Classical music fans won’t just have to put down roots at the brand new San Antonio Philharmonic, with a slew of local bands gearing up for their 2022-2023 seasons.
A dozen groups have announced new seasons: Agarita, Camerata, Caritas, Classical Music Institute, the Mid-Texas Symphony, Musical Bridges Around the World, San Antonio Chamber Choir, San Antonio Mastersingers, San Antonio Philharmonic, South Texas Symphonic Orchestra, SOLI Chamber Ensemble and the Youth Orchestras of San Antonio (YOSA).
Agarita
A half of Harlem Quartet joins the four-member chamber ensemble Agarita on September 3 at the Carver Community Cultural Center, for a program featuring classics by Mozart, Mendelssohn and Schumann, and newer works by modern composers, including Cuba’s Guido López-Gavilán .
Agarita established himself as a frequent collaborator with other artists, often working in different disciplines. On December 10 at the Radius Center, the group will perform with the famous poet Naomi Shihab Nyeand on January 28 at the McAllister Auditorium, dancers from San Antonio Ballet will join in a concert shaped by choreography.
The San Antonio Botanical Garden serves as the backdrop for a late-winter concert with guest guitarist Pablo Sáinz-Villegas on Feb. 25, and the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) lends both the setting and the inspiration for the concert on April 18 inspired by the Roman Landscapes: Visions of Nature and Myths of Rome and Pompeii exposure. SAMA offers free admission from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and the free concert starts at 5:30 p.m.
Agarita will close its season on June 17 at the Chapelle du Verbe Incarné, promising an eclectic program with original arrangements.
Now in its fifth year, the ensemble has pledged to give free public concerts in each of the 10 city council districts each year, using its portable Humble Hall. These gigs will be announced later.
All shows are free. More information about the concerts is available on the group’s website.
Camerata
The Camerata chamber ensemble will celebrate its 20th season with concerts in September, October and January through April, continuing its regional approach by performing at the First Presbyterian Church in Kerrville, the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit on Bandera Road and at the concert hall of the University of the Incarnate Word.
Camerata opens its season from September 23 to 25 with a concert entitled “Postcards”, in honor of the famous British composer Errollyn Wallen. five postcards. Each of the five movements of the work is titled for its musical character: Simple and fluid, Furious, Intense – Faster, with a bit of swagger, soulful and Vigorous. The program also includes chamber music by Richard Strauss and a piece by Pulitzer Prize winner Kevin Puts.
Pianist Viktor Valkov will be featured in a recital program on October 23, playing works by Mussorgsky, Tchaikovsky, Brahms and the lesser known Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, son of Johann Sebastian Bach.
The January concerts feature a program entirely devoted to Shostakovich, followed by the February program ‘Contrasts’, the March program ‘Tango Amour’ and an April finale of string quartets by Mozart and Beethoven.
Tickets for all Camerata concerts are available on the group’s website.
Caritas
At the beginning of this year, the great Schoenstein organ of the Chapel of the Incarnate Word was the star of a series of concerts.
Although the season-opening concert scheduled for September 11 has been cancelled, a full slate of concerts will follow, beginning October 7 with a festival of hymns for peace and reconciliation. On October 16, the University of Texas San Antonio Concert Choir will play with the organist S. Andrew Lloyd.
The season resumes on March 12 with a recital of French music by American organist Lynne Davis. On April 7, 14 organists will perform the 14 parts The Way of the Cross (Way of the Cross) by Marcel Dupré for Good Friday.
The San Antonio Children’s Choir will sing on April 23, and on May 6 and 7, the San Antonio Chamber Choir will perform works by contemporary American composer Jake Runestad.
All Caritas concerts are free and open to the public.
classical music institute
The Tobin Center for the Performing Arts’ resident company, the Classical Music Institute (CMI), kicks off its season with a festive, food-centric “Enjoy the Music” event in the HEB Performance Hall on November 17.
The band then head to the more intimate Carlos Alvarez Studio Theater for two concerts, November 19 and April 7, before activating their innovative summer concert series throughout June.
More information on tickets and the season schedule is available on the CMI website.
Middle Texas Symphony
Based in Seguin, the Mid-Texas Regional Symphony Orchestra marks its 45th anniversary season by celebrating the Americas with a 9/11 concert incorporating folk dancers and conjunto music performed by the Teatro De Artes De Juan Seguin troupe.
