David Bratman

The superb Vienna Philharmonic, with substitute conductor Andris Nelsons, outdoes itself with Mozart, Bruckner and Josef Strauss, even in the acoustically deficient Zellerbach Hall.

Trio Cavatina and Samuel Rhodes combined as a quartet for fine music-making at Music at Kohl Mansion in Burlingame.

In a double program the Takács Quartet took on all six string quartets by Béla Bartók, a canon in modern music that couldn't be more intimidating, gnarly, and downright difficult.

The presentation of a cycle of all 10 of Beethoven’s sonatas for violin and piano is a rare enough treat; on period instruments an even a rarer one.

For a 40th-anniversary concert the players of the Kronos Quartet took the opportunity to look back at some of the contemporary trends the group has fostered over the years.

The estimable St. Lawrence Quartet gives a fine send-off to a departing violinist, playing an intriguing all-Czech program.

Raising bright seasonal sounds, S.F. Choral Artists team with The Whole Noyse for a superb concert of Renaissance-era Italian music plus two premieres.

With a solo violinist sometimes off in her own world, Symphony Silicon Valley brings quality playing to its program of Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky, and Mozart.

The Danish String Quartet, despite a dark and foreboding program, creates a mood of holy light with its brilliant performance.

The Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, under its venerable yet still commanding Principal Conductor Neeme Järvi, played at a full strength of about 70 musicians at Bing Hall.