San Antonio Philharmonic musicians perform at the orchestra’s free Cinco de Mayo concert at Plaza Guadalupe last week. Photo by Brenda Bazán / San Anton
“The fledgling San Antonio Philharmonic symphony orchestra has found its wings, announcing a second season of 10 Classics concert programs at its home venue, the First Baptist Church,” writes Nicholas Frank in Wednesday’s (5/10) San Antonio Report (TX). “The new season opens Sept. 22-23 with a continuation of the group’s focus on music of the Spanish diaspora, a concert program featuring the jaunty ‘Mariachitlán’ by living Mexican composer Juan Pablo Contreras, inspired by mariachi groups playing in the open air plazas of Mexico City. Also on the opening program is ‘Symphonie espagnole’ by Édouard Lalo, a 19th century French composer of Spanish descent, and Igor Stravinsky’s 1945 ballet suite from ‘The Firebird.’ The season will present familiar names and major works, from Mozart’s ‘Magic Flute’ overture Nov. 3-4 to Beethoven’s thundering Symphony No. 5 as a season closer May 31-June 1. The final concerts will welcome the return of popular violinist Randall Goosby…. The October 13-14 concerts will present Armenian composer Alexander Arutunian’s Trumpet Concerto in A major of 1950, Indian-American composer Reena Esmail’s recent ‘Avartan,’ and ‘Field Guide’ by 31-year-old California composer/environmentalist Gabriella Smith…. The new organization is in the midst of wrapping up a successful inaugural season this month.”
