San Francisco Classical Voice

Die Familie Bach
California Bach Society has a new director, the busy countertenor Paul Flight, who besides soloing around town also directs the newly formed Haydn Singers and East Bay Chorus (forming out of Cantabile's East Bay contingent). Under Flight's capable hands, CBS explores the musical genius of J.S. Bach and his sons, cousins, and uncles, in a concert featuring Jesu, meine Freude and the rarely heard Wachet auf, ruf't uns die Stimme by Johann Christoph Friedrich. Oct. 13, 8 p.m., St. Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church, San Francisco; Oct. 14, 8 p.m., All Saints Episcopal Church, Palo Alto; Oct. 15, 4 p.m., St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Berkeley; $10-$25, (415) 262-0272, www.calbach.org. (M.V.C.)

Voices of America's Future
Grace Cathedral's response to the events of September 11, 2001, was a concert by youth choruses from around the Bay Area. The event is now a tradition, with this its sixth year. Hundreds of young singers participate in these choruses, which range in size from chamber to enormous: The Oakland Interfaith Youth Gospel Choir has about 25 members, the Crystal Children's Choir has more than 800 singers in 20 classes, and 350 singers are in the ensembles that make up the Piedmont Choirs. The concert brings together the Crystal Children's Choir, directed by Jenny Chiang and Karl Chang; the Oakland Interfaith Youth Gospel Choir, directed by Terrance Kelly; the Piedmont Choirs, directed by Robert Geary; the San Francisco Boys Chorus, directed by Ian Robertson; the San Francisco Girls Chorus, directed by Elizabeth Avakian; and the Grace Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys, directed by Jeffrey Smith. Oct. 15, 3 p.m., Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, free, (415) 749-6355, www.gracecathedral.org (L.H.)

At the New S.F. Conservatory
In its new location, the San Francisco Conservatory may, deservedly, draw larger audiences to its recitals and programs this season. October is an especially interesting month: British pianist Stephen Hough, a distinctive soloist and chamber musician, holds a master class with conservatory students on Oct. 11 at 7:30 p.m. Violinist Midori, who brought her Contemporary Music Recital Program to the JCC last April, has scheduled a Conservatory master class Oct. 26 at 7:30 p.m. And the BluePrint series kicks off its first concert, titled "Arnold Schoenberg: Insights on Expressionism" on Oct. 14 at 8 p.m., with a preconcert talk at 7 p.m., in Hellman Hall (and a second performance to be held the next night at 8 p.m. at the Northbrae Community Church in Berkeley). This concert highlights Schoenberg's most famous American students and features a new commission by former Conservatory student and Preparatory faculty member Laura Schwendinger, written for Ensemble Parallèle and Conservatory voice faculty member Patricia Green, mezzo-soprano. Dates and venues vary, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, $10-$15, (415) 503-6275, www.sfcm.edu. (M.V.C.)

Leon Fleischer
The Steinway Society in San Jose has pulled off an unbelievable feat: San Francisco native and piano legend Leon Fleischer opens the season on Oct. 7. After half a lifetime of playing only left-hand repertoire (a neurological affliction incapacitated his right hand when he was just 37), he has recently begun playing with both hands again — although rarely. The program contains works by Stravinsky, Schubert, Mozart, and Ravel; the exact program has not yet been announced. Oct. 7, 8 p.m.; Oct. 8, 7 p.m., Le Petit Trianon, San Jose, $20-$65, (408) 295-6500, www.steinwaythebayarea.com. (M.V.C.)

Maxim Vengerov
Violinist Maxim Vengerov will be at Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley with Lilya Zilberstein on piano. His consummate technique and star-size personality are sure to be on display in Mozart's Adagio in E Major (arranged by Max Rostal), K. 261; the Beethoven Violin Sonata No. 7 in C Minor, Op. 30, No. 2; the Prokofiev Violin Sonata No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 80; and Shostakovich's Ten Preludes from Op. 34. Oct. 8, 3 p.m., Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley, $36-$68, (510) 642-9988, www.calperfs.berkeley.edu/presents. (M.V.C.)

