Features

Janos Gereben - April 27, 2010

Theater-Music Fusion Gala for TheatreWorks

A May 8 gala concert at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts will celebrate TheatreWorks'

Georgia Rowe - April 27, 2010

Berkeley-born Gabriela Lena Frank is on a roll, with her compositions being performed widely, even as she serves the Berkeley Symphony as its creative advisor. Her upcoming first violin concerto, Hailli Lírico, is drawn from poem-prayers uttered by Inca kings.

Robert P. Commanday - April 27, 2010

Alan Rich, America’s most outspoken classical music critic, died in his sleep Friday in his home in West Los Angeles at the age of 85. For his entire career, he was as full-out in his enthusiasms and advocacies as he was unsparing and sharp in his assessments, always making a deep impression.

Jesse Hamlin - April 20, 2010

Melanie DeMore was conducting a dozen young choristers in a downtown Oakland church the other day, getting them to move and groove and fire up the music.

Janos Gereben - April 20, 2010

Yuja Cancellation

San Francisco Performances' much anticipated, soldout recital by Yuja Wang on Thursday was canceled because of the pianist's painful arm condition. Her doctor ordered at least a week's rest.
Janos Gereben - April 13, 2010

In the world of maestros with titanic egos, Pocket Opera’s Donald Pippin is a heartwarming exception. He is self-effacing, even humble. To a fault. Considering his accomplishments, all that modesty seems downright excessive.

Janos Gereben - April 13, 2010

'Give Music a Chance'

In recent years the prospect of music education in public schools has dimmed considerably, but the present and future look even worse. Most states are facing huge budget deficits, none worse than California, and all aspects of education are endangered.

Janos Gereben - April 9, 2010

Festival del Sole to Shine Again

Napa's Festival of the Sun will have its fifth season, July 16-25, with its usual star-studded list of artists.

Janos Gereben - April 9, 2010

Even Poor Tom Can Afford This 'Rake'

Eleazar Rodriguez in a 2008
performance of L'Egisto,
Michael Zwiebach - April 8, 2010

If you grew up in the 1990s you probably know Duncan Sheik, the singer-songwriter who arrives this week to perform songs from his musical Whisper House with the San Francisco Symphony. His 1996 debut hit, Barely Breathing, about a stalled relationship, marries its catchy groove to an emotional honesty.