Paco Padillo
Famed Jalisco composer and guitarist Paco Padillo will present an evening of his original Mexican music at La Bodega on Saturday January 24. Guests should arrive at 6 p.m. for dinner service at 6:30 p.m. and the performance at 8 p.m. Latecomers can choose the second dinner service at 9:30 p.m. following the show.
Proceeds go to benefit the School for Special Children in Jocotepec. Tickets, reservations and information are available from Maritza Freyslinger. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call La Bodega at (376) 766-1002.
JPO Bus Trips
Viva la Musica is organizing bus trips to all of the concerts of spring season of the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra (JPO) at newly reduced prices of 250 pesos for members and 350 pesos for non-members. Buses load on the Carretera in Ajijic just east of Farmacia Guadalajara with Friday bus trips departing at 4.30 p.m. to allow for a dinner stop at a variety of restaurants. Sunday trips depart at 10:30 a.m.
*Sunday, January 25: Homage to José Rolon, leading composer and founder of the Philharmonic. Program includes: Symphonic Poem “Feast of the Dwarves”, Rolon; “Chapultepec,” Ponce; “Piano Concerto,” Castro; “Zapotlan,” Rolon.
*Friday, January 30: British Program: “Overture The Wasps,” Vaughn Williams; “Pomp and Circumstance March,” Elgar; “Scottish Fantasy,” Bruch; “Enigma Variations,” Elgar.
*Sunday, February 8: Tchaikovsky I: “Skater’s Waltz,” Waldteufal; “Violin Concerto No. 2;” Wieniawski; “Symphony No.1,” Tchaikovsky.
*Friday, March 6: Tchaikovsky II: “Flute Concerto,” Khatchaturian; “Symphony No.5,” Tchaikovsky.
*Sunday, March 15:Tchaikovsky III: Revueltas: “Sensemaya;” Revueltas; “Piano Concerto No.1” and “Symphony No.6,” Tchaikovsky.
*Friday, March 20: Tchaikovsky IV: Prokofiev: “Alexander Nevsky Suite,” Prokofiev; “Symphony No. 4, Tchaikovsky.
*Sunday, April 26: French Virtuosity: “Symphony on a French Mountain Air,” D’indy; “Daphnis and Chloe” (complete), Ravel.
Tickets are on sale at the Lake Chapala Society on Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. until noon. For more information contact Marshall Krantz: call (376) 766-2834 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Naked Stage
The Amish Project” by Jessica Dickey is a fictional exploration of the Nickel Mines schoolhouse shooting in an Amish community, and the path of forgiveness and compassion forged in the wake of the tragic event.
Lynn Phelan will direct the cast of the Naked Stage in performances of the play on Friday, January 30, Saturday, January 31 and Sunday, February 1 at 4 p.m. Cast members include Deborah Bowers, Diana Rowland, Jayme Littlejohn, Liz White, Patteye Simpson, Roseann Wilshere, Allen McGill, Graham Miller, Greg Clark and Russell Mack
The play debuted at the New York International Fringe Festival in 2008 and instantly generated buzz in the theatre community. After a stint as a workshop production at the Cherry Lane Theatre in New York City, it opened Off-Broadway at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater to rave reviews.
The Naked Stage is Rio Bravo 10A behind Daniel’s Restaurant which is open for lunch and dinner. The no-host bar opens at 3 p.m., the box office opens at 3:15 p.m. and the show starts at 4 p.m. Reservations which guarantee a seat can be requested by emailing 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..
Juan Chawuk
Acclaimed Chiapas artist Juan Chawuk will be on hand for the opening of “Deconstrucción de Vidas,” a show of his powerful art illustrating nearly 500 years of the destruction of lives. The exhibit will be hung in the Efren Gonzales Gallery at Marco Castellanos 7 in Ajijic, Saturday, January 31 at 4 p.m..
Known for the political statements in his art, Chawuk has dedicated his life to art. Critics report that his work conveys ultimate levels of emotional and rational intelligence as it depicts life and struggle over the centuries in Mexico.
Trilogy - Joelle Rabu
Joelle Rabu brings her extraordinary song interpretations of famed French singer, Edith Piaf, to the Auditorio del Lago Saturday, January 31 at 7 p.m. The popularity of French cabaret singer Piaf (1915-1963) has barely waned since her mid 20th century heyday when her ballads of love, loss and sorrow defined an era of French history.
For 30 years, Rabu who grew up a la francaise (in the French way with a lust for life) in Canada, has written and performed musicals about the life and music of Piaf. She has traveled throughout five continents and speaks several languages.
“I consider it an honor to present Piaf’s songs to keep alive that music and era,” she said.”
Tickets at for Mark Rome’s “Trilogy,” are available from Diane Pearl Colecciones and Jose Melendez. Next of the trio of performances is Well-Strung, a men’s string quartet on Saturday, February 7. The final show will feature Judy Garland’s daughter Lorna Luft in concert on Saturday, February 17.
Chamber Opera Gala
Ópera de Cámara Axixic will appear for its third lakeside Gala Concert on Wednesday, February 4, 6 p.m., at the Auditorio de la Ribera, La Floresta.
The event will feature the voices of four singers from the Guadalajara Operatic Workshop accompanied by a pianist and the Orquesta Axixic Chamber Ensemble on strings, brought into harmony under the direction of renowned tenor Flavio Becerra. The program will include a selection of works by Donizetti, Bizet, Puccini, Mozart, Rossini and Verdi.
Audiences raved about the group’s previous galas held last year at Chapala’s Centro Cultural González Gallo and a December performance at the Teatro Degollado in Guadalajara.
General admission is set at 150 pesos and 60 pesos for students. Tickets may be purchased at the auditorium box office, Auditorio de la Ribera, Diane Pearl Collecciones and by order with Chuni Medeles, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Cell 331-064-0814.
Black and White Gala
Tickets for the Black and White Swing Gala rescheduled to Friday, February 20 are selling quickly with just a few remaining tables available. Proceeds from the elegant dinner dance at Villa Encantada in Chapala will benefit the School for Special Children.
In addition to the beautiful location at the lake’s edge and the dancing in the moonlight to the big band swing music, fashion designer Rosemarie Umetsu will introduce her fabulous collection of designer gowns which will be available for purchase.
Tickets are 600 pesos per person includes a gourmet meal. Dress for the evening: cocktail attire. For information, call Claudette Champagne, at (376) 766-1033 or email 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.. Tickets available at Diane Pearl Colecciones and Mia’s Boutique.
Photographic exhibition
A photographic exhibition by Maria Di Paola Blum will hang at the University Anahuac Norte in Mexico City, February 4-17. Titled “Chapala the lake and the memory” the exhibit will show 20 large format digital photographs that highlight “extraordinary moments of natural light that show the beauty of the lake.” Di Paola offers the same photos in small and medium formats at her gallery located at Colon 11 in Ajijic.