Garrick Ohlsson
Pianist Garrick Ohlsson plays music of Beethoven, Chopin, and Liszt — composers he has been closely associated with throughout his career — and, interestingly, works by living American composers Lowell Lieberman and Norman Dello Joio. Oct. 8, 3 p.m., Newman Auditorium, Santa Rosa Junior College, $25, (707) 526-2447, www.concertsgrand.com (L.H.)

Robert Silverman's Mozart
Mozart's 250th birthday is bringing out the completist in everyone, from the Salzburg Festival's opera cycle to writer Alex Ross' months-long hearing of all of his music. Locally, we are lucky enough to have the distinguished pianist Robert Silverman performing the 18 piano sonatas. This is the first of four concerts; the others are on Oct. 15, Nov. 12, and Nov 19. Oct. 8, 4 p.m., Old First Church, San Francisco, $12-$15, (415) 474-1608, www.oldfirstconcerts.com (L.H.)

BluePrint's "Fertility Rights"
BluePrint series kicks off its first concert, titled "Fertility Rites," on Oct. 14 at 8 p.m., with a preconcert talk at 7:15 p.m., in the Recital Hall. This concert brings guest sopranos Joan Heller and Patrice Pastore, performing works by Robert Cogan (Polyutterances), Hans Werner Henze (L'heure bleue), George Crumb (Quest), François Rose (Le temps scintille), and Christos Hatzis (Fertility Rites). Dates and venues vary, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, $10-$15, (415) 503-6275, www.sfcm.edu (M.V.C.)

Symphony for Demented Drummer and Orchestra
Imagine a psychopath trying to break down a door to strangle you — that's basically what the snare drum does to the rest of the orchestra through much of the first movement of the Symphony No. 5 by Carl Nielsen (1865-1931). One of the most underplayed great symphonists today, Nielsen is a composer not to be missed by those wanting to hear striking musical ideas brilliantly and concisely developed. Herbert Blomstedt conducts the San Francisco Symphony and accompanies Joshua Bell in Beethoven's Violin Concerto. Oct. 4-7, 8 p.m.; Oct. 8, 2 p.m.; Davies Hall, San Francisco, $25-$110, (415) 864-6000, www.sfsymphony.org. (J.D.)

Haydn and Mozart
Piano lovers, don't miss the S.F. Symphony's offerings later this month: Herbert Blomstedt partners with celebrated pianist Stephen Hough Oct. 12-14 in Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21; plus Schubert's Symphony No. 3 and Haydn's Symphony No. 101, "The Clock." Then, on Oct. 15, French pianist Hélêne Grimaud plays Brahms' First Piano Concerto, and Vladimir Ashkenazy conducts the NKH Orchestra of Tokyo in Elgar's Enigma Variations and Debussy's La Mer. Oct. 12-14, 8 p.m.; Oct. 15, 7 p.m.; Davies Hall, San Francisco (except Oct. 13 at Flint Hall in Cupertino), $25-$110, (415) 864-6000, www.sfsymphony.org (M.V.C.)

Mark Morris' King Arthur
Mark Morris Dance Group, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, and the UC Chamber Chorus combine for a spirited interpretation of Henry Purcell's "semiopera" King Arthur. The production was cocommissioned by the English National Opera, Cal Performances, and the New York City Opera. Jane Glover conducts; Adrianne Lobel, Isaac Mizrahi, and James F. Ingalls designed the production. Oct. 3, 5, 6, 7; 8 p.m., Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley, $42-$110, (510) 642-9988, www.calperfs.berkeley.edu/presents. (L.H.)

