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Ribera Arts Review - December 6, 2014

Jazz & Artists

The Artistas del Lago are sponsoring the Blue Velvet Jazz Band free performance in the Ajijic plaza on Saturday, December 6, from 6-8 p.m. The concert hosted by the compendium of art is billed as an opportunity for the public to experience art.

Korean music

The municipality of Chapala is sponsoring two concerts of Korean music, featuring the Sinfonica Tradicional Jinju, on Friday, December 5, 7 p.m. at the Auditorio de la Ribera in Ajijic, and Sunday, December 7, 7 p.m. at the Foro al Aire Libre on the Chapala Malecon.  There is no charge to see these concerts.

Chava Rodriguez

Chava Rodriguez, one of Jalisco’s finest modern artists, will be in the spotlight on Saturday, December 6, 7 p.m. in the San Juan Cosalá Gallery and Café La Rueda, as she opens “Jijos del Maiz,” an exhibit of her most recent works depicting the environment and culture of protest. This important show is sponsored by the Jocotepec Department of Arts, Culture and Tradition. Lauro Brujito will create music for the cocktail opening.

Hyena

Jose Melendrez opens an exhibit of his latest multimedia work in a Sunday, December 7, 6 p.m.  show at the Ajijic Casa del Cultura. Featured will be his newest acrylic works in a riot of color.

Guitar duo

Classical guitar duo David Peralta and Rudy Smith selected totally unique, original compositions by Mexican composers to feature on “Scordatura,” the CD they recorded, using the funding from the 2013 CECA (State Board of Culture and Arts) scholarship they won.

Their dream was to create a CD with beautifully performed Mexican classical music. On Sunday, December 14, 12:30 p.m. a local audience will hear the guitar players present the classical compositions of Sergio Ramirez Cera, Miguel Angel Calderon, Marco Aurelio Alvirez, Winy Kellner, Jesus Delgado and Gabriel Briones in Chapala’s Centro Cultural Gonzalez Gallo, the former train station.

As a way to begin paying the opportunity they were given, these talented musicians have pledged that a portion of the 50-peso admission fee will be donated to student programs for the children of Chapala.

Peralta and Smith say the name they selected means a change in the tuning or one or more cords of an instrument that is determined by the type of music or a piece of music.

Holiday Concert

To celebrate the holidays, Viva la Musica will present an exciting concert at the Auditorium La Floresta in Ajijic on Thursday, December 18, 7 p.m. After rave reviews last season, Viva is bringing back the celebrated Hermosillo Family and their friends, Patricia Hernandez and Hector Lopez, to sing and play a repertoire from opera, sacred and Christmas music.

The program will include vocal and instrumental works by Bach, Beethoven, Bizet, Donizetti, Franck, Verdi and Vivaldi. The audience will enjoy familiar songs such as “Some Enchanted Evening” from South Pacific, “Edelweiss” from The Sound of Music, “Hymn to Joy” by Beethoven,  Gounod’s “Ave María” and “Oh Holy Night.”

As accomplished as baritone Antonio Hermosillo and his wife, pianist and soprano Gaby Zepeda are, their three children, Mariana, Lucia and Jorge, tend to steal the show with their remarkable talent and charm. The children participated in the first state violin competition of Jalisco, and although they were the youngest in their categories, they won first and third place and were invited to be soloists with the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra. Now they perform with other ensembles combining singing, violin and piano.

The Hermosillo Family will once again be joined on stage by baritone Hector Lopez and his wife Patricia Hernandez, mezzosoprano. After studying music at the University of Guadalajara, they both won scholarships to Rice University in Texas where they earned their Masters’ degrees. They have performed in concerts, oratorios and operas in Mexico, Italy and the United States. Recently, Lopez played Melchior in “Amahl and the Night Visitors” by Menotti and The Old Deuteronomy in the musical “Cats” at the Diana Theater in Guadalajara.

Tickets for the concert are 200 pesos and can be purchased at the Auditorio de la Ribera, Diane Pearl Colecciones and the Lake Chapala Society (LCS) box office on Thursdays and Fridays, from 10 a.m. to noon. Also at the door before the concert.  All seating is open.

Live at the Met

Viva la Musica is selling tickets for Saturday bus trips to the “Live at the Met” HD simulcasts at the Teatro Diana in Guadalajara.

The bus on Saturday, December 13 to see “Die Meistersinger” by Wagnerleaves at 9.30 a.m. Tickets for the bus and the opera are 300 pesos for Viva members and 400 pesos for non-members, available at the LCS on Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to noon. Call Marshall Krantz 766-2834 or Ingrid Goodridge (cel) 331-443-6837 to make other arrangements.

Viva La Musica is also selling tickets for the following Live at the Met Saturday trips from January through April 2015:

- January 17 - The Merry Widow
- February 7 - Tales of Hoffmann
- February 14 - Iolanta and Bluebird’s Castle
- March 14 - Lady of The Lake
- April 25 - Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci

Holiday Cards

Lake Chapala Society volunteers will be selling the Children’s Art Program holiday cards every Monday and Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. next to the coffee shop. The cards are also available during the week in the LCS office, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  LCS asks you to make your orders now to support this valuable program.

Art Reception

Master ceramicist Frank Howell, painter Brian Pimlott and Guadalajara painter Enrique Avila will be the honored artists during a reception on Friday, December 12, from 3-6 p.m. at Sol Mexicano Galeria del Arte in Ajijic.

The gallery is hosting jeweler Krista Anderson on Saturday, December 13, from noon to 4 p.m. Mulled wine and cookies will be served during this special jewelry sales event.

Local poets take the spotlight on Monday, December 15, 4 p.m. Reading their own works will be Jim Tipton, Margaret van Every, Mel Goldberg, Michael Warren, and John Thomas Dodds. Wine and nibbles will be served.

Sol Mexicano Galeria del Arte is at Colón 13 in Ajijic.

Centro de Laguna

The second annual show of Tequila, Style, Design and Art is scheduled at Centro de Laguna on Friday, December 12 through Sunday, December 14, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on each day.

The event features tequila tasting, live music, folkloric dancing, exhibits of art and crafts and jewelry. The funds raised during this event will be donated to the educational and cultural campaign Por Amor al Chapala.

Reception and Signing

Janice Kimball, author of “The Joy of Art: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Art World” will host a wine reception on Tuesday, December 16, noon at Aztec Art and Weaving Studios, Carretera Poniente 232 in Ajijic. Following the reception she will release and sign the book at Yves Restaurant. For reservations for the book signing call Yves at (376) 766-3565 or email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

The Nutcracker

The annual abbreviated production of “The Nutcracker” will be presented by students from the Instutito Loyola de Chapala on Wednesday, December 17 in the Auditorio de la Ribera, with performances at 5 and 6:30 p.m.

This event is an annual school tradition and has become a much anticipated event of the Christmas season at lakeside. Director Wayne Palfrey is the designer of the production, while teachers choreograph the various colorful scenes. More than 200 students participate in the 45-minute production. Tickets with assigned seating are available for 50 pesos at the door or in the reception area of the school, located next door to the Lakeside Little Theatre. It’s advisable to purchase tickets at the school or arrive at the event early as both performances traditionally sell out.

Santa Movies

Jocotepec is presenting a December series of movies featuring Santa Claus at the its Casa de Cultura. The remaining free films are “The Brother of Santa” on Wednesday, December 10, 8 p.m., and “The Origin of Guardians” on Wednesday, December 17, 8 p.m.