Guadalajara Reporter - City set for month of German fever

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City set for month of German fever

Written by GR Staff

Saturday, 26 April 2008

The official opening of the city’s May Cultural Festival is still two weeks away but one local gallery has got a head’s start.

On Wednesday, the Museo de Arte de Zapopan inaugurated an exhibit of photographs by Stefan Moses, one of Germany’s most influential contemporary photographers.

Moses, now 80, slices across social classes to present a portrait of post World War II German society. Politicians, street workers, actresses, park watchmen, writers, tram conductors, sculptors and artists are harmoniously arranged in Moses’ representation of German society.

Put together by the Goethe Institute and the Munich Photographic Museum, “Deutsche Vita” (“German Vita”) contains many photographic gems.

Stefan Moses, one of Germany’s most influential contemporary photographers is famed for his harmonious and revealing presentations of German society. Image by Stefan Moses.

German culture will be showcased in the annual May Cultural Festival, which takes place mainly in Guadalajara but also in 11 other municipalities in the state of Jalisco, including Puerto Vallarta, La Barca, Lagos de Moreno, Ciudad Guzman and Tequila. Around 200 performers and artists from Germany will participate in the festival’s 103 events, of which 62 will be free of charge to the public.

The main musical events are at the Teatro Degollado in downtown Guadalajara. Tickets on sale at the Teatro Degollado box office (33) 3614-4773, open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Also available from Ticketmaster at (33) 3818-3800.

Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra

Friday, May 9, 8:30 p.m.

The opening concert of the festival features one of the world’s greatest chamber orchestras, directed by Michael Hofstetter.

100-200 pesos.

Johannes Moser

Sunday, May 11, 12:45 p.m.

Violoncellist Johannes Moser joins Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra directed by Hector Guzman. Moser won the 12th Tchaikovsky Competition in 2002 and was awarded the Special Prize for his interpretation of the Rococo Variations. He has performed with many of the highest-level orchestras in Europe and throughout the world.

100-200 pesos.

Daniel Muller-Schott

Friday, May 16, 8:30 p.m.

Born in 1976, German cellist Daniel Muller-Schott has made many recordings in past eight years and guest conductor Klauspeter Seibel joins the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra.

100-200 pesos.

Carsten Daerr Trio

Saturday, May 17, 8:30 p.m.

Jazz trio formed in 2005 quickly gained recognition for versatility and ability to move freely within different musical genres.

40-100 pesos.

Markus Groh

Tuesday, May 20, 8:30 p.m.

Pianist born in 1970 in southern Germany. He was a student of Professor Konrad Richter in Stuttgart and Professor Hans Leygraf in Berlin and Salzburg. He gained immediate world attention after winning the prestigious Queen Elisabeth International Competition in Brussels in 1995, the first German to do so. Consistently cited for his astonishing power and “sound imagination.”

90-150 pesos.

Balthasar Neumann Ensemble & Choir

Friday, May 23, 8:30 p.m.

Music by Beethoven and from the court of Dresden by top musicians from various countries, under the artistic direction of Thomas Hengelbrock.

100-20 pesos.

Fidelio

Friday, May 30, 8:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 1, 6 p.m.

Fidelio (Op. 72), an opera in two acts, is Ludwig van Beethoven’s only opera. The German libretto is by Joseph Sonnleithner from the French of Jean-Nicolas Bouilly. The opera tells how Leonore, disguised as a prison guard named “Fidelio,” rescues her husband Florestan from death in a political prison.

250-500 pesos.

Vogler String Quartet

Tuesday, June 3, 8:30 p.m.

One of the finest quartets of their generation, mastering a repertoire of over 200 works from all periods of music.

90-150 pesos.

Ingolf Turban

Friday, June 6, 8:30 p.m.

Violinist Ingolf Turban, known for recording rare violin compositions of all musical styles, joins the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Hector Guzman. 100-200 pesos.

For more information on these and other May festival events visit www.festivaldemayo.org.