Steven Winn

The plight of Appalachian coal miners is revealed through powerful music and stark imagery.

The highlights, including a rare chaconne by Marin Marais, stuck with you.

Philharmonia Baroque offers a bit of arcane music history along with fine performances of Mozart and Haydn.

The chamber ensemble played with fire and grace on works from Handel, Bach, and Rameau.

Orchestra, chorus, and soloists coalesce under McGegan’s baton to bring down the walls in Palo Alto.

Pianist Jonathan Biss curates an evening of late period Beethoven at San Francisco Performances.

Standout vocal performances and attention to musical details do full justice to Bach’s spiritual masterwork.

The Italian bass-baritone delivers an opera buffa performance for the ages.

S.F. Opera’s new commission transcends its limitations with sumptuous staging and beguiling performances.

The North American premiere of a 1734 Handel serenata is an interesting glimpse of the composer fulfilling his duties as unofficial court composer. Eyes and ears were on some of the strongly cast soloists.