The Guadalajara Reporter

Ribera arts review - March 14, 2014

Pianist Rodrigo Leal Murillo and violinist Juan Pablo Medeles, two rising stars in  the local firmament of musical talent, will perform a dual recital Saturday, March 15, 3:30 p.m., at Saint Andrew’s Anglican Church, San Lucas 19, Riberas del Pilar.

Tickets cost 130 pesos and are are available in Ajijic at Fiaga Boutique, Morelos 7; El Ta-chihual, Colon 33; and LM@Com, Ocampo 32.

The pair has teamed up to start saving funds for a joint three-month trek to Europe next year to explore options for pursuing advanced studies.  Auditions to qualify for scholarships at the Conservatoruim Van Amsterdam in the Netherlands top the list, but their itinerary will also include visits to prestigious institutions in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Chapala photography in Mexico City

‘Chapala the Lake and the Memory,’ a collection of large format images (example, right) by Ajijic photographer and gallery owner Maria Di Paola Blum will go on display Tuesday, March 18 at the federal Senate building  in Mexico City for a one-week showing.  An Italian by birth, the photography artist has resided in Mexico since 1994. The upcoming exhibit reflects her observation of the lake’s natural assets and its environmental troubles over the last two decades. She will also present a video depicting its current status.

Dance spectacle

Lakeside’s top-notch dance troupe Internacional Ballet Folclorico Son de Mexico performs Saturday, March 15, 6 p.m., at the Auditorio de la Ribera in La Floresta.  The 150-peso admission fee is payable at the door.

 Proceeds from the show will go towards defraying the company’s travel expenses to Canada next July to represent Mexico at the Mondial des Cultures of Drummondville, one of the largest and most renowned international folklore festivals held worldwide.

Naked Stage

The next production of the Naked Stage play readers theater is “Breaking the Code” by Hugh Whitemore. 

The play runs Friday, March 21; Saturday, March 22 and Sunday, March 23.  The bar opens at 3 p.m. and the box office at 3:15 p.m. Shows start at 4 p.m.

Directed by Lynn Phelan, the play tells the story of the British mathematician Alan Turing, who cracked the German Enigma code. The persecution he suffered in his private life is a large part of his story.

The Naked Stage is located at Rio Bravo 10, Ajijic. Turn left on Rio Bravo and drive about two blocks toward the lake. The theater is behind Daniel’s Restaurant.

Reservations will be held until ten minutes before the performance and must be made by email:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  (no more phone reservations). 

Art show

A reception for Nancy Gray’s new show, “Retrospect,” will be held Friday, March 21, from 2-5 .m. Refreshments will be served.

The reception will be in the beautiful garden at La Bella Vida, Constitution 6, Ajijic.  The paintings will on exhibit over the entire weekend.

Show & sale

The “MEXICOELECTIVE” group of local and expat artists will hold their third annual exhibit and sale on all three floors of the Plaza Bugambilias, shopping center in Ajijic on Saturday, March 22, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A special raffle of a piece of art donated by each artist will be sold to benefit the HIV clinic of Chapala. In addition, there will be a fashion show featuring items from the new collection of designs from Zaina Boutique. Participating shops and restaurants will offer specially priced items. The featured artists are Victor Alcazar (painting), Jaime Barbiery (artistic photography), Debra Fry  (wearable art), Heber Barajas- (jewelry), Salvador Ortiz (painting), Juan Ramon Soto and Rafael Piñeda (terracotta) and Karen Spencer (photography).

Plaza Bugambilias is on the Careterra at Calle Revolucion. There is plenty of parking. For more information, call (376) 766-1537 or 333-474-1192.

Concert, exhibit

The MC Jazz Ensmable plays a concert at La Rueda Cafe Galeria in San Juan Cosala on Saturday, March 22, starting 8 p.m. 

Earlier at 7 p.m., artist Alexandra Hermosillo opens an exhibit of her work titled “Esencias y Ausencias.”

La Rueda Cafe is located at Porforio Diaz 120 in San Juan Cosala.

Catarsis piano trio

The talented Catarsis piano trio presents works by Beethoven, Schumann and Piazzola in the next Viva la Musica concert on Thursday, March 27, 7 p.m. at the Auditorio  in La Floresta. 

Formed of pianist Azelea Beltran, violinist Diego Rojas Miramontes and cellist Yalissa Cruz, Catarsis is gaining wide recognition for their sensitive interpretations of great works of music.

Both Cruz and Rojas Miramontes are members of the Jalisco Philharmonic, while Beltran, who entered the University of Guadalajara (UdG) Music School at age 12, has played with the orchestra as a soloist.

The March 27 concert program will include Beethoven’s “Sonata No. 8 for violin and piano,” Schumann’s “Fantasy for cello and piano” and “The Four Seasons” by Piazzola.

Tickets cost 200 pesos and are on sale at Diane Pearl Colecciones, the auditorium in La Floresta and at LCS, Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m.. to noon.

Lakeside Little Theatre

The final play of the season at the Lakeside Little Theatre is “Social Security,” which runs from March 28 through April 6.

Written by Andrew Bergman and directed by Phil Shepherd, this sophisticated comedy  focuses on trendy Manhattan art gallery owners Barbara and David Kahn, whose life is upended when her housewife sister Trudy deposits a surprise guest on the couple’s doorstep. The Broadway production opened in 1986 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre where it ran for 388 performances. Cast members include Phyllis Silverman, Pierre Blackburn, Georgette Richmond, Zane Pumiglia, Candace Luciano and Roger Larson.

Tickets for the show are 200 pesos. The box office will be open from 10 a.m. to noon, from Wednesday, March 26 through the run of the show (except for the Sunday matinees), and one hour before curtain time for each performance.

Bus trip change

Viva la Musica has been informed that the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra (JPO) has canceled its concert for Friday, March 28. 

Viva la Musica has therefore rescheduled its bus trip for Sunday, March 30.  The bus will leave Ajijic at 10:30 a.m. for the 12:30 p.m. concert in Guadalajara.

Anyone holding tickets for the March 28 concert will have seats reserved on the bus for the Sunday trip. If ticket holders cannot attend the concert they may get a refund at the LCS office, open Monday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to noon.

Big Screen cameo

“Gravity,” the space drama directed by Mexico’s famed filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón which captured seven Oscars trophies, was back for a return run at the MovieSpace Theatre at Centro Laguna. Keen-eyed viewers were able to spot a quick look at Lake Chapala popping up in the backdrop about a minute and a half into the film. During the opening space walk sequence an inverted view of Mexico’s Pacific coast gradually appears on left side of the screen, with the dark shape of the lake becoming clearly visible as the extended single shot pans inland.

Printmakers

Non-profit printmakers Coxala Grafica open their new studio at Carretera Poniente 36, Ajijic, between the Red Cross and Doña Lola, on Friday, March 28, 6 p.m.  An after party will be held at La Sangrita Cocktail Bar. All are welcome.