The Guadalajara Reporter

Ribera arts review - April 11, 2014

“Salmon Fishing in the Yemen” is the next film in the Sunday Afternoon at the Movies series sponsored by the Lake Chapala Chapter of Democrats Abroad Mexico.

The film features an Arab sheik with unlimited financial resources who refuses to accept the impossibility of his idea to turn a Middle Eastern desert into a recreational playground for sport fishermen. Woven into the story is a complex romance, an attack on the sheik’s life, and several morality lessons involving the faith of fishermen and dreamers of all kinds. The movie was filmed on location in Scotland, London and Morocco.

Showtime is 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 13, at Cinemas del Lago, Bugambilias Plaza, Ajijic..  Tickets are 50 pesos at the box office. Public is welcome.

Proceeds are used to help fund the sponsoring organization’s non-partisan voter registration and voter assistance program for American ex-pats living in the area. For more information call (376) 766-1658 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Naked Stage

The next production of the Naked Stage play readers theater is “Taking Leave” by Nagle Jackson.

The play runs Friday, April 25; Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27.  The bar opens at 3 p.m. and the box office at 3:15 p.m. Shows start at 4 p.m.

Directed by Georgette Richmond and Mark Bennett, the play tells the story of literature professor Eliot Pryne, who is succumbing to the early stages of dementia. Poignant and touching, yet at times both humorous and occasionally crude in its language, it is a realistic look at the dynamics a family must face when confronted with physical and mental challenges.

The Naked Stage is located at Rio Bravo 10, Ajijic. Turn left on Rio Bravo and drive about two blocks toward the lake. The theater is behind Daniel’s Restaurant.

Reservations will be held until ten minutes before the performance and must be made by email:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  (no more phone reservations).

VIVA bus trips

So quick off the mark is Viva la Música! that the lakeside musical organization has announced its summer bus trip plans to see Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra concerts in Guadalajara even before the local media has officially received the season’s schedule!

Bus trips are scheduled to the following concerts at the Degollado Theater:

Friday June 6:  Homage to Richard Strauss No. I (conductor Marco Parisotto) – Strauss’ “Till Eulenspiegel,” “Four Last Songs” and “An Alpine Symphony.”

Sunday June 15:  Symphonic Jazz (conductor Marco Parisotto) – Bernstein’s “West Side Story,” Ellington’s “Harlem,” Gershwin’s “Walking the Dog,” “I Got Rhythm” and “Rhapsody in Blue.”

Friday July 4:  Baroque (conductor Jean-Christophe Spinosi) –  Handel’s “Orlando Overture,” “Water Music,” Telemann’s “Flute Concerto,” Vivaldi’s “Two Flute Concertos,” Handel’s “Royal Fireworks.”

Sunday July 13:  Impressions of Italy (conductor John Nelson) – Verdi’s “Four Sacred Pieces,” Puccini’s “Edgar,” Giordano’s “Fedora,” Mascagni’s “Cavalleria Rusticana,” Respighi’s “Roman Festival.”

Friday July 18:  Homage to Richard Strauss No. 2 (conductor Marco Parisotto) – Strauss’ “Der Rosenkavalier,” “Thus Spoke Zarathustra,” Schumann “Cello Concerto.”

Ticket prices for all trips are 250 pesos for Viva members and 350 for non-members. Tickets are available at Lake Chapala Society (LCS), Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to noon. Friday trips leave at 4.30 p.m. and stop at a good restaurant in Guadalajara before the concert. Sunday trips leave at 10.30 a.m. Buses leave just east of Farmacia Guadalajara in Ajijic. Seats are reserved only when tickets are purchased. Viva orders the symphony tickets ten days ahead, so please make purchases before that time.

Remaining Met operas

Viva la Musica! will be running buses to the two remaining Live from the Met simulcasts at the Teatro Diana in Guadalajara.

Saturday, May 3: “Cosi fan Tutti” by Mozart – bus departs 10.30 a.m.

Saturday, May 10: “Cinderella” by Rossini – bus departs 10.30 a.m.

All bus trips are 250 pesos for Vivaamembers and 350 for non-members.

Viva Summer concerts

Viva la Musica! has announced its concerts for the summer.

On Sunday, June 29  pianist and composer Sergio Parra will play pieces by Bach, Mozart, Liszt and Debussy. He is a Viva scholarship winner who will be studying at the University of Illinois.

On Sunday, July 20 bass baritone Cesar Becerro will interpret operatic music accompanied on the piano by Tim Welsh. He is a Viva scholarship winner who is studying voice in Mexico City.

On Sunday, August 31 virtuoso guitar duo Medina-Gracian will play music arranged for two guitars.

These concerts will be in the Auditorio de la Ribera at 4 p.m. Tickets are 200 pesos and will be on sale at the Auditorio, Diane Pearl Coleciones, and the Lake Chapala (LCS) ticket booth Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to noon.