There's a common theme running through classical music groups this spring: Mozart.
Jan. 27 marks the 250th anniversary of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's birth, and orchestras worldwide are celebrating with, what else, Mozart's music.
The Tucson Symphony Orchestra is celebrating with a Mozart festival of several concerts that include conductor George Hanson performing his first piano concerto in more than 20 years. The city's other professional orchestra, the Catalina Chamber Orchestra, is sprinkling Mozart's works in several concerts this spring, including performing his famed "Requiem" Sunday with the help of the Tucson MasterSingers (Related story, Page XX).
The Arizona Friends of Chamber Music also is getting into the act. One of the many pieces on the group's hugely popular Winter Chamber Music Festival in March is Mozart's enticing Piano Quartet in G minor.
Finally, San Francisco's Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra will perform a bang-up birthday bash with an all-Mozart program March 26 at Centennial Hall.
Here are some of the classical music happenings to pencil in your calendar this spring. Remember to check Caliente weekly for the most up-to-date information.
Arizona Early Music Society
Tickets for concerts at St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church, 4440 N. Campbell Ave., are $18, with discounts available, at the door before each concert. Tickets may be ordered in advance by mailing a check, payable to "AEMS," to the Arizona Early Music Society, 2937 E. Beverly Drive, Tucson, AZ 85716. Indicate which concert(s) you are requesting. Tickets to the Hausmusik Series, intimate recitals and dinner in private homes, are $20. 733-1696.
Asteria, "Flower of Passion β Thorn of Despair" β Sunday.
Kathryn Mueller and Jeffri Sanders (Hausmusik) β Feb. 4, Northwest Side.
Rebel, "Baroque and Beyond" β Feb. 26.
Yukimi Kambe Viol Consort, "European Roots βΒ Global Flowerings" β March 19.
Baroque for Brass (Hausmusik) β April 23, Sam Hughes Inn, 2020 E. Seventh St.
Arizona Repertory Singers
The 22-year-old mixed-voice ensemble boasts as many as 40 singers performing choral music in Southern Arizona and throughout the Southwest. For ticket information, call 792-8141.
"A Mellifluously Musical Mozart Mix" β March 12 at Benedictine Monastery, 800 N. Country Club Road; March 19 at Tanque Verde Lutheran Church, 8625 E. Tanque Verde Road; April 23 at Catalina United Methodist, 2700 E. Speedway; and April 30 at Desert Hills Lutheran Church, 2150 S. Camino del Sol, Green Valley.
Arizona Friends of Chamber Music
Individual concerts are $20. Performances are held at the Tucson Convention Center's Leo Rich Theatre. 577-3769 or www.arizonachambermusic.org online.
Pacifica String Quartet With Pianist Ursula Oppens β Wednesday.
Pianist Lera Auerbach and Violinist Vadim Gluzman β Feb. 5.
Artemis Quartet β Feb. 7.
Tucson Winter Chamber Music Festival β March 5-12.
Claremont Trio β April 11.
CATALINA CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
The professional orchestra, 30 musicians strong, has been carving a niche for itself for 15 seasons. It performs most of its concerts at the Berger Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $14, with discounts available. 401-4369.
"Requiem," with the Tucson MasterSingers, Elena Todd and Chris Herrera β Sunday, Berger. (Related story, Page XX.)
Concerto Grosso β March 19, Temple Emanu-El, 225 N. Country Club Road.
Mendelssohn and Mozart, with guests Paula Fan and Steven Moeckel β April 30, Berger.
Young Artists Competition β May 28, Berger.
Chamber Music Plus Southwest
An offshoot of the critically acclaimed Connecticut-based Chamber Music Plus, the organization brings its mix of chamber music and theater to Tucson. Performances are held in the Berger Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $10-$75, with discounts available. 400-5439.
"Still Life: A Portrait of Frida Kahlo and Georgia O'Keeffe" β Saturday and Sunday. (Related story, Page XX.)
