Oui, s’il vous plait. Marvelous music at the museum: Be transported to the exciting, culturally rich fin-de-siecle Paris this Saturday, Nov. 16, at the Vero Beach Museum of Art. The museum’s halls will fill with gorgeous music under the gifted hands of acclaimed virtuoso pianist Leslie Amper, as she performs, in recital, “From the Classical to the Cabaret: French Music from the Late-nineteenth Century.” The Museum describes this event as “a unique, multi-media recital that connects French artists, musicians and their work” during that era. You’ll be immersed in the enchanting music of Claude Debussy and Yvette Guilbert; the short silent films of Alice Guy Blache (with piano accompaniment); and beloved works by artists including Claude Monet, Henri de Touloise-Lautrec and Jules Cheret, that will transport you to late 19th century Paris. Amper, according to her website, was a recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Solo Recitalist Fellowship Grant; and has performed in numerous major musical events throughout the United States, as well as in England, Italy and Austria, including a lecture/piano recital tour for the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Exhibition 1934: A New Deal for Artists. This will be a wonderfully exciting and satisfying afternoon, certainly. Time: 4 p.m. Tickets: VBMA members, $25; non-members, $35. Register at 772-231-0707.
A pair of familiar names on the local classical music (and church concert) scene – pianist Marcos Flores and classical guitarist Miguel Bonachea – are in concert this Sunday, Nov. 17, at their home church, Christ by the Sea Methodist, part of that church’s 14th annual concert series. “From Baroque to Malagueña” will feature works by Bach, Chopin and Piazzolla, “among others,” according to the church website. One of the most popular and recognizable works by Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona, the fiery and sensual “Malagueña,” was, says Wikipedia, originally part of Lecuona’s 1933 “Suite Andalucía,” to which he added lyrics in Spanish. The basic melody was, however, “not of Lecuona’s invention,” but can be heard in internationally renowned 19th century American composer Louis Moreau Gottschalk’s solo piano composition “Souvenirs d’Andalousie,” and found its way into Lecuona’s most famous piece. Over the years, Malagueña has become “a popular, jazz, marching band, and drum corps standard and has been provided with lyrics in several languages.” It has been performed by such stellar guitar musicians as Jose Feliciano, Chet Atkins and Roy Clark, and the Stan Kenton Orchestra. Time: 3 p.m. Tickets: $25; youth, $20. Online, cbtsumc.org; or 772-231-1661.
Bringing the funny at Riverside Theatre. Yes. It’s once again time for Riverside’s Comedy Zone, coming to the stage this Friday and Saturday, Nov. 15-16, along with the ever-popular Live in the Loop free live concert under the oaks. This weekend’s comics are Frankie Paul and Paul Jensen. The show promo describes Frankie Paul as having “a loveable, animated appearance and an inoffensive attitude.” Paul began touring in 1990 with the goal of taking his audiences on “a silly roller coaster ride of uproarious laughter,” as he talks about such everyday topics as marriage, family and common sense – or the lack thereof. Jensen is fond of saying he’s “the total package … as long as you want a package that’s middle-aged, chubby and balding.” A St. Louis native, Jensen uses “life’s hard knocks to fuel his comedy.” He was the only American citizen in his family which, he says, “made for an interesting childhood.” Providing music In the Loop Friday, it’ll be Slip and the Spinouts, keeping things lively with rockabilly, rock and roll, hillbilly swing and blues. Saturday brings to the Loop stage Phoenix, who’ll be styling classic rock, oldies and British invasion. Times: Comedy Zone: 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Loop: 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tickets: side seats, $12; table seating: $14-$18. FYI: No drink minimum, free parking, recommended for 18 and up. 772-231-6990.
