The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities
• Classical by candlelight: Candlelight Concerts, thea presentation of classical and other musical genres in “a live, multi-sensory musical experience,” will perform Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and more on Thursday, Jan. 25, at 6 and 8:30 p.m. at the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org). Tickets cost $43 to $61. See candlelightexperience.com for more on the concerts.
• At the music school: The Concord Community Music School (23 Wall St. in Concord; ccmusicschool.org) will hold a Purple Finches Youth Chorus open sing on MOonday, Jan. 29, according to a newsletter. The event is free and open to the public. Fledglings (for kids in grades kindergarten through 2nd) meetsmeet at 4:10 p.m., Fliers (for grades 3 to 5) meetsmeet at 5 p.m. and Finches Select (for grades 6 through 8) meet at 6 p.m.
A Canterbury Singers open sing for adults meets on Tuesday, Jan. 30, from 7 to 8:15 p.m. Find out more about the group and how to join at ccmusic.org/canterbury-singers.
The school’s spring semester of classes begins on Monday, Jan. 29. Go online to see the spring offerings or call 228-1196.
And Slide Guitar 101, a workshop for early intermediate to advanced guitar players interested in the blues, will be held Wednesday, Feb. 7, from 7 to 8 p.m. The cost is $25 and the class will provide slides, ; bring your own guitar. Register online.
In addition to the Bach’s Lunch lecture on Thursday, Feb. 1, at 12:10 p.m., Peggo and Paul (the wife and husband team of Peggo and Paul Hodes) will offer a concert on Thursday, Feb. 8, at 12:10 p.m. called “Bach’s Lunch: Share the Love Valentine’s Day Concert with Peggo, Paul and Friends.” The event is held in the Recital Hall and is free and open to the public, according to a newsletter.An Integrated Arts Recital will be held on Thursday, Feb. 22, at 7 p.m. featuring student musicians who will also display visual art they’ve created to go along with the recital, according to a newsletter. The event is free and open to the public.
Blossoming Beyond
“Blossoming Beyond: Celebrating Queerness in Nature,” an exhibition that “showcases work that embodies the resilience, strength and beauty of both the natural world and the LGBTQ+ community,” according to queerlective.com, is slated to open at the New Hampshire Audubon Massabesic Center (26 Audubon Way in Auburn) on Wednesday, Jan. 24, and run through Saturday, March 30. An opening reception will be held Saturday, Jan. 27, from 2 to 5 p.m.
• More Paul: You can also catch the former 2nd District U.S. Congressman Paul Hodes on Saturday, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m. at a fundraiser for Gather (a nonprofit providing healthy food to individuals experiencing food insecurity in Seacoast communities), at 3S Artspace (319 Vaughan St. in Portsmouth; 3sarts.org), according to a press release. Tickets are pay what you choose starting at $22. Hodes will play with The Blue Buddha Band, the release said.
• At the audi: The Concord Community Concert Association will present the Frisson Ensemble at the Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St. in Concord; theaudi.org) on Sunday, Feb. 4, at 2 p.m. The concert will feature a trio of cello, piano and clarinet, according to the website. Tickets cost $20 at the door or $23 online at ccca-audi.org. See frissonensemble.com for a look and listen to Frisson performances.
Saya Woolfalk
There are two more weekends to catch “Heart of a Museum: Saya Woolfalk” at the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org, 669-6144). Described as “a new experiential installation by artist Saya Woolfalk, the exhibition is a commission for the museum that investigates the history of the institution and revisits its iconography and original design,” according to the website, which says the exhibition uses the mosaics designed by Salvatore Lascari that were the entrance of the Currier as the starting point. The exhibition is on display through Sunday, Feb. 4. The Currier is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission costs $20 for adults, $15 for 65+, $15 for students, $5 for ages 13 to 17, and children 12 and under get in free.
• Afternoon of dance: NSquared Dance Company will present A Continuation of Love, a dance fundraiser with a Valentine’s Day theme, on Sunday, Feb. 18, at 4 p.m. at the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org). “This performance is full of vignettes and will treat the audience to the full breadth of the company’s high-caliber dance styles,” said Zackery Betty, Cco-Ffounder of NSquared Dance, in a press release. “It’s also a chance for people to learn more about what we do and the importance of dance within the community as an expressive art form for entertainment and community engagement.” The event will also feature catered food and a silent auction, the release said. Tickets cost $40. See nhdancecollaborative.org.
Footloose The Musical: Youth Edition
Can Ren bring dancing to Bomont? The Majestic Academy of Dramatic Arts (669-7469, majestictheatre.net) presents Footloose The Musical: Youth Edition Friday, Jan. 26, through Sunday, Jan. 28, at the Derry Opera House (29 West Broadway in Derry). Shows are at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets cost $15 for adults, $13 for 65+ and $10 for youth ages 17 and under.
• February at SAA plus a call for art: “Photos as Canvas,” a show featuring the digital artwork of photographer Dean Scott of Exeter, will open at the Seacoast Artist Association (130 Water St. in Exeter; seacoastartist.org) on Wednesday, Jan. 31, and run through Sunday, Feb. 25, according to a press release. An artist reception will be held on Friday, Feb. 9, from 5 to 7 p.m. as part of the Second Friday Artwalk and will feature SAA exhibiting artist Cheryl Sager and her husband, Neal Zweig, in a Valentine concert, the release said.
Artists are also welcome to submit artwork for the February Valentine e-themed show “Let Me Show You What I Love,” the release said. Drop-off is Saturday, Jan. 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or at the aAssociation’s website, according to the press release. Attendees at the Second Friday event will vote for a people’s choice award, with the winner receiving a future free month’s entry, the release said. The March theme will be “Shadows and Light” with a drop -off on Saturday, Feb. 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The gallery is open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. Email [email protected] with questions.
Also at SAA, Cleo Huggins’ show of oil paintings “Sea Creatures” will open on Wednesday, Jan. 31, and run through Sunday, Feb. 25. according to a release. Huggins will also be at the artist reception, which will feature a raw bar provided by Huggins and her husband, according to the release.
• Author event: Matthew Delmont, author of the new book Half American: The Heroic Story of African Americans Fighting World War II at Home and Abroad, will discuss his book on Wednesday, Feb. 28, at 7 p.m. at the Music Hall Lounge (131 Congress St. in Portsmouth; themusichall.org), according to a press release. The event will include author conversation, audience Q&A and a post-show meet and greet, the release said. Tickets cost $34 and include a signed book.
Bach’s Lunch
The Bach’s Lunch at Concord Community Music School (23 Wall St. in Concord; ccmusicschool.org) will feature a “Songwriting Lecture with Peggo and Paul” on Thursday, Feb 1, at 12:10 p.m. This husband-and-wife duo (together for 45 years) have collaborated on numerous compositions and recordings, according to a newsletter. Peggo is a classically trained vocalist and Paul plays by ear, the newsletter said. The lecture will include discussion of their composition process along with performances of examples, the newsletter said. Call 228-1196 or visit ccmusicschool.org/event/bachs-lunch-songwriting-2024.
