Miners Alley play raises tough questions

Miners Alley Playhouse, 1224 Washington Ave. in Golden, will present “The Oldest Boy: A Play in Three Ceremonies” by Sarah Rule. It’s described as: “In this moving exploration of parenthood, an American mother and a Tibetan father have a 3-year-old son believed to be the reincarnation of a Buddhist lama. When a Tibetan lama and a monk come to their home unexpectedly, asking to take their child away for a life of spiritual training in India, the parents must make a life-altering choice that will test their strength, their marriage, and their hearts.” From May 19 through June 11. Thursday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. 303-935-3044, minersalley. com.

‘Elizabeth Rex’

Eleven Minutes Theatre Company will present “Elizabeth Rex,” by Timothy Findley. Elizabeth I meets an actor. At The People’s Building, 9995 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora. 720333-3499. Through May 13. 720333-3499, 11minutestheatre.com.

Summer reading

Douglas County Libraries present a Summer of Reading: “Dog Days of Summer” with a free summer lunch program for those younger than 18 at Castle Pines, Castle Rock, Highlands Ranch and Parker. (Castle Rock will be moving into its new building.) No meals June 19 or July 4. Program runs through July 28. Holiday May 29 for Memorial Day. See dcl.org.

Curious Theatre

Curious eatre Company presents “On the Exhale,” featuring outgoing leaders, Dee Covington in a one-woman show, directed by Chip Walton. Runs May 6-June 10, at Curious eatre, 1080 Acoma St., Denver. 303-623-0524, curioustheatre.org.

Art exhibit

Paint Box Guild will open a juried show at Bemis Library, 6014 S. Datura St. in Littleton through May. is is the 50th Anniversary year for the Paint Box Guild.

Photo show

Lone Tree Arts Center presents “Exploring the Light Photo Show,” through June 5. Tunes on the Terrace: June 23, July 7, July 21, Aug. 4. See lonetreeartscenter.org.

Walking tours

Historic Walking Tours — onehour walk in downtown Littleton on First Fridays at 6 p.m. Dates will be added during Western Welcome Week in August. To be announced. Meet in front of the Old Courthouse on Littleton Boulevard.

Summer music

Summer concerts at Denver Botanic Gardens, York Street. July 17

— Fitz and the Tantrums. July 24 — Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Aug.

1 —Andy Grammer. Aug. 2 — Steep Canyon Rangers and Amythyst Kiah. August 9 — Ozomatli. See botanicgardens.org.

ACC fundraiser

Arapahoe Community College

Art and Design Center and ACC Foundation invite you to enjoy art experiences at a fundraiser on May 18 from 6:30 to9 p.m. at the Art and Design Center, corner of Prince and Alamo from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

Scanning, photography, ceramics, silkscreen, jewelry.

Music festival

Colorado Music Festival o ers 20 di erent concerts at the Chautauqua Auditorium, 900 Baseline Road, Boulder. June 29 through Aug. 6. See chautauqua.com.

Art comes back Denver Art Museum will unveil three reimagined Hamilton Building Collection Galleries on May 14. African Arts, Forms of Power, Modern and Contemporary Art. Some have been in storage for more than a decade. Some new acquisitions will also be shown. The Arts of Oceana Gallery will reopen with a site specific work by Niki Hastings-

McFall: large “Lei-bombing” installations. See denverartmuseum. org.

Opera season

Central City Opera starts with “Romeo and Juliet” on June 2 adding “Kiss Me Kate” and “Othello.” On some days, an Opera Bus is available. On others, the printout we have says a “lunch and a song.” ere are performances in afternoons and a few evenings at 7 p.m. See centralcityopera.org.

Art at library

Smoky Hill Library at 5430 S. Biscay Circle in Centennial, has an exhibit of art by Casey Kawaguchi, who started of as a gra tti artist. May is Paci c Islander Month.

