A vibrant arts community makes for a healthy city. Much of what shaped my thoughts on culture came from the exposure I had to the arts as a child.
Those field trips to the symphony, to see the Nutcracker, museum trips, and years of French class taught me the positive and enduring effects that artistic expression can have on a young mind.
So I recently joined the board of the performing arts organization, Arts San Antonio. Their mission is to bring diverse world class performances to our city. But the group also strives to make the programming accessible to everyone with diverse genres, venues, ticket prices, and in many cases free performances and educational outreach.
Recently, Arts SA brought Argentinian Tango composer, Pablo Zeigler and his trio, to Trinity University's Ruth Taylor Recital Hall. My husband and I attended and found it to be very entertaining and enlightening. We really enjoyed adding the concert to our standing Saturday night date night.
Zeigler is described as "leading exponent of nuevo tango. He is sharply percussive and exudes a metallically lyrical style. As a composer, Ziegler embraces a contrapuntal approach to tango music but adds jazz interpretation: lighter harmonies similar to those of Bossa Nova and extended passages of improvisation. His group maintains the essence of the nuevo tango which translates structural experiments into mood swings: astringent to sultry, gruff to tender, agitated to buoyant." This is according to The New York Times.
Audiophile Audition calls Zeigler and his trio "the most successful blend of modern jazz and tango I've ever yet heard."
The Chicago Tribune writes that "Ziegler takes the tango to levels of sophistication and refinement probably undreamed of by Piazzolla."
Tickets started at nineteen dollars up to forty dollars. Whatever has been written, to hear it in person is truly a treat.
So there you have it. It's a talented group - fun to listen to and lots to appreciate when it comes to beautiful music.
This is just one of the many performances Arts SA brings to our city.
There is an internationally reknowned pianist coming to San Antonio and later in the summer, we are working on bringing Harry Connick, Jr. to San Antonio.
Our board thinks this should be our signature, splashy event for the year. Where do you think he should perform in SA? If you were looking for a place to seat 2,300 to 2,700 patrons what venue do you suggest would make this one of the "parties of the year"?
