Music roundup
Festivals and concert series promise a musical summer around the state
Concerts flourish yearround in New Mexico but summertime seems to bring out a distinctly fragrant bouquet of music festivals and events.
Here is a list of many of those musical flowers of the season.
Albuquerque NEW MEXICO PHILHARMONIC;
May 27 at the Rio Grande Zoo. Roger Melone conducts “The Sounds of Freedom” concert (music of Copland, Sousa and Tchaikovsky). Special appearances by the winners of the 2017 Jackie McGehee Young Artists Competition. For tickets, visit nmphil.org.
SALSA UNDER THE STARS AND JAZZ/BLUES UNDER THE STARS;
June 2-Aug. 12 at the Albuquerque Museum’s Amphitheatre. Salsa performers include Azúcar and jazz performers include saxophonist Charles McPherson. There’s also a Ladies Sing the Blues concert and a concert tribute to Dexter Gordon, the latter co-sponsored by the New Mexico Jazz Workshop and the New Mexico Jazz Festival. For tickets, visit nmjazz.org.
SUMMER NIGHTS AT THE ABQ BIOPARK BOTANIC GARDEN;
June 8-Aug. 10. Luna Llena opens the series. For tickets, visit cabq.gov/ biopark/events/summerconcerts.
ZOO MUSIC CONCERT SERIES
at the ABQ BioPark Zoo; June 9-Aug. 4. Jazz saxophonist Grace Kelly opens the series. For tickets, visit cabq.gov/biopark/ events/summer-concerts.
FESTIVAL FLAMENCO INTERNACIONAL DE ALBURQUERQUE;
June 10-17 at the National Hispanic Cultural Center and UNM’s Rodey Theatre and Dance Center. Headliners include Compañía Maria Moreno. Events include six main stage performances, five Cante and Tablao performances, two Fiesta Flamencas, a history conference, workshops and a free student showcase. For tickets, visit www.nhccnm. org and unmtickets.com.
AMERICAN STRING QUARTET;
June 11 concert
at Simms Auditorium, Albuquerque Academy. It is Chamber Music Albuquerque’s June Music Festival event. For tickets, visit holdmyticket.com.
“DIRTY DANCING,” the stage adaptation of the popular 1987 romantic dance-drama, will have six performances June 15-18 at Popejoy Hall. It is part of the Popejoy Presents series. For tickets, visit unmtickets.com.
NEW MEXICO CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL; June 11-18. There is a short faculty concert June 12 at UNM’s Keller Hall in the Center for the Arts and two concerts by young artists studying at the festival, June 17 at Keller Hall and June 18 at the Albuquerque Museum’s Ventana Salon. All concerts are free.
NEW MEXICO JAZZ FESTIVAL;
July 13-Aug. 5 at various venues in Albuquerque and in Santa Fe. Headliners include Los Lobos, Jane Bunnett and Maqueque and Pharaoh Sanders. For tickets, visit outpostspace.org and ticketssantafe.org.
MARIACHI SPECTACULAR CONCERT;
July 15 at Sandia Resort & Casino. For tickets, visit ticketmaster.com.
Santa Fe
SANTA FE CHAMBER MUSIC
FESTIVAL; July 16-Aug. 21 at St. Francis Auditorium and the Lensic Performing Arts Center. Also four festival concerts are in Albuquerque at Simms Auditorium, Albuquerque Academy. Among the many musicians are countertenor David Daniels, who is artist in residence; violinist Jennifer Koh; the Anderson
& Roe Piano Duo; and the Orion String Quartet. Festival-commissioned pieces will be premiered. For tickets, visit santafechambermusic.com.
SANTA FE DESERT CHORALE;
July 19-Aug. 13. The professional vocal ensemble presents four themed programs, “Liberté: Resistance & Revolution,” “Justice,” “Music from a Secret Chapel” and “The Hope of Loving.” The concerts will be at four Santa Fe churches. The festival will also screen two films. Three festival concerts are at the Cathedral Church of St. John in Albuquerque. For tickets, visit desertchorale.org.
ANTONIO GRANJERO & ENTREFLAMENCO; performances June 29-Sept. 3 at El Flamenco de Santa Fe. For tickets, visit entreflamenco.com.
Taos
THE TAOS SCHOOL OF MUSIC’S CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL; June 18-Aug. 6. Concerts will be offered in Taos Community Auditorium by faculty members, the Borromeo String Quartet, the Shanghai Quartet, the Brentano String Quartet and pianists Robert McDonald and Thomas Sauer. Students will also give public performances. For tickets, visit taosschoolofmusic.com.
Angel Fire
MUSIC FROM ANGEL FIRE; Aug. 18-Sept. 3. The festival’s theme this summer is “Around the World.” Concerts will have music from England, France, Italy, the Czech Republic and Austria. Among the performers are violinistviolist Ida Kavafian (MFAF artistic director), Imani Winds and the piano quartet OPUS ONE. Kenji Bunch is composer in residence. Besides Angel Fire, there will be festival concerts in Taos, Raton and Las Vegas, N.M. For tickets, visit musicfromangelfire.org.
Silver City
SILVER CITY BLUES FESTIVAL; May 26-28 in Hough Park. Headliners includes Pat “Guitar Slim” Chase, the Delgado Brothers and the Ghost Town Blues Band. Concerts are free. For information, visit mimbresarts.org.
Gallup
LAND OF ENCHANTMENT OPERA, July 2-Aug. 7. The opera institute is a training program for gifted young singers. Main stage concerts and other public events are at different venues. For tickets and information, email gallupopera@gmail.com.