"Mesmeric Mozart" β Jan. 29.
The Clark-Schuldmann Duo β March 26.
"Mazurka β My Friend, Chopin" β April 23.
Kids Series: "Alice a Cabaret" β Jan. 30; "The Sissy Duckling" β April 24.
Civic Orchestra of Tucson
The 60-member community orchestra celebrates its 31st year and the 29th time it has hosted the hugely popular Pops in the Park concert. Performances are held throughout the city, and admission is free. 798-0062.
Classical Concert Featuring Paula Fan and Rex Woods β Feb. 18, University of Arizona's Crowder Hall.
Young Artists Winner Concert β Feb. 26, DesertView Performing Arts Center, SaddleBrooke.
Pops in the Park β May 7, DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center, Reid Park.
Desert Voices
The gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered vocal group celebrates its 17th season. The nonprofit arts organization performs throughout the community and hosts two major concerts a year. Tickets are $12, with discounts available through the group. 791-9662.
"A Passionate Affair!" β Feb. 4, the Historic Y, 300 E. University Blvd., between North Fourth and North Fifth avenues.
"A Many-Gendered Fling" β April 29-30, VENUE NAME??, 325 W. Second St., at Main Avenue.
Greater Oro Valley Arts Council
The nonprofit organization's goal is to enhance lives through the arts, which it accomplishes by bringing the arts to the far reaches of Tucson's Northwest Side. Ticket prices vary by performance. Performances are held throughout the Oro Valley area. For more details, call 797-3959 or the box office at 531-9027.
Tucson Symphony Orchestra Just For Kids β Saturday, Oro Valley Town Hall Council Chambers, 11000 N. La CaΓ±ada Drive.
TSO Masterworks "Sleeping With Schubert" β Jan. 20, CDO High School Fine Arts Auditorium, 25 W. Calle Concordia, Oro Valley.
"Gala 2006: Let the Beat Go On . . . " β Feb. 4, Hilton Tucson El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Resort, 10000 N. Oracle Road.
TSO MasterWorks "George and Amadeus" β Feb. 17, CDO Fine Arts Auditorium.
TSO Pops V With Guest Conductor Albert-George Schram β Feb. 24, Casas Adobes Church Northwest Center, 10801 N. La Cholla Blvd.
Musical Magic for Kids Concert β March 11, Oro Valley Town Hall Council Chambers, 11000 N. La CaΓ±ada Drive.
TSO MasterWorks "London Calling" β March 17, CDO Fine Arts Auditorium.
Concert of All Ages Choral Festival β March 31, CDO Fine Arts Auditorium.
Comcast Oro Valley Festival of the Arts β April 8-9, Riverfront Park.
Riverfront Park Performance Series β April 23, May 7, May 21, Riverfront Park.
Old Arizona Brass Band
Though not necessarily classical music, the brass band surely plays American classics. Most concerts are free and take place at locations throughout the city. For more details, call 990-6386.
Tucson Estates Concert Series β Sunday, Tucson Estates Community Building, 5900 W. Western Way Circle.
El Forte Reunion β Feb. 11, Fort Lowell Museum, 2900 N. Craycroft Road.
Trail Dust Days β Feb. 18-19, Trail Dust Town, 6541 E. Tanque Verde Road.
Civil War in the Southwest With the 4th US Cavalry Regimental Band β March 11, Picacho Peak State Park, Picacho.
Fourth Avenue Street Fair β March 25, Winsett Outdoor Performance Stage, Downtown.
Concert in the Park Series β April 2, Colossal Cave Mountain Park.
Pima Community College
Concerts are at the PCC Center for the Arts Recital Hall or Proscenium Theatre on the West Campus. Tickets are $6 general, $5 students at the PCC box office, 206-6986.
Trombonist Mike Becker β March 2.
Wind Ensemble Spring Concert β March 9.
