The Concerto Întimo at the Covarrubias

On Thursday, October 15, a blistering red sky slowly faded to lapis and released the suffocating heat of the day, and the scene at the Covarrubias Adobe came alive. Soft amber lights painted the adobe walls and spread out into the courtyard where the fountain splashed and the air freshened. 

Guests for that night’s Concerto Íntimo began to gather for a jazz program by the Antonio Artese Trio. A distinguished figure in the international music scene, Artese is a pianist and composer who likes to “versify in jazz and classical music.” Emiliano Lasansky (bass) provided the harmonic foundations and the lead at times while Christian Euman (drums) locked in the pulse and expertly accented the tunes, many of them original compositions by Artese. It was a magical evening of unique and lovely music in the tranquil ambiance of the Santa Barbara Historical Museum’s ancient adobes.

And what an amazing musical year it has been so far at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum. From the bouncing, cheerful rhythms and colorful costumes of folklorico to the sensuous beat of flamenco as sloe-eyed dancers swept the stage in thrilling leaps of twirling shawls, the beautiful courtyard of the museum has reverberated with Euterpean and Terpsichorean delight. 

Mezcal Martini cha-cha-ed in for Hispanic Heritage Month and played a salsa/cumbia inspired program for First Thursday and everyone took to the floor. It being First Thursday and a special occasion, the concert and dance was free! 

For Independence Day (celebrated on July 1 at the museum), the place rocked with the Doublewide Kings who were clearly born on the “Fourth of July.” Accompanying the music and dancing was a special pop-up exhibit that showcased historic Independence Day memories through photographs recently acquired through the purchase of the New-Press archives. Thanks to the efforts of museum, Santa Barbara’s history, in image and word, is being preserved for future generations. The dance and concert was a benefit for this expensive and labor-intensive enterprise of preservation.

And there’s more to come. Next Thursday, November 5, from 5 pm to 8 pm, wine and music will again be available in the courtyard and beautiful antique shawls will be on display in the Arte de los Mantones exhibition. And if you’ve never heard the story of the Saint who gave Santa Barbara its name nor our town’s celebration of her, there’s also The Story of Santa Barbara exhibit.

For more storytelling, on November 4, Betsy J. Green will give a talk on the 1926 New Year’s Eve party at the Carrillo Hotel (now deceased and reincarnated as the Canary Hotel) and all the best stories of the year from her book, Way Back When: Santa Barbara in 1926. For more dance and music, the next Flamenco Íntimo performance will feature a program of exciting and sultry flamenco at the Covarrubias Adobe on November 15.

 And a word of bounteous thanks to the museum for the many years of allowing Montecito Journal to use images from its incredible photograph and document collections for the “Way It Was” series. Information about the museum, its events, exhibitions, and online archives can be accessed at the link below.  

sbhistorical.org