Other concerts include “Beethoven’s Pastorale” on October 16, “A Storybook Holiday” with the New Braunfels Children’s Chorus on December 11, “Classical Masters” on February 19, “The Wild West” on April 2 with selections from Aaron Copland’s Rodeo and Billy the kidand the end-of-season program “Symphonie Fantastique” on April 30.
Led by Music Director Akiko Fujimoto, the symphony performs at various venues in central Texas. Times and venue details are available on the Mid-Texas Symphony website.
Musical bridges around the world
Musical Bridges Around the World celebrates its 25th anniversary season of uniting cultures through music and art.
Read our recent story on the JUBILEE exhibition at the MBAW headquarters and visit the organization’s website for information about his next season from September 25.
San Antonio Chamber Choir
As the world emerges from the global coronavirus pandemic to face new challenges, the San Antonio Chamber Choir draws inspiration from Robert Louis Stevenson for its new season, titled “Fear Not, Dear Friend” after a sonnet by the american poet.
The programs range from “Our Deep, Deep Earth” on September 24 and 25 with a composition titled Land mass which includes whale song and Aaron Copland’s acapella choral work At first based on the Book of Genesis.
For the holidays, the choir will sing El Mesiasa Spanish version of Handel Messiah December 17 and 18.
On May 6 and 7, the choir will explore Emmy-nominated “The Musical Soul of Jake Runestad” American choral composerwith the world premiere of new work and songs from artists who inspired him.
The San Antonio Chamber Choir performs in several venues, more information is available on its website.
Blackmailers of San Antonio
The San Antonio Mastersingers to Welcome New Music Director Yoojin Muhn with Two 2022 Concerts, Mozart’s Solemn Vespers on October 23, and Handel Messiah December 4.
For the two gigs at the University United Methodist Church, the Mastersingers will be joined on stage by the new San Antonio Philharmonic Orchestra, created by former musicians of the defunct San Antonio Symphony.
San Antonio Philharmonic
The new San Antonio Philharmonic bursts out of doors with a complete program of the season of performances, beginning September 16 and 17 with concerts conducted by Ken-David Masur. As befits his hometown, the orchestra will perform Brahms Variations of Saint Anthonyin the same way Romeo and Juliet by Prokofiev and Ravel’s classic Bolero.
Other concerts at the home of SA Phil at First Baptist Church will be conducted by former directors of the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra, Sebastian Lang-Lessing (October 28-29) and Christopher Wilkins (November 18-19).
The SA Phil also loaded its program with 36 free educational concerts for young people, including a January 25 concert with black composersjust in time for Black History Month.
Complete information on SA Phil’s upcoming season, tickets and subscription packages can be found at calendar pages of the new group website.
South Texas Symphony Orchestra
Texas reporter founders Bob and Kelli Phillips will be the center of attention for the October 9 South Texas Symphonic Orchestra”A Texas tribute” concert at the Lila Cockrell Theatre.
The Phillips will narrate the concert on stage, touching on themes from the Lone Star State, including the Texas Revolution, cowboy folklore and the oil boom of the early 1900s.
SOLI bedroom set
During the pandemic, the four-member SOLI Chamber Ensemble planted its roots in San Antonio Botanical Garden to perform safely outdoors. Those roots deepen with the band’s 29th season, beginning September 26 with a performance titled “Rootedin honor of the outdoor sculptures by artist Steve Tobin that dot the garden.
There “WovenThe January 16 program will feature the world premiere of a composition by San Antonio native Niccolo Athens and guest artists TogetherNEWSRQ will join SOLI for “Voiced” on February 27.
San Antonio Youth Orchestras
The YOSA Philharmonic is the highest level of the San Antonio Youth Orchestrasperforming annually at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts.
The 2022-2023 season offers three concerts: “Borders” with guest flautist Mimi Stillman on October 23, a concert on January 22 with a guest artist Tracy Silverman on the electric violin, and theResilience” concert on May 7 featuring the famous William Tell Overture in the same way invincible summera new work by the American composer Kenji Bunch written to celebrate teenagers overcoming the challenges of a global pandemic.
