Concerts, a walk, a movie & Nixon secrets: Best Bets for things to do around Barnstable

Community orchestra celebrates spring and art

Cape Community Orchestra will present its spring concerts, under the direction of new conductor/musical director and cellist Nancy Torrente, over two days in two towns. The concert, the group’s first since November 2019, will follow the theme of “Theater Music Through the Centuries” with choices connected to art, theater and film, and musical theater. The program will include “Try to Remember”; “Amadeus” (the first movement of Mozart’s Symphony No. 25 in G Minor); Beethoven’s Egmont Overture; and Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition.”

When: 7 to 9 p.m. May 13 and 3:30 p.m. May 15

Where: Friday at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 1130 Falmouth Road, Centerville; Sunday at Yarmouth Senior Center, 528 Forest Road, West Yarmouth

Admission: Free will donations

Information: capecommunityorchestra@gmail.com, capecommunityorchestra.com

Dave McKenna documentary premieres with Woods Hole film fest

As part of its May screenings in Cotuit, the Woods Hole Film Festival will present the premiere of “Key Man: Dave McKenna,” a documentary about the jazz pianist who has become a legend among music elites and often performed on Cape Cod. He became a go-to pianist for New York City’s jazz scene in the 1940s-50s, playing with Dizzy Gillespie, Gene Krupa, Stan Getz and others, and had a decade-long residency in Boston in the 1980s. Troubles with alcohol, however, affected his career. Filmmaker Greg Mallozzi will hold a post-screening Q&A.

When: 7 p.m. May 13

Where: Cotuit Center for the Arts, 4404 Falmouth Road (Route 28)

Tickets: $14, $12, for members

Reservations and information: www.artsonthecape.org, 508-428-0669

In June: Director Luca Guadagnino, Jenny Slate, Bowen Yang to be honored at Provincetown film fest

Nixon insider to discuss his revealing memoir

In time for the 50th anniversary of the Watergate scandal and President Nixon's trip to China, “The President’s Man” author Dwight Chapin will talk at the Osterville Village Library about his memoir about his work from 1962 to 1973 as personal aide to Nixon and then as deputy assistant to the president. The insider’s guide includes experiences with luminaries from the time: Henry Kissinger, Robert Haldeman, Chou En-lai, Pat Nixon, Spiro Agnew, J. Edgar Hoover, Frank Sinatra, Mark "Deep Throat" Felt, Roger Ailes, John Dean, Coretta Scott King and Elvis Presley.

When: 1 p.m. May 14

Where: Osterville Village Library, 43 Wianno Ave.

Admission: Free

Registration (suggested): 508-428-5757; to attend by Zoom or get information: www.ostervillevillagelibrary.org

Symphony to play ‘Ode to Joy’ in Beethoven program

The Cape Symphony will conclude its season-long tribute to Ludwig van Beethoven’s 250th birthday by taking on “Beethoven’s 9th: Ode to Joy” in concerts that will feature 150 musicians. Joining the orchestra will be Chorus Pro Musica and soloists soprano Chelsea Basler, alto Laurel Semerdjian, tenor Adrian Kramer and bass Brandon Bell (with all but Basler making their symphony debuts). Jung-Ho Pak, artistic director and conductor. says parts of the piece are protest anthem, a celebration of music and a call for unity among humankind, plus Beethoven was the first composer to include the human voice in a symphony. Also on the program: “Grosse Fuge,” and “Moonlight Sonata,” with pianist Mikael Darmanie.

When: 7:30 p.m. May 14 and 3 p.m. May 15

Where: Barnstable High School Performing Arts Center, 744 W. Main St., Hyannis

Reservations and information: capesymphony.org, 508-362-1111, tickets@capesymphony.org, or the box office at 1060 Falmouth Road, Hyannis

Precautions: capesymphony.org/covid-19

Walking tour season begins with the Flower Moon

The Historical Society of Santuit & Cotuit will launch its historical walking tour season with the hour-long “Flower Moon Walk” with Nipmuc-Wampanoag guide Marcus Hendricks leading along the ancient Santuit Trail. He will discuss the importance of the Flower Moon to the area’s Indigenous people, Indigenous food sovereignty and daily life. Hike is of moderate difficulty through a wooded trail. Hiking boots are recommended as is a light jacket, bug repellent, and water.

When: 10 a.m. May 15

Where: Begins at the Santuit River Conservation site, parking lot located on School Street

Tickets: suggested donation of $8, $5 for members

Reservations (required): 508-428-0462, info@cotuithistoricalsociety.org (payment may be made by cash, check or Venmo at tour site)

Information on this tour and entire season: https://www.cotuithistoricalsociety.org/historical-walking-tours.html

Indigenous peoples: Ahead of the spawning season: Aboriginal rights on and off the reservation

Contact Kathi Scrizzi Driscoll at kdriscoll@capecodonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @KathiSDCCT.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Barnstable to do: Music, Flower Moon walk, Nixon secrets, Dave McKenna