon, winner of several national awards brings a selection of composers from Spain, Con amore ... a España.
Timothy G. Ruff Welch is the collaborative pianist for all of these concerts. Welch is the director of the Coro Municipal de Zapopan, Los Cantantes del Lago and the Minister of Music at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church. He has performed around the world as a pianist, chorister and director. Most recently he has directed the choruses for Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, “Otello” and “The Planets” at the Teatro Degollado. In 2017, Welch was the guest director for two operas at the Bellas Artes in Mexico City.
Tickets for these concerts may be purchased individually for 300 pesos, or as a series at 1,000 pesos for four concerts, at Diane Pearl, Mia’s Boutique or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. All the concerts will be presented at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church.
Winter Concert
The chorus and orchestra of Lakeside music school, CREM, will offer a winter concert Sunday, December 17, 5 p.m. at the Auditorio de la Ribera. The musicians and chorus are under the direction of Emmanuel Medeles and a special appearance by Vox Ensemble is also part of the show. Tickets, 200 pesos, are available at Diane Pearl, Dental del Lago and the Auditorio box office. Proceeds go to continue the school’s work.