Marianne Lipanovich is a writer and editor based in Redwood City. A gardening expert, she is a lifelong music lover, having learned to read music before she learned to read.
If you think all early music is the same, Fabio Biondi and Europa Galante are determined to prove you wrong. The ensemble, which has been together for 22 years, has made a name for itself with its energetic approach to both the music and the performances.
Pianist Ursula Oppens is known for her interpretations of modern compositions, as attested to by her latest recording, Winging It, which recently was nominated for a Grammy (her fourth such). Yet for her concert at Mills College on Jan. 27, it’s a return to the past, as she performs pieces by Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Scriabin, and Schumann.
Finding the right teacher makes all the difference. Start by asking for recommendations from friends and family. You might also want to give a call to the music teacher at your child’s school (they may not be able to recommend someone outright, but they will most likely have advice they’re more than willing to share). Another source is local orchestras.
Hearing a work being played by the person it was written for is always an exciting, if relatively rare, event for today’s audiences. But not only is violinist Leila Josefowicz playing the Violin Concerto written for her by Finnish composer Esa-Pekka Salonen when she makes a guest appearance at the San Francisco Symphony on Dec. 8, 9, and 10, but Salonen will conduct the orchestra for the performances.
The Berkeley Symphony’s Dec. 8 program is a celebration of sorts: of a birthday and the premiere of a symphony, of the birth of a son, and of Bay Area composer Lou Harrison. To honor Harrison, Sarah Cahill, a noted Bay Area pianist, will perform his Piano Concerto.
Paulo Szot was already making a name for himself as a baritone in opera circles, but when he was cast in the revival of South Pacific in 2008, the rest of the world took notice of both his singing and his acting. His portrayal of Emile de Becque won him a 2008 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical, as well as a legion of fans.
In some ways, Simon Keenlyside has the best of both worlds: He’s passionate about singing, and he’s passionate about the world of nature. Over the years, he’s been able to combine his two loves while making a name for himself as one of the better, more charismatic baritones around. While you probably won’t get a chance to go hiking with him, you can enjoy his musical side through San Francisco Performances on Oct. 27.
Cantare Con Vivo Chorale’s opening program for this season is titled “Sit Down! You’re Rockin’ the Boat.” It’s obviously misnamed, since Cantare has been rocking the Bay Area’s choral boat for 25 years now.
You might think a “free-for-all” is just a chaotic brawl, but Cal Performances’ Fall Free for All redefines it as a day of joyous celebration of the arts, including 25 performances where the audience is encouraged to join in, with everything free to any and all.
While Mark Morris is best known for his dancing and choreography, this September Bay Area audiences will have a chance to see him in the role of conductor when his Mark Morris Dance Group joins the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and Chorale, mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe, baritone Philip Cutlip, sopranos Yulia Van Doren and Céline Ricci, and tenor Brian Thorsett for the Cal Performances presentation of Dido and Aeneas. Morris’ choreography for thi
Both the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and violinist Elizabeth Blumenstock have two reasons for celebration this month. First, she’s celebrating her 30 years with the PBO, only one of the many groups she plays with in the U.S. and abroad. Second, the PBO is about to release its third recording on its own label, featuring seven Vivaldi violin concertos, including The Four Seasons, with Blumenstock as the featured soloist.
This centennial season of the San Francisco Symphony promises to be spectacular, packed with programs and guest artists, including well-known names, new works, and guest symphonies. The American Mavericks Festival returns, as well, and offstage exhibits and multimedia projects will be offered. The face of it all, as he has been since 1995, is Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas.
The Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra has made many trips to cities across the country throughout its 30-year history, yet presents most of its concerts in the Bay Area. While that’s wonderful news for early-music lovers who live in this area, the ensemble’s just-completed four-city Chicago/East Coast tour has let more people across the country know just how great, and fun, the PBO is.
Wine and music have always been a natural pairing, so why not take it to its logical conclusion and have live music performed at wineries? Of course, Music in the Vineyards, the Napa Valley–based summer chamber music festival, isn’t the only event with such a setting for classical music fans.
It’s taken some time, but this year Music@Menlo finally, and happily, can add clarinetist David Shifrin to its list of guest artists. The award-winning musician is equally happy to be appearing. Not only does he love chamber music, calling it his favorite, he also adores Brahms. So it’s a match made in heaven.
Music will be filling the air around Mendocino and Fort Bragg throughout the month of July as the Mendocino Music Festival celebrates its 25th anniversary. Over the last quarter century, the festival has grown into a unique summer musical event. There’s a rural and localized sensibility (roughly half the attendees live in the area) that fits the setting. And the main venue itself, a beautiful tent set on the headlands, is, in the words of festival cofounder Susan Waterfall, “an ideal place,” especially for a festival that bills itself as “Music on the Edge of the World.”