Thu 5/18

Wind, Women, & Water Clinic

@ 4:30pm / $55

Cherry Creek Reservoir, 4800 S Dayton St, Greenwood Village. 303-757-7718

Sun 5/21

Son Little @ 6pm

Levitt Pavilion Denver, 1380 W. Florida Ave., Denver

Violent Femmes: performing the debut album cover to cover @ 5pm Levitt Pavilion Denver, 1380 W. Florida Ave., Denver powered by

Something For Tomorrow @ 5pm

Herman's Hideaway, 1578 S Broadway, Denver

Smile Empty Soul @ 5pm

Herman's Hideaway, 1578 S Broadway, Denver

Teague Starbuck @ 5pm

The Pint Room, 2620 W Belleview Ave, Lit‐tleton

Less Than Perfect @ 5pm Herman's Hideaway, 1578 S Broadway, Denver

Thu 5/25

Gii Astorga @ 4pm Jacks on Pearl, 1475 S Pearl St, Denver

Sygnal To Noise

@ 5pm

Herman's Hideaway, 1578 S Broadway, Denver

Death Valley Dreams

@ 5pm

Herman's Hideaway, 1578 S Broadway, Denver

Dibu

@ 5pm

Herman's Hideaway, 1578 S Broadway, Denver

AOA: Cooking with Friends: Meatless Meatloaf @ Platt Park @ 5pm Platt Park Recreation Center, 1500 S. Grant St., Denver. 720-913-0654

Fri 5/19

Kowan Turner @ 7pm

Herman's Hideaway, 1578 S Broadway, Denver

Sat 5/20

Within Destruction @ 6pm Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Englewood

Wed 5/24

Rachel Baiman @ 6pm Swallow Hill Music Association, 71 E Yale Ave, Denver

The Sweet Lillies @ 3pm Breckenridge Brewery, 2920 Brewery Ln, Littleton

Tony Goffredi: Tony G w/Mike @2 Penguins @ 5pm

2 Penguins Tap and Grill, 13065 E Briarwood Ave, Centennial

GBH @ 6pm Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Engle‐wood

The Stone Eye @ 5pm

Herman's Hideaway, 1578 S Broadway, Denver

The Nocturnal Affair @ 5pm Herman's Hideaway, 1578 S Broadway, Denver

Chatham Rabbits: Tuft Theater at Swallow Hill @ 7pm Swallow Hill Music Association, 71 E Yale Ave, Denver

If You Go

On May 19, conductor Rene Knetsch will lead the 70-member Parker Symphony Orchestra in a concert called “Arabian Nights” at the PACE Center.

In a recent talk for residents of Vita in Littleton, Knetsch described the program, with help from concertmaster/violinist Nadya Hill and cellist Cheri Swisher, who played passages of music from the program as he explained it.

“Bachinal Brasilieros # 5 for Soprano and Cellos” by Heitor VillaLobos begins the program. The text is Brazilian Portuguese, which is more melodic than European Portuguese. The multi-talented Hill, who also performs as a soprano, will sing the aria.

Knetsch commented.) Hill, Parker Symphony’s concertmaster, played a segment from it.

Next will be Carl Nielsen’s “Aladdin Suite opus 34.” He was a Danish composer who taught at the Royal Danish Academy until 1931. He played second violin in the Royal Danish Orchestra for seven years.

“Scheherazade” by Nicoloy Rimsky-Korsakov, one of his most famous works, tells the tale of the young woman who told stories for a cruel sultan. It had previously been his custom to spend a night with a young virgin, then kill her in the morning.

Scheherazade would always stop midway through her story, when the sultan would fall asleep and concert, but this one does. He was charmed the first time he heard the work, less so now. Hill said it was fun and showed a spirit coming out of the First World War. Knecht’s wife, Lynn, also a Parker Symphony violinist, commented that is “very accessible.” She added: “We wouldn’t be playing this music if we didn’t have Cheri and Nadya.”

Knecht said that after the “Scheherazade” opening, the heavy music reflects the sultan’s anger — it’s increasingly difficult to play. Hill played the leitmotif from “Scheherezade,” a familiar theme, then heavy music portraying the angry king, a theme that has become familiar for angry kings ... a devil tone, repeated many times. “I find it difficult every time we play it,” Swisher said.

“Nothing here is very simple,” Knecht agreed.

In the early part, the cello is Sinbad’s ship, with the violin playing on top ... The theme repeats in the fourth movement. He wrote the tri-tone on purpose, a “Devil tone,” Knecht commented.

Knecht taught at Arapahoe Community College for 17 years, he said.

He also told a bit about the upcoming fall season. “In October, we will perform the Beethoven Violin Concerto, with the concertmaster of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, Yumi Hwang Wang, playing on her 1748 Guadagnini instrument.”

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