Reviews

Richard Danielpour’s A Woman’s Life, an ardent and varied setting of seven poems by Maya Angelou, is an expansive an enchanting highlight on the OEBS program.

A sense of adventure and musical integrity marked the opening of a tour by Yo-Yo Ma and pianist Kathryn Stott.

Nevabawarldapece, a new, live dance-and-music-and-spoken-word extravaganza choreographed by Robert Moses, is fitfully brilliant, yet at times hard to read.

The 18th century’s greatest musical evangelist is stunningly represented by American Bach Soloists’ rendition of the St. John Passion.

The brilliance of Emanuel Ax’s playing at Stanford is somewhat dimmed by a lidless piano and distractions around the instrument.

Walnut Creek’s California Symphony tries out a potential leader in Sean Newhouse, with two classics and a New Agey filler.

The music itself and the quality of playing builds and builds, at a Kohl Mansion recital by the visiting Trio Solisti.

An expert pianist/lecturer, Jeffrey Siegel presents music by George Gershwin and other American icons.

Soprano Marnie Breckenridge shines in songs by many composers with Bay Area roots.

The Alexander String Quartet celebrates two giants of chamber music, doing more than justice to Benjamin Britten’s centennial, not to mention Béla Bartók.