When it comes to the stage, winter is Santa Fe's new summer.
Dead. One word that came in handy to describe the winter music and theater scene in the quaint Santa Fe of years past. If summer used to be and still is a Ferrari (Opera, Chamber Music, Desert Chorale, the late, lamented Shakespeare in Santa Fe), winter was a Geo Metro for sale along Old Las Vegas Highway, you tow.
Times have changed. Many presenting organizations continue to offer performing arts events year round. The following is a selective overview of some of the highlights in upcoming months.
In addition to the many readings, book signings and book launch parties listed in SFR's Performing Arts calendar every week, the
Lannan Foundation's Readings and Conversations
series maintains a full head of steam through spring. Upcoming events through March 2007: Cave Canem (an evening of African American poets), Jonathan Kozol, Deborah Eisenberg, Lawrence Weschler, BH Fairchild and Charles Simic, each of whom is accompanied by a partner who is also a literary heavyweight. These events often sell out far in advance and it's advisable to jump on tickets early. Calling the Lensic box office works, but it's better to go to
. For more information, visit
.
7 pm Mondays, various dates. $3-$6. Lensic, 211 W. San Francisco St., 988-1234.
Music continues to span every conceivable genre throughout the winter season. Be sure to check the Performing
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Arts calendar weekly for classical, contemporary experimental and world music and Hear, Here for club music, which can be a vital scene even during what used to be the "off season." Advance word on some upcoming events:
Thirsty Ear Productions
fills out a year-round schedule far beyond its ambitious festival every fall. Upcoming Santa Fe shows include gospel/soul legend
Mavis Staples
, blues mood magician
Otis Taylor
, New Orleans piano maestro
Dr. John
and the highly engaging singer-songwriter
Greg Brown
, who was a crowd favorite at this year's festival. Check out
for more information or call Thirsty Ear at 473-5723.
Mavis Staples: 7:30 pm Friday, Nov. 17. $29-$37. Lensic, 211 W. San Francisco St., 988-1234. Otis Taylor: Santa Fe location TBA. Friday, Dec. 1. Dr. John: 7:30 pm Friday, Dec. 15. $39-$52. Lensic, 211 W. San Francisco St., 988-1234. Greg Brown: 8 pm Saturday, Jan. 13, 2007. $25-$33. KiMo Theater, 423 Central Ave. NW, Albuquerque, 505-883-7800.
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FanMan Productions
, under the direction of the indefatigable Jamie Lenfesty, brings several exciting shows to town this winter. FanMan has been the driving force behind bookings at the Santa Fe Brewing Company for indie touring acts. Find out more about these remarkable shows at
or by studiously poring over SFR's Hear, Here calendar. The next big name event hosts
Bruce Cockburn
, who brings his unique, socially conscious folk/pop/rock approach to town. Also in the works is an appearance by
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comedian
Paula Poundstone
.
Bruce Cockburn: 8 pm Sunday, Nov. 12. $34. James A Little Theater, 1060 Cerrillos Road, 988-1234. Paula Poundstone: 8 pm Saturday, Dec. 2. $21-$41. Lensic, 211 W. San Francisco St., 988-1234.
Santa Fe Pro Musica
has ramped up its offerings this year in celebration of the group's 50th anniversary. Spectacular classical music featuring well-known ensembles and soloists as well as the Pro Musica Orchestra and Choir characterize six major performances through the end of March. The impressive lineup:
The Creation
by Haydn, the annual Baroque Christmas, a Tribute to
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Telemann, a celebration of Mozart's birthday, rising piano star Natasha Paremski, the Jasper Quartet presenting string quartets and Vivaldi in Spring with world-renowned violinist Stephen Redfield.
Haydn's
The Creation
: 6 pm Saturday and 3 pm Sunday, Nov. 11 and 12. Lensic, 211 W. San Francisco St. Baroque Christmas: 8 pm Tuesday-Sunday, Dec. 19-24; also 6 pm Thursday, Friday and Sunday, Dec. 21, 22 and 24. Loretto Chapel, 211 Old Santa Fe Trail. Tribute to Telemann: 8 pm Saturday, Jan. 13 and 6 pm Sunday, Jan. 14. Loretto Chapel, 211 Old Santa Fe Trail. Mozart's Birthday: 6 pm Saturday, Jan. 27 and 3 pm Sunday, Jan. 28. Lensic, 211 W. San Francisco St. Natasha Paremski: 6 pm Saturday, Feb. 24 and 3 pm Sunday, Feb. 25. Lensic, 211 W. San Francisco St. Jasper Quartet: 8 pm Saturday, March 3 and 6 pm Sunday, March 4. Loretto Chapel. Vivaldi in Spring: 3 pm Sunday, March 25. All tickets $10-$60, Lensic, 988-1234.
Santa Fe New Music
continues to present well-crafted, adventurous and innovative performances of 20th and 21st century avant-garde classical works. Upcoming winter events
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include virtuoso cellist Ulrike Brand, a "PoMozart Concert: A Postmodern Musical Wake for WAM" and the groundbreaking African American wind quintet the Imani Winds.
Ulrike Brand: 8 pm Saturday, Nov. 11. Unitarian Universalist Church, 107 W. Barcelona Road. PoMozart Wake for WAM: 8 pm Saturday, Jan. 13. Scottish Rite Temple, 463 Paseo de Peralta. Imani Winds: 8 pm Friday, Feb. 23. Lensic, 211 W. San Francisco St. Ticket prices vary. Call 474-6601 for more information.
Santa Fe Women's Ensemble
presents sacred choral music, ancient and modern, including a commissioned piece by Paul Carey with poetry by New Mexico poets Lonnie Howard and Elizabeth Searle Lamb.
6:30 pm Sundays, Dec. 3, 10 and 17, and 7 pm Fridays, Dec. 8 and 15. $16-$35. Loretto Chapel, 211 Old Santa Fe Trail, 954-4922.
Santa Fe Community Orchestra
provides a rare opportunity for local composers, hosting a series of open rehearsals of their work. There is also a December concert on the schedule featuring mariachi music, Prokofiev and Franck.
Concert: 2:30 pm Sunday, Dec. 3. St. Francis Auditorium, 107 W. Palace Ave. Local Composers'
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Showcases: 6 pm Friday, Jan. 19 and Friday, Feb. 16. Santa Fe Opera, Opera Drive in
Tesuque. All events by donation. Call 466-4879 for more information.
Theater in Santa Fe offers a warm spot in the dark to forget about winter and get lost in the dramas of others.
Santa Fe Playhouse
and the
College of Santa Fe
theater department stage shows through spring.
Theaterwork
has an ambitious schedule for upcoming months that includes
Bach at Leipzig
,
Mariela in the Desert
and
Scenes from an Execution
.
Theater information and box offices: Santa Fe Playhouse, 142 E. DeVargas St., 988-4262. College of Santa Fe: 1600 St. Michael's Drive, 473-6511. Theaterwork: 1336 Rufina Circle, 471-1799.
