Previews

Fantastic Afternoon

Marianne Lipanovich - October 12, 2009

Fantasy (or phantasie) and the unusual is the theme of the day when the Gold Coast Chamber Players perform at Noe Valley Chamber Music Se

Preview

Laying Out a Smorgasboard For Percussion

Jason Victor Serinus - October 12, 2009

Some people are born to pound their way through life. Take Loren Mach, for example.

Preview

Music Day For Families With Young Sprouts

Lisa Petrie - October 12, 2009

If your kids are still too young for the traditional concert hall experience, they can certainly shake, rattle, and roll at The Crowden School’s free Community Music Day — the biggest classical jam session around for kids up through the age of 6, on Oct. 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Preview

Pulling Back the Veil

Joseph Sargent - October 12, 2009

The enterprising young choral ensemble Chalice Consort sure dreams big.

Preview

Our Italian Maestro's German-Opera Debut

Janos Gereben - October 8, 2009

Is it possible to think of Richard Strauss' 1905 Salome as a great, overwhelming wall of sound, with singers struggling to be heard?

Cadenza: New Beginnings

David Bratman - October 7, 2009

The former Santa Cruz Chamber Orchestra is kicking off its first season under a new name with two energetic and attractive modern works for strings and trumpet: Arthur Honegger’s Symphony No. 2 and Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 1, the latter with pianist Brenda Tom.

Itzhak Perlman and the San Francisco Symphony

Michael Zwiebach - October 7, 2009

You may not have heard Edward Elgar's Introduction and Allegro for String Orchestra, Op. 47, which opens Itzhak Perlman's concert with the San Francisco Symphony next week. But its neo-Baroque form and polyphonic wizardry make an interesting counterpoint with the following work on the program, Bach's Violin Concerto No. 2.

Earplay

Michael Zwiebach - October 7, 2009

It's not hard to imagine a small organization like Earplay having a "now what?" moment in the wake of the economic devastation that dried up foundation grants, donations, and other sources of arts funding. But the determined new-music group came up with a winner of a fundraiser.