The Fourth of July wouldn’t be complete without parades, barbeques, fireworks … and music. Sure, you can accompany the fireworks with recordings, but there’s nothing like live music to really help you celebrate. Fortunately for fans of classical music and the Fourth of July, three local symphonies are supplying the tunes.
If you think all early music is the same, Fabio Biondi and Europa Galante are determined to prove you wrong. The ensemble, which has been together for 22 years, has made a name for itself with its energetic approach to both the music and the performances.
Pianist Ursula Oppens is known for her interpretations of modern compositions, as attested to by her latest recording, Winging It, which recently was nominated for a Grammy (her fourth such). Yet for her concert at Mills College on Jan. 27, it’s a return to the past, as she performs pieces by Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Scriabin, and Schumann.
Finding the right teacher makes all the difference. Start by asking for recommendations from friends and family. You might also want to give a call to the music teacher at your child’s school (they may not be able to recommend someone outright, but they will most likely have advice they’re more than willing to share). Another source is local orchestras.
What is the ideal age for a child to start learning an instrument? The answer is: it depends.
Hearing a work being played by the person it was written for is always an exciting, if relatively rare, event for today’s audiences. But not only is violinist Leila Josefowicz playing the Violin Concerto written for her by Finnish composer Esa-Pekka Salonen when she makes a guest appearance at the San Francisco Symphony on Dec. 8, 9, and 10, but Salonen will conduct the orchestra for the performances.
Paulo Szot was already making a name for himself as a baritone in opera circles, but when he was cast in the revival of South Pacific in 2008, the rest of the world took notice of both his singing and his acting. His portrayal of Emile de Becque won him a 2008 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical, as well as a legion of fans.
In some ways, Simon Keenlyside has the best of both worlds: He’s passionate about singing, and he’s passionate about the world of nature. Over the years, he’s been able to combine his two loves while making a name for himself as one of the better, more charismatic baritones around. While you probably won’t get a chance to go hiking with him, you can enjoy his musical side through San Francisco Performances on Oct. 27.
Cantare Con Vivo Chorale’s opening program for this season is titled “Sit Down! You’re Rockin’ the Boat.” It’s obviously misnamed, since Cantare has been rocking the Bay Area’s choral boat for 25 years now.
The cello has been Johannes Moser’s instrument since he was 8 years old, and he’s definitely one of the bright lights in the modern classical world.
While Mark Morris is best known for his dancing and choreography, this September Bay Area audiences will have a chance to see him in the role of conductor when his Mark Morris Dance Group joins the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and Chorale, mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe, baritone Philip Cutlip, sopranos Yulia Van Doren and Céline Ricci, and tenor Brian Thorsett for the Cal Performances presentation of Dido and Aeneas. Morris’ choreography for thi
Both the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and violinist Elizabeth Blumenstock have two reasons for celebration this month. First, she’s celebrating her 30 years with the PBO, only one of the many groups she plays with in the U.S. and abroad. Second, the PBO is about to release its third recording on its own label, featuring seven Vivaldi violin concertos, including The Four Seasons, with Blumenstock as the featured soloist.
This centennial season of the San Francisco Symphony promises to be spectacular, packed with programs and guest artists, including well-known names, new works, and guest symphonies. The American Mavericks Festival returns, as well, and offstage exhibits and multimedia projects will be offered. The face of it all, as he has been since 1995, is Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas.
The Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra has made many trips to cities across the country throughout its 30-year history, yet presents most of its concerts in the Bay Area. While that’s wonderful news for early-music lovers who live in this area, the ensemble’s just-completed four-city Chicago/East Coast tour has let more people across the country know just how great, and fun, the PBO is.
Wine and music have always been a natural pairing, so why not take it to its logical conclusion and have live music performed at wineries? Of course, Music in the Vineyards, the Napa Valley–based summer chamber music festival, isn’t the only event with such a setting for classical music fans.
Catching up with most musicians and conductors can be difficult even in the best of times. Catching up with Marin Alsop is a challenge.
It’s taken some time, but this year Music@Menlo finally, and happily, can add clarinetist David Shifrin to its list of guest artists. The award-winning musician is equally happy to be appearing. Not only does he love chamber music, calling it his favorite, he also adores Brahms. So it’s a match made in heaven.
The Fourth of July wouldn’t be complete without parades, barbeques, fireworks … and music. Sure, you can accompany the fireworks with recordings, but there’s nothing like live music to really help you celebrate. Fortunately for fans of classical music and the Fourth of July, three local symphonies are supplying the tunes.
