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The KPAC Blog features classical music news, reviews, and analysis from South Texas and around the world.

SA Symphony Celebrates Fiesta With Traditional And Baroque Music

Chris Eudaily
/
TPR News

Three concerts span fun Fiesta and Riverwalk themes with Akiko Fujimoto!

This weekend the San Antonio Symphony adds cellos, oboes, and more to mariachi sounds with their annual Fiesta Pops at the Majestic Theatre Friday and Saturday nights at 8 p.m.

Assistant Conductor Akiko Fujimoto is joined by the Guadalupe Dance Company, Mariachi Campanas de America, and young vocalist Sebastien De La Cruz.

"You're going to adore Sebastien, " says Fujimoto. "He wowed them on America's Got Talent, and he is a lot of fun to hear with the orchestra."

130417-akiko-fujimoto-fiesta-pops.mp3
Akiko Fujimoto discusses Fiesta Pops

The Symphony continues Sunday night at 7 p.m. for the baroque concert series finale, Fiesta Baroque. On tap is Handel's "Water Music" for the riverwalk, "The Fairy Queen" by Purcell beckoning Fiesta royalty, and the husband/wife team of Hideaki and Sayaka Okada play Bach's "Concerto for Oboe and Violin."

"We're not using period bows this time, but we're capturing the style," adds Fujimoto. The last few concerts in the series had some players using bows of the baroque era, which are different than a modern bow.

John Clare is comfortable behind a microphone, streaming video or playing violin. A former broadcaster for NPR, John has previously worked with Voice of America, the Canadian Broadcast Corporation and stations in Kansas, Nevada, California, and Pennsylvania.