Basically British
Katherine Rohrer, mezzo-soprano, Rhoslyn Jones, soprano, Elizabeth Prior Runnicles, viola, and John Parr, piano, take on the eighth program in Old First Concerts' ongoing "Basically British" series. The current installment features songs by Benjamin Britten, Frank Bridge, and — oddly — one non-Brit, Johannes Brahms. Oct. 7, 8 p.m., Old First Church, San Francisco, $12-$15, (415) 474-1608, www.oldfirstconcerts.com (L.H.)

Philharmonia Baroque Goes Classical
Nicholas McGegan and Philharmonia Baroque jump a few decades ahead of their usual stomping grounds to give us a concert of Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven. The bulk of the program is symphonies by Haydn and Mozart, plus a Mozart ballet. The Beethoven is one installment in a cycle of the complete piano concertos with Mari Kodama as the fortepiano soloist. Oct. 10, 8 p.m., Presbyterian Church, Lafayette; Oct. 12, 8 p.m., Herbst Theater, San Francisco; Oct. 13, 8 p.m., First United Methodist Church, Palo Alto; Oct. 14, 8 p.m. and Oct. 15, 7:30 p.m., First Congregational Church, Berkeley, $29-$67, (415) 392-4400, www.philharmonia.org (L.H.)

St. Lawrence String Quartet and Pedja Muzijevic
Peninsula residents have a few more opportunities than the rest of us to see the marvelous St. Lawrence String Quartet, which is in residence at Stanford. The quartet is joined by pianist Peja Muzijevic in a program of works by the two birthday boys, Mozart and Shostakovich. A string quartet by each will be played, plus Mozart's E-Minor Violin Sonata, K. 304, and the G-Minor Quartet for Piano and Strings, K. 478. Oct. 15, 2:30 p.m., Dinkelspiel Auditorium, Stanford University, Palo Alto,$20-$44, (650) 725-ARTS, www.livelyarts.stanford.edu (L.H.)

Kirov Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theater
Valery Gergiev, one of today's most exciting conductors, has revived the Kirov Orchestra and the Mariinsky Theater — 18th century institutions that have survived numerous regime chamges. Gergiev has made a mark outside Russia over the last decade, conducting all over the U.S. and Europe. Here he leads his home orchestra in a very Russian program indeed, featuring Tchaikovsky's First Piano Concerto and Shostakovich's 11th Symphony. Oct. 16, 7 p.m., UC Berkeley's Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley, $38-86, (510) 642-9988 www.calperfs.berkeley.edu (L.H.)

Rigoletto
Verdi's great masterpiece returns in Michael Yeargan's striking, Chirico-esque production. The vivid and moving Paolo Gavanelli shares the title role with Valeri Alexejev; Mary Dunleavy is Rigoletto's besotted daughter Gilda and Giuseppi Gripali is the Duke of Mantua. Stephen Lord conducts. Oct. 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 21, 24, 29, times vary, War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco; $25-245, (415) 864-3330, www.sfopera.com. (L.H.)

Tristan und Isolde
Thomas Moser and Christine Brewer star as Wagner's death-haunted lovers in David Hockney's primary-colors production. Brewer, with a voice of astonishing warmth, beauty, and power, has the makings of a great Isolde. Kristinn Sigmundsson is King Marke; Jane Irwin and Boaz Daniel debut as the lovers' confidantes Brangaene and Kurwenal. Donald Runnicles conducts; he was impetuously brilliant in the 1998 run of Tristan. October 5, 10, 14, 18, 22, 27; times vary, War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco, $25-$245, (415) 864-3330, www.sfopera.com. (L.H.)

Oakland Opera's Les Enfants Terribles
Oakland Opera Theater kicks off its season with Philip Glass' Les Enfants Terribles, based on the film by Jean Cocteau. If the group's Malcolm X of last season is any indication, it's likely to be an innovative performance. Oct. 6-7, 13-14, 20-21, 8 p.m.; Oct. 8, 15, 22, 2 p.m.; Oakland Metro, Oakland, $28-$36, (510) 763-1146, www.oaklandopera.org. (M.V.C.)