Chorale and College Singers Spring Concert β March 23.
Sky Island Chamber Players Brass Ensemble β March 30.
Tuba Player Mark Nelson β April 20.
Jazz Improv Combos Spring Concert βApril 24.
Jazz Ensemble Spring Concert β April 25.
Wind Ensemble Final Concert β May 11.
Orchestra Spring Concert β May 13.
Chorale and College Mother's Day Concert β May 14.
Sons of Orpheus
The men's chorus celebrates its 15th-anniversary season this year. Headed by accomplished vocalist and choral conductor and University of Arizona associate professor Grayson Hirst, the ensemble performs dozens of concerts a year. Ticket prices vary with each performance. 621-1649.
Joint Concert With the Arizona Balalaika Orchestra β Feb. 4-5, PCC Proscenium Theatre.
Valentine Concert β Feb. 10, UA's Crowder Hall.
Concert for Far Horizons East β March 12, Far Horizons East, 7570 E. Speedway.
Intergenerational Joint Choral Concert: 10th Annual Concert of All Ages βΒ March 31, Canyon del Oro High School Fine Arts Auditorium, 25 W. Calle Concordia, Oro Valley.
Spring Concert β April 23, Green Valley Community Church, Esperanza Boulevard and La CaΓ±ada Drive.
15th Annual Gala Spring Concert β May 20-21, PCC Proscenium Theatre.
Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra
The symphony is finding a fresh voice under new, young conductor/music director Adam Boyles. Tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for students. Tucson performances are held at the Berger Performing Arts Center; SaddleBrooke concerts are at the SaddleBrooke Mountain View Clubhouse, 38759 S. Mountain View Blvd. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 323-7166 or go to www.sasomusic.org online.
Handel and Mozart β Feb. 12, Grace St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 2331 E. Adams St. Guests: Tucson Chamber Artists. (Jan. 29 at SaddleBrooke.)
Bach's Cantata No. 54 With Mezzo-Soprano Korby Myrick β March 12 at SaddleBrooke.
Beethoven, Wagner and Weill β March 26, Berger Performing Arts Center.
PDQ Bach and Co. β May 21, Berger Performing Arts Center.
Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus
The 66-year-old chorus kicks off the spring half of its 2005-2006 season with a celebration of the anniversary of Mozart's birth. Tickets are $13-$15 for the group's concerts. 296-6277.
"Mostly Mozart" Classic Concert β Feb. 12, Catalina Foothills Church, 2150 E. Orange Grove Road.
Pops Concert βΒ May 7, Tucson Music Hall.
Tucson Chamber Artists
The year-old, 22-voice professional chamber ensemble performs classical works a capella or accompanied by small musical ensembles. The group performs at venues throughout the city, under the direction of longtime local music director Eric Holtan, whose credits include choirs director at Dove of Peace Lutheran Church and assistant director of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra Chorus. Ticket prices vary by performance. For more information, call 370-8016 or go to www.TucsonChamberArtists.org online.
"An Un-Mozart Concert: Music of Brahms, Mendelssohn and Other Romantics" β March 31, Resurrection Lutheran Church, 11575 N. First Ave., Oro Valley; April 2, St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church, 4440 N. Campbell Ave.
Tucson Concert Band
The 70-musician volunteer band performs about six concerts a year, several of them at private functions. Admission is free. For details, call John Prokop at 529-2807.
Concert β Feb. 11, Sun City Vistoso, Mountain Vista Recreation Center, 825-2372.
Concert β March 19, UA's Crowder Hall.
Concert β April 23, DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center, Reid Park.
Tucson Guitar Society
The group puts on a four-concert series with performances at Holsclaw Hall at the University of Arizona. Tickets are $12-$15, with discounts available. Tickets are available at the door or at Hear's Music, 2508 N. Campbell Ave., 795-4494.
Goran Krivokapic β March 3.
Marco Pereira β April 7.
