Saturday, September 19, 1998

Carry me, Spanish caravan

Music director Shinik Hahm lifts his baton to begin his sixth season with the Abilene Philharmonic tonight at 8 with a colorful, exotic program called "Spanish Gold" that will waft listeners south of the border to romantic Mexico and across the ocean to ancient Spain.

Following American composer Aaron Copland's "El Salon Mexico," concertgoers will be treated to a rare delight as Robert Van Sice does the solo honors in Alan Hovhaness' Marimba Concerto. The second half of the concert will be devoted to the lush orchestral pallet of Richard Stauss' "Don Quixote," featuring the Philharmonic's principal cellist, Moises Molina.

And for those too caught up in the Spanish spirit to go home right away, there's an After Hours wind-down in the Civic Center foyer with mariachis who regularly entertain at Abilene's El Fenix restaurant. Olé.