Previews

Last year's Persian concert at Oakland East Bay