TUCSON JAZZ SOCIETY
The Tucson Jazz Society, a nonprofit organization that aims to promote and preserve jazz music, hosts events year-round. Ticket prices vary, and discounts are available to society members. For details, log on to www.tucsonjazz.org online or call 903-1265. Most concerts are held at the Berger Performing Arts Center.
Fifth Annual John Denman Memorial Concert With Clarinetist Allan Vacheβ Jan. 28
Lisa Otey Trio β Feb. 5
The Ultimate Valentine's Weekend Concert: A Celebration of Love Tribute to Anita Baker and Luther Vandross Featuring Jazz Vocalists Ada Redd Austin and Eric Murphy β Feb. 11
26th Annual Primavera: A Celebration of Women in the Arts β March 11
The Jazz Under the Stars Spring Concert Series is held Sundays at St. Philip's Plaza, 4280 N. Campbell Ave.
Paul Horn and Robin Horn β April 2
Tribute to Dexter Gordon, Featuring Saxophonist Mike Kuhn β April 9
The Best of the Big Band Era β April 16
Phoenix's Jazz Divas β April 23
Some Like It Hotter Latin Jazz and Salsa Dance Concert Featuring Charanga La Unica β April 30
Superjam Fund-raiser Featuring JazzWerx and Leading Tucson Musicians β May 7
TUCSON MASTERWORKS CHORALE
The community chorus celebrates its 55th anniversary this year. The ensemble boasts 70 members with a goal to do the choral masterworks by the major composers. Admission is by donation. 730-5640.
Spring Concert β April 29, TBA.
Tucson Philharmonia Youth Orchestra
The Philharmonia β aka the Tucson Philharmonia Youth Orchestra β continues its quest to train young, career-oriented classical musicians. The 110-strong ensemble of 13- to 18-year-olds performs throughout the state. Many of the concerts are free; tickets for those that aren't free are available through the Tucson Convention Center or Ticketmaster, 321-1000. For more information, call 623-1500
Family Symphonic Concert β Feb. 11, Sunnyside High School Auditorium, 1725 E. Bilby Road.
Spring Concert Sampler, April 1, Armory Park Center, 220 S. Fifth Ave.
Spring Gala, April 8, UA Centennial Hall.
Tucson Symphony Orchestra
The TSO is conducted by George Hanson. Performances take place at the Tucson Music Hall unless otherwise noted. 882-8585.
Swingin' Manhattan Rhythm Kings β Friday-Sunday.
"Sleeping With Schubert" β Jan. 21-22, Catalina Foothills High School, 4300 E. Sunrise Drive.
Wind Quintet β Jan. 29, Tucson Symphony Center, 2175 N. Sixth Ave.
String Quartet β Jan. 29, Desert Hills Lutheran Church, 2150 S. Camino del Sol, Green Valley.
Moeckel and Mozart β Feb. 2-3, 5.
Marvin Hamlisch β Feb. 4.
Sensational Sinatra β Feb. 10-12.
George and Amadeus β Feb. 18-19, Catalina Foothills High School.
Mozart Mania β Feb. 21-22, Tucson Symphony Center.
Piano Trio β Feb. 26, Tucson Symphony Center.
Brass Quintet With Percussion β Feb. 26, Desert Hills Lutheran Church.
Mostly Mozart β March 9-10, 12.
Manhattan Transfer β March 11.
London Calling β March 18-19, Catalina Foothills High School.
Tucson Pops! Picnic in the Park β March 24-26.
Concertmaster Recital β April 2, Tucson Symphony Center.
Flute Viola Harp Trio β April 2, Desert Hills Lutheran Church.
Tchaikovsky an d Beethoven β April 6-7, 9.
Rachmaninoff Rocks β May 4-5.
UAPresents
Performances are held at Centennial Hall on the University of Arizona campus, unless otherwise noted. For tickets, call 621-3341.
