Arts & Entertainment

Viva la Musica!

Yes, it’s true! The internationally renowned and popular classical guitar duo Gracián Medina will perform at the Auditorio de la Ribera on Sunday August 31, 4 p.m. – thanks to Viva La Musica!

Cantos y Redes in concert

A reminder that lakeside’s renowned Cantos y Redes chorus will present a free performance on Saturday, August 16, 6 p.m., at the Auditorio de la Ribera, La Floresta. The lively stage show celebrating the group’s 28th anniversary will feature a repertoire of Mexican folk songs, with the 20 performers dressed in traditional costumes.

Correction

The annual Summer concert of the Centro Regional de Estudios Musicales (CREM) will take place at 7 p.m. on Saturday, August 9 at the Auditorio de la Ribera – not at 4 p.m. as published in last week’s Reporter.

Always a popular event, this year’s fundraiser looks to be no exception. The Victor Manuel Medeles orchestra will play Astor Piazzolla´s “Four Seasons.”

The children’s orchestra and choir will also both be performing, so it looks to be an exciting and impressive program.

Tickets are 100 pesos from the Auditorio.

Anniversary show

The Lakeside-based Cantos y Redes chorus will celebrate its 28th anniversary with a free performance booked for Saturday, August 16, 6 p.m., at the Auditorio de la Ribera, La Floresta, to be presented as a gift to local music lovers.

The troupe of 20 singers and string musicians stands out for its lively performance style and colorful costuming that reflects country life on Jalisco Haciendas in the 18th century. The special anniversary program will open with a selection of somewhat obscure vintage Mexican folk songs, continuing after intermission with more familiar and highly popular tunes drawn from the group’s extensive repertoire.

Founded three decades ago by native son Jorge Becerra, Cantos y Redes brought together members of  Voces de Chapala, the Rodalla San Antonio Tlayacapan and various other local musical groups. The troupe was taken under the wing of Jalisco Ministry of Culture in 1986. Since then the chorus has traveled to every corner of Jalisco, many parts of Mexico and several venues north of the border to delight audiences with the traditional sounds of Mexico.

Memorable moments in its history include an appearance at the first Ibero-American Summit held in Guadalajara 1991, where they entertained 21 heads of state including Mexican President Carlos Salinas de Gortari, Cuban leader Fidel Castro and King Juan Carlos I of Spain.

Luis Antonio Desales Salcedo took over the baton as the troupe’s director following Becerra’s death in 2011. Among the artists who will take the stage next week are three women and one man who performed with the chorus since its birth.

Jocotepec art show

A new collective exhibit, “Los Ecos Distantes,” opens with a cocktail reception at the Casa de Cultura in Jocotepec on Friday, August 8, 8 p.m.

On show will be works by Luz Preciado, Thomas Mutschlechner, Denisse de la P and Lázaro Luna.

Music will be provided by urban rock artist Lauro Brujito. All are welcome.

Ephemeral art festival

The second Festival de Arte Efímero, Ajijic 2014 begins at 7 p.m. on the Ajijic Plaza on Friday, August 8.

The festival is billed as an “Intervention-Interactive-Live Art” event and is wrapped around a procession through Ajijic to the Ajijic malecon (ending up there at about 9 p.m.).

The various ephemeral artistic expressions to be displayed along the route include “happenings, performance and flash mobs,” as well as installations, video art and live/temporary sculptures.

Ephemeral art is essentially art that is temporary in nature and often created with materials that are close at hand.
More information can be obtained on Facebook (see Festival De ARTE Efímero) or from Chuni Medeles at (cell) 331-064-0814. Sponsors include Gecko Gallery, Hotel Ajijic and El Ta-chihual.

Jazz

Solo jazz guitarist Juan Castañón will be entertaining guests at the restaurant La Jardín de Ninette twice this month. Call (376) 766-4905 to  make reservations at the 7:30 p.m. performances at on Saturday, August 9 and then on Saturday,  August 23. La Jardín de Ninette is at Javier Mina 7 in Ajijic. Castañón is also a member of Blue Velvet Jazz Trio, a local favorite.  

Music in Chapala

University of Guadalajara (UDG) Music School students Marco Antonio Rodriguez and Araceli Guerrero give a piano recital at the Gonzalez Gallo Cultural Center (old Chapala train station) on Thursday, August 21, 7 p.m. Entrance is free.

At the same venue on Sunday, August 24, 4 p.m.four singers from the State Opera Chorus interpret well-known works, accompanied by the Ajijic Orchestra Quartet.

This is a fundraiser for the quartet. The donation is 150 pesos.

The Gonzalez Gallo Center is located at  Av. Gonzalez Gallo 1500 in Chapala.

The annual Summer concert of the Centro Regional de Estudios Musicales (CREM) will take place on Saturday, August 9, 4 p.m. at the Auditorio de la Ribera.

Residency program

Need some cultural stimulation? The 360 Xochi Quetzal Artist and Writer’s Residency Program in Chapala currently has three residents who are planning to share their talents with the community on Saturday, July 26, 5 p.m. at the Chapala’s Gonzalez Gallo Cultural Center (old train station).

Viva la Musica

On Sunday July 20, 4 p.m. Viva la Musica will present bass baritone Cesar Becerra at the Auditorio de la Ribera, performing a range of operatic music, accompanied by Tim G. Welsh on piano. Tickets are available at the door for 200 pesos.