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Portraits of the Americas

September 29, 2024, 4:00 pm PDT

$23

See the recording of this concert here!

Portraits of the Americas concert promotional banner

From Peaks to Pampas: An Artistic Journey

Prepare for an extraordinary concert experience that merges the worlds of music and visual art! Join the San Francisco Pride Band for Portraits of the Americas, a program showcasing composers from North, Central, and South America. The band will return to the historic Herbst Theatre stage on Sunday, September 29.

Under the direction of Artistic Director Pete Nowlen, the concert will feature a captivating lineup of composers who draw inspiration from the rich artistic and cultural heritage of the Americas. Experience the unique sounds of the Squamish First Nation of British Columbia, the folk music of the Sephardic Jewish community in Brazil, and Mexican dances inspired by local flora like the saguaro cactus, and more!

This special program includes two world premieres by Bay Area composers. One Magnificent Light marks the final composition by our Composer-in-Residence from the BIPOC Composition Program, Mattea Williams. Additionally, Eyes To Look Otherwise, a new concerto commissioned by the Latinx Storytellers Project, offers a musical interpretation of paintings by Mexican-American artist Tino Rodriguez. This piece, composed by Juan Sebastián Cardona Ospina, is dedicated to acclaimed soprano saxophonist Michael Hernandez, who will be the featured soloist.

Don’t miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in a world where art and music converge!

Tickets

Tickets are open seating: $23 general admission, $18 for students and seniors.

Online

Purchase your tickets online from City Box Office.

In Person

The box office at Herbst Theatre will be open 60 minutes prior to the performance for in-person sales! (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and cash only).

Or, request free tickets through our Community Ticket Program.

Our Program

The program includes the eight fantastic pieces described below, including two world premiers! You can expect to learn much more about each piece during the performance.

One Magnificent Light is the world premiere and final composition by Mattea Williams, our Composer-in-Residence, who writes:

“When embarking on a new journey or just stepping into something unfamiliar for the first time, the path may seem dark and unsettling, even if you have an unexplainable certainty that it is meant for you and right for you. Inside of all of us is one magnificent light. With courage, love, and encouragement from others, that light can be ignited, joining with the magnificent light of a community that erupts into a technicolor superbloom.”

Eyes to look otherwise is a new concerto for soprano saxophone and wind ensemble composed by Juan Sebastián Cardona Ospina and dedicated to Michael Hernandez (who will performing the solo).

The work was commissioned by the Latinx Storytellers Project and is based on the artwork of Mexican-American artist, Tino Rodriguez. Each movement is tied to one of the three pieces of artwork shown on the right. The composer writes:

“Rodriquez is a prolific artist, straddling the realms of post-war and contemporary art. His creative output draws from the rich tapestry of his Mexican heritage and his formative years steeped in the traditions of the Catholic Church…[his] artistic vision can be described as a complex mosaic woven from various threads including the enigmatic allure of shamanic rituals, the enchanting narratives of Mayan and Aztec folklore and the intricate world of arts and crafts…”

The Song of Creation, painting by Tino Rodriguez
Pagan’s Kiss, painting by Tino Rodriguez
Las Hijas de la Luna, painting by Tino Rodriguez
The Valley of Mexico from the Santa Isabel Mountain Range, painting by José María Velasco

Paisajes Bajo el Signo de Cosmos (Marquez) translates in English to “Landscapes Under the Sign of the Cosmos” and was composed for the 1993 National Museum retrospective of paintings by José María Velasco (1840-1912).

A large ahuehuete tree in a city park

Ahuehuete and Sahuaro (Jaime-Donjuan) are two movements from Little Mexican Suite. Each movement is inspired by a type of Mexican tree that have special meaning to the composer. Each incorporates a different Mexican Dance.

Mountain views in Squamish Nation

Wolf Song and Gathering of the Eagles were composed by Squamish First Nation Elder Bob Baker, honoring Squamish Nation tradition and allows us all to share a small part of this rich culture. The work was commissioned in hope that it will foster a deeper love, respect and understanding for the people and culture of the Squamish Nation (and all First Nations) through shared music.

Port of Belém, Brazil

Rapsódia Sefaradi (Trovassos) pays homage to the people and culture of the Sephardic Jews of Belém, Brazil (from whom the composer descends) through the use of four folkloric songs in the free form of a rhapsody.

Cover art for AYO, Rhapsody for Band

AYO (Copley) The composer writes:

“Rooted from hip hop and jazz cultures, the term AYO is built in the black language…With this piece I wanted build the kind of embrace you would get from this one word while also honoring its beginnings – using hip hop rhythms and colorful harmonies. By the end of the piece, we the listeners go from uncertainty to home; and with the uniqueness of the piece, we in turn celebrate not only a word like AYO but also celebrate life.”

Cal Band logo

Go California! (Elkus) was commissioned in 1978 as a Cal Band March in memory of Chris Tellefsen, an employee of the Associated Students of the University of California who worked closely with the Cal Band from the 1920s through the 1960s.

Getting There

Herbst Theatre is located at 401 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94102. Please leave extra time to get to the venue as parking and transit will be impacted due to the Folsom Street Fair occurring on the same day as the concert.

Parking

Herbst Theatre recommends booking convenient and affordable parking in advance through SpotHero, the nation’s leading parking reservation app. Other parking options are suggested below:

Public Transit

Herbst Theatre is a short walk from the Civic Center BART and MUNI stations as well as the Van Ness MUNI station. MUNI’s 49 bus line runs along Van Ness and passes directly by the theater; the 5 bus runs along McAllister and passes the theater.

Health and Safety Information

The San Francisco Pride Band takes Covid-19 seriously. See the band’s full Health & Safety Plan for more information.

For this performance, the Band follows CDPH guidance for the current community transmission level at the venue. At time of writing, recommendations are as below; they are subject to change as the situation and guidance evolves.

  • Masking. It is strongly recommended that all audience members are vaccinated against COVID and up-to-date per eligibility criteria for COVID vaccination.  Audience members can wear a mask based on personal preference, informed by their own personal level of risk. Members of vulnerable populations should consider masking with a mask that provides the best fit and filtration.
  • Symptom status.  Prospective audience members who are symptomatic are asked to stay home until 24 hours have passed since resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications.
  • Post-Concert Notification. Audience members are encouraged to notify the Band at covid@sfprideband.org if they experience COVID-like symptoms or test positive for COVID within 7 days after attending.

Details

Date:
September 29, 2024
Time:
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Tickets Start at:
$23
Performance Category:

Location/Venue

Herbst Theatre
401 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102
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Website:
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