Budapest Festival Orchestra β Monday.
The Romero Quartet β Feb. 2.
Kevin Eubanks β Feb. 18, Fox Theatre
Pianist Horacio GutiΓ©rrez β March 4.
Dave Brubeck and Sons β March 25.
Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra β March 26.
Irvin Mayfield & the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra β April 11.
UA School of Music
The school holds its series of recitals and concerts in halls in the UA Fine Arts Complex, on the southeast corner of North Park Avenue and East Speedway. Tickets can be purchased through the Fine Arts box office, 621-1162.
Organist Ji Sun Lee β Jan. 20, Holsclaw Recital Hall.
Sholin Guitar Competition β Jan. 22, Holsclaw Recital Hall.
Piano Quartet With Mark Rush, Hong-Mei Xiao, Nancy Green and Tannis Gibson β Jan. 30, Crowder Hall.
President's Concert β Feb. 4-5, Crowder Hall.
An Evening of Love Songs Benefit Concert β Feb. 10, Crowder Hall.
UA Wind Symphony and Wind Ensemble β Feb. 16, Crowder Hall.
Shakespeare and Love β Feb. 17.
Schaeffer Memorial Guitar Competition βΒ Feb. 19, Holsclaw Recital Hall.
Arizona Symphony Orchestra β March 4, Crowder Hall.
Arizona Jazz β March 5-9, Crowder Hall.
UA Wind Ensemble β March 23, Crowder Hall.
Guitarist David Russell β March 25-26.
Collegium Musicum β April 2, Holsclaw Recital Hall.
Arizona Wind Quintet β April 3, Holsclaw Recital Hall.
UA Studio Jazz Ensemble With Jeff Haskell β April 10, Crowder Hall.
UA Symphonic Band β April 23, Crowder Hall.
UA Steel Band β April 23, Crowder Hall.
UA Wind Ensemble and Wind Symphony β April 27, Crowder Hall.
Arizona Symphony Orchestra and UA Philharmonic β April 28, Crowder Hall.
Mildred Flood Mahoney Memorial Organ ConcertΒ β April 30, Holsclaw Recital Hall.
Community Chorus and Orchestra β April 30, Catalina United Methodist Church, 2700 E. Speedway.
Student Chamber Music Showcase β May 1, Crowder Hall.
Out of town
Green Valley Concert Association
All concerts are held at Valley Presbyterian Church, 2800 S. Camino del Sol, Green Valley. Tickets are $10 for single shows. To order, call 1-520-648-5961 or go to www.gvconcertassociation.org online.
The Lorenzo Trio With Hong-Mei Xiao β Friday.
Cellist Zuill Bailey β Feb. 17.
Rising Stars β March 10.
Annual Piano Competition β April 7.
Quail Creek Performing Arts
The volunteer resident organization operating out of Green Valley's Robson Communities Active Senior Community of Quail Creek brings in big-city programs from Los Angeles and Las Vegas. The 2006 concert series includes three major productions. Performances are held in the Crystal Room of Quail Creek's Madera Clubhouse, just east of Interstate 19 at Exit 63. Individual tickets are $23; season tickets are available. For ticket details, call 625-0706 or 648-1601.
"Yesterday: A Tribute to the Beatles" β Feb. 18-19.
"Everything's Coming Up Music" Starring Susan Egan and Jason Graae β March 11- 12.
Tubac Center of the Arts
The center is a nonprofit, member-supported organization that provides visual and performance arts programs for the communities in Santa Cruz Valley. The center is at 9 Plaza Road in Tubac, about 40 miles south of Tucson and 17 miles north of Nogales, Ariz., off Interstate 19. Ticket prices vary by performance. 398-2371.
Night of Strings, Cello, Piano and Harp β Jan. 20.
Novo Mundo, Brazilian Jazz β Feb. 24.
Tucson Symphony Orchestra Wind Quintet β April 1.
