The Long Beach Symphony will continue its Classical Series with a concert that feels less like a routine program and more like a moment of wonder, dubbed \u201cPepe Romero Returns,\u201d on Saturday, Feb. 28.<\/p>\n
And truly, we are lucky to behold it.<\/p>\n
To hear \u201cConcierto de Aranjuez\u201d performed live is rare enough. To hear it played by Pepe Romero, one of the living legends of the guitar, is something else entirely.<\/p>\n
Under the baton of Music Director Eckart Preu, the evening celebrates Romero\u2019s long-awaited return to Long Beach.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur fourth classical concert is very special because we celebrate [his] return to our Symphony,\u201d Preu said. \u201cPepe is a living legend who is not only one of the most wonderful musicians I have ever worked with, but also an incredible person who brings an irresistible humanity to the stage and to his music.\u201d<\/p>\n
That humanity is central to the magic of Rodrigo\u2019s concerto. Composed by Joaqu\u00edn Rodrigo in 1939, the piece has become the classic guitar concerto, the gold standard against which all others are measured. Its first movement dances with Spanish rhythms, bright and buoyant.<\/p>\n
But it is the second movement that stops time. Preu calls it \u201cthe crown jewel of this work\u2026 the truly magical slow movement and its haunting melody for English horn. It is one of the most beautiful melodies ever composed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hearing that melody unfold is precisely the kind of musical privilege that reminds us why live performance matters.<\/p>\n
The evening will open with Gabriela Lena Frank\u2019s \u201cElegia Andina for Orchestra,\u201d a lush work that explores her Peruvian heritage.Inspired by the zampo\u00f1a, or Andean pan flute, the piece unfolds like what Preu describes as \u201cA Day in the Jungle.\u201d Night gives way to dawn, a solo flute becomes the first bird awake, creatures stir, a tropical storm flashes and disappears, and dusk settles into a clarinet duet.<\/p>\n
The second half turns to Baroque splendor with selections from George Frideric Handel\u2019s \u201cWater Music Suites.\u201d Originally written for King George I\u2019s famously extravagant boat party on the River Thames, the piece is built on the dance forms of the day \u2014 minuets, gavottes, and more.<\/p>\n
At the heart of this concert, though, is a singular moment: A master guitarist returning to a city that welcomes him back.<\/p>\n
The show will get underway at the Terrace Theater at 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Head to shorturl.at\/MPPfL<\/a> for tickets.<\/p>\n Alex\u2019s Bar<\/p>\n Crate diggers rejoice \u2014 the Alex\u2019s Bar Record Swap will return this Saturday, Feb. 28, transforming the beloved Fourth Street venue into a swap meet of sound.<\/p>\n Running from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. with free entry, the afternoon gathering will feature more than 20 record vendors offering vinyl of every imaginable genre and era.<\/p>\n The swap is built for browsing and buying \u2014 and yes, trading, if both parties are game.<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t just about transactions, though. Records are more than just a format for music, they\u2019re pieces of art in themselves. Album covers have long served as canvases for bold graphic design, iconic photography, and subversive storytelling.<\/p>\n So, to flip through crates at Alex\u2019s Bar is to flip through decades of visual and sonic history.<\/p>\n Adding to the atmosphere, live DJs will keep the vibe spinning throughout the day, while tacos from Bocaditos and a full bar will ensure no one leaves hungry or thirsty.<\/p>\n As with any great record swap, part of the magic will lie in the unplanned conversations, the shared recommendations and the newly sparked friendships.<\/p>\n Head to alexsbar.com<\/a> for additional details.<\/p>\n Playhouse<\/p>\n The Long Beach Playhouse\u2019s Mainstage will welcome a landmark of American theater this weekend with August Wilson\u2019s \u201cGem of the Ocean,\u201d directed by Rovin Jay.<\/p>\n Written by August Wilson, the play blends naturalism, mysticism, and magical realism to explore the spiritual and historical foundations of Black life in America at the turn of the 20th century.<\/p>\n Set in 1904 Pittsburgh, the story follows Citizen Barlow as he seeks refuge in the Hill District home of Aunt Ester, a 285-year-old matriarch and spiritual guide who sends him on a metaphysical journey aboard the legendary slave ship Gem of the Ocean to the City of Bones, the resting place of the ancestors.<\/p>\n This work holds a singular place in Wilson\u2019s \u201cPittsburgh Cycle\u201d of plays. Though it was one of the last plays he wrote, it is the earliest chronologically, laying the groundwork for the nine plays that follow.<\/p>\n In that sense, it serves as a touchstone for everything else Wilson created \u2014and Long Beach Playhouse is proud to bring Wilson\u2019s themes of legacy, community, and healing to their Mainstage.<\/p>\n The production features a strong ensemble cast including Gary Gibson as Eli, Asim Rashad as Citizen Barlow, Daphne Jones as Aunt Ester Tyler, Chaunice Hendking as Black Mary, Bob Baumstem as Rutherford Selig, Deacon Hampton as Solly Two Kings, and Dan White as Caesar Wilks.<\/p>\n Performances begin with a half-price preview on Friday, Feb. 20 at 8 p.m., followed by opening night (paired, as always, with a champagne gala) on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 8 p.m.<\/p>\n The show runs through March 21.<\/p>\n