On Sunday Eric and I were off to the final concert of the season at the Angela Peralta theatre. We left a bit early so I could get tickets for a ballet that is coming up on the 25th. No...Eric is not going! Ruth, Chantal and I will go. More about that later. Anyway on the way down to centro the bus was packed. This year buses are routinely full unlike years passed. We were also on a converted tour bus that has been repurposed as a city bus...but not very well. Curtains, dark windows and only a buzzer at the back which makes it tricky to get off.
We did get to the theater in time for me to get ballet tickets. Lots of people were still trying to get tickets for the day's performance but there wasn't much left.
Here we are entering the actual theater and I will point out the couple on the right. He in a white shirt and she in a print top. I didn't recognize them until I looked at the pictures after we got home. They crop up later!
The stage is set and people are coming in.
Might as well take a selfie while they wait!
It was really full...even lots of people in the third balcony. I buy our tickets at the beginning of the season for the concerts that we want to attend. Today there was a lady at the box office with an extra ticket she was giving away free but I already had ours. Free tickets are how Eric started going to the theatre. A number of years ago our friends George and Sharen showed up at our 5th wheel with free tickets to a Sunday performance. Eric asked what the performance was and when he heard it was choral, he was in! We've been going ever since. Well, except for the two covid years.
Gordon starts with an explanation of the " Big Band Era " and talks about Glenn Miller and Benny Goodman.
He also introduced the band which comes from Culiacan and is called the " Big Band of the Autonomous University of Sinaloa." That's quite a handle. Part of the band is teachers and part are students. Gordon said he had never heard of the band until recently and remarked that the current governor of Sinaloa Ruben Rocha Moya was instrumental in it's start up.
As mentioned before there are no programs available this year that I've seen and I can't find one on line. Here Gordon is conducting the first number of the afternoon.
And now for the actual conductor who is also an accomplished musician. Name...sorry again the only thing I could do is keep notes but that kind of defeats a relaxing afternoon at the theater.
Up on the left you can see the drummer and he was rocking! Easy to see how much he was enjoying himself.
This number is " Pennsylvania 65000!" We had been instructed and prompted by Gordon to yell this out every time the chorus came up. That happened three times and the final was " Pennsylvania 65 thousand!" The conductor was really impressed with audience participation and gave "us" a round of applause! Happy music and I had a smile on my face...really I did!
Only one young lady in the band and she was rocking too.
Gordon is conducting a number and here is his surprise! He said it was a dance number and this very talented and I'm guessing well know couple came on stage to oblige. This is the same couple as in my first picture but I didn't know we'd see them later. I see in a comment that they are Alan and Richard.
Very accomplished, smooth and talented. Fun to watch! Wish I could dance like that. Big band music just brings dancing to the imagery in your mind when you hear it.
The talented saxaphone player is doing a clarinet lead solo in this number.
The drummer is introduced and applauded and replies with a short drum solo!
The conductor is now on clarinet up front and Gordon is conducting.
As we came to the end of the concert the place was really rocking! There was a standing ovation and after much persuasion they came back for one number. By this point we'd given up and headed outside...no matter we beat the rush. Because we sit on the first balcony it is easy to get in and out. Not so much on the main floor.
As usual we ended up back at Chon's for lunch. As the concert finished at 1:30 we were a bit early and to start we had the place to ourselves. In the back you can see our waitress. She handles the job like a real pro. When Eric went to order she said " Burritos?" and then stopped. She and Eric had a good laugh as that's what he usually orders. I had pescado empanizado or breaded fish that came with vegetables and rice. Sorry I forgot the picture. It was all good and by 3:15 we were headed home.
I must add that we had the worst bus driver that Eric has every experienced. Driving at top speed, weaving and bobbing and slamming on the brakes. I had a sore neck by the time we got home. They could use a few bus " spies " to check up on these guys. Cathy and I had a similar driver after Wednesday's lunch. It really is a wonder that there hasn't been any huge fiery crashes. I guess you just have to be a fatalist to ride a bus here!
That sure sounds like a fun afternoon and music to make you tap your toes. Thanks for sharing your photos.
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