Beethoven, Romeo and Jody Nix: Name three guys in Abilene this weekend

The Go-Go's may have the beat, but the Abilene Philharmonic this weekend has the Beet.

Probably the most recognizable work by Ludwig von Beethoven, his Symphony No. 5, will be performed Saturday evening by the Abilene Philharmonic.

Certainly the four most famous first notes in western music.

Da-da-da-da!

The program is quite the change from last month's tribute to the music of the pop-rock band the Eagles.

David Itkin, the orchestra conductor and music director, is looking forward to the entire program.

It begins with Carl Weber's "Overture to Der Freischutz."

The opera work is unique because it was "the start of a whole new kind of theater - the idea of blending reality with the supernatural on stage," he said. "It would become a whole big thing in the later part of the 19th century. Largely starting from this piece."

The blend makes it hard to tell the two apart, he said.

The opera also has "fabulous music and this overture," he said.

Next is the Max Bruch "Double Concerto in E Minor for Clarinet and Viola," which offers two guest musicians from the University of North Texas, where they are on the music faculty with Itkin. Kimberly Cole Luevano (head of applied instrumental studies and clarinet professor) will play the clarinet while Susan Dubois (head of string studies and viola professor) is on viola. Perhaps an usual pairing, but it works beautifully, Itkin said.

They did the Bruch piece together only a few years ago, he said.

The piece, first performed in 1912, is not often heard, which is a shame, Itkin said. That may because of an unusual pairing of solo instruments, and it's fairly short.

"It's really incredibly pretty and very charming," he said. It's not a virtuosic piece "but more song-like and beautiful to listen to. It's plenty flashy in places," but it's not as dramatic as a Tchaikovsky or Beethoven concerto.

"It shows off Bruch's gift for song and melody," he said.

And then there's the Fifth.

"I could say the Beethoven Five speaks for itself but Beethoven never speaks for itself," Itkin said. "This is piece we sometimes take for granted because it's so famous. But incredible craft and innovation that Beethoven brings to this piece ... every time I pick it up, there are new things to learn and to appreciate."

And Itkin has done the fifth symphony many times over the years.

Besides the dramatic beginning, there is the game-changer offered toward the end. Beethoven doesn't pause between the third and fourth movements but instead goes from one to the other.

"In his day, that was incredibly avant-garde," Itkin said. "The third and fourth movement touch each other. You can only tell by the tone and the atmosphere and the sudden heroic nature of the music. But you don't ever stop between movements.

"I his day, it was heresy. But this innovation spawned all kinds of composers right afterward - Mendelssohn, Schumann who said, 'Wow, that's pretty clever. I think I'll do that.'

"I am sure anybody did it quite as well but it became a brand new idea of how to make the symphony more unified instead of four separate things."

Though so familiar, IItkin said the piece must be performed now and then, and it offers the chance for new exploration by a conductor and musicians.

The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Abilene Convention Center.

Last weekend to see ACT's 'Romeo and Juliet'

Abilene Community Theatre presents the final three showings of "Romeo and Juliet" this weekend.

The star-crossed lovers are played by husband and wife Mitchell and Rebecca Bradford.

The show runs about 90 minutes.

If You Go

What: "Romeo and Juliet," directed by Ginger Vinson

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

Where: ACT mainstage, 809 Barrow St.

Tickets: $18 general admission and $15 for students, military and seniors (55+) online. Tickets at the door will be $20 and $17. Go to abilenecommunitytheatre.org or call 325-673-6271 for information.

Two events to celebrate March at Abilene Woman's Club

Abilene Woman's Club is celebrating the start of March and Texas Independence Day with two events at its facility on South 14th Street.

A musical comedy titled "Boomtown" will be presented by the Austin group Texas Comedies on Friday.

Doors open at 6 p.m. and there will be a snack bar. A Texas Market also will be open.

The show begins at 7 p.m.

Cost is $25 per person.

On Saturday, it's the western swing dance music of Jody Nix and the Texas Cowboys. Doors also open at 6 and the dancing starts at 7.

Cost is $25.

Nix and his family in 2021 celebrated 75 years in Texas music.

Advance tickets can be purchased at Texas Star Trading Co., 174 Cypress St., and at the club, 3425 South 14th St.

Haggard-Jones show at the Paramount

Like old-school country music, by the masters?

A show titled "Haggard and Jones" tells you pretty much what you need to know. But there is a twist.

The 7:30 p.m. Friday concert at the Paramount Theatre offers the music of the late Merle Haggard and late George Jones. Performing the music are son Marty Haggard and daughter Georgette Jones.

They learned from the masters and then went on their own.

Jones recorded "Daddy Come Home" with her father when she was 10.

Haggard songs are in the vein of his father. He also writes and performs Gospel music.

Tickets are range from $25 to $55.

More live music

FRIDAY

• Freeride Band, Heff's Burgers & Bar, Mall of Abilene

SATURDAY

• Jon Stork, Heff's Burgers & Bar, Mall of Abilene.

• Sean Thane, Betty's Rose's Little Brisket, 3934 Catclaw Drive

Other events

• "2023 is the year of me!," 5th Annual Women's Expo, 10 a.m. -4 p.m. Saturday, Abilene Convention Center, featuring businesses owned or operated by women.

• Read to a Dog Day, 2:30 p.m. Saturday, south branch library, Mall of Abilene. Elementary-age youth can bring their pet and read to them.

• Big Country Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists' lake hike, 9 a.m. Saturday, Lake Abilene. Cost is $5 park entrance fee.

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Beethoven, Romeo and Jody Nix: Name three guys in Abilene this weekend