Fresh off the Press!

If you have attended a concert at the Majestic during the past 3 weeks, you may have been handed a pamphlet by a musician on your way into the theater. However, if you have not been able to make it downtown, the same pamphlets are posted below for your perusal. They are in jpeg format as this blog does not allow portable document format (pdf) inserts. Just click on the picture, and you will be able to read the document.

Of note, the document is presented in its "non-folded" version. Thus, the first page of the pamphlet is on the right hand side of the first jpeg. The order of the pamphlet's inner pages can be known by visualizing the two pages glued back to back. Presented below is the latest pamphlet that will be handed out at this weekend's performances (June 1st and 2nd), followed by the two jpegs of the pamphlet that was handed out at our previous Majestic concerts.

Latest Pamphlet...





First pamphlet...

Cinco de Mayo

(Members of the Guadalupe Dance Company)
On Sunday, May 6th, the symphony presented a free concert at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center Theater located on 1300 Guadalupe on the South-side of San Antonio. The concert featured familiar tunes such as Malagueña, Andalucia, and Cielito lindo, and also music by Revueltas, Laindo, and Moncayo. Joining the symphony on several numbers, the Guadalupe Dance Company graced the audience with their incredible dancing.

A New Talent and an Old Friend

(Conductor Xian Zhang in her dressing room at the Majestic)

(Soloist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg after her Saturday performance)
May 4th and 5th, the symphony was led by conductor Xian Zhang, the newly appointed Associate Conductor of the New York Philharmonic. Beginning the concert, the symphony performed a work by Chen Yi entitled Momentum. "In her preface to the score, Chen Yi describes the work’s meaning:

'The composition was inspired by the power of the ancient totems, the tension of the breathing lava (before it breaks up to flow), and the gesture of the exaggerated dancing lines in Chinese calligraphy. This energetic, dramatic and forceful calligraphy made such a deep impression on me that I wanted to translate it into music, as a metaphor for the flourish contemporary music is making in our society'."

(quote taken from Orpheus Music Prose & Craig Doolin at www.orpheusnotes.com)

Next on the program was Bach's Concerto in A minor for Violin and Orchestra, BWV 1041 and the Concerto in E Major for Violin and Orchestra, BWV 1042. Nadja performed superbly. Last on the program was Schumann's Symphony No. 1 in B-flat Major, the "Spring" Symphony. With great command and tangible energy, Xian led the orchestra in a moving performance of Schumann. Both evenings the audience so warmly gave Xian and the orchestra a standing ovation.

Backstage Humor: Sheriff Jeremy Moeller (trombonist) is laying down the law backstage.

Community Concert

On Sunday, April 22nd, the Symphony presented a concert at the Jewish Community Center in honor of Israel's 59th Independence Day. David Cho led the orchestra in musical selections by Jewish composers. The concert began with the flashy American Salute by composer Morton Gould and followed with compositions by Bernstein, Offenbach, Copland, Mendelssohn, and Rodgers. Concluding the performance, the audience sang along to Hatikvah, the national anthem of the State of Israel.

Tito Puente, Jr.

(Downstairs on the dressing room level at the Majestic, Tito Puente, Jr. with members of his band at intermission.)
Setting the stage for a swinging evening, the Symphony began this concert with a collage of music from Mexico, Spain, and Brazil. Songs such as Chiapanecas, Malagueña, España cani, and Tico Tico were played with a special flair. On the second half, Tito and his band were accompanied by the symphony. Continuing in the legacy of his father, the legendary "King of Latin Dance," he presented works such as Machito Forever, Dejame Sonar, Mambo Gozon, etc. Concluding the concert, a rousing rendition of Oye Como Va brought the audience to their feet.
Backstage Picture of the Week: The Low Brass Section!! From left to right, Amanda Stewart, Jeremy Moeller, Lee Hipp, and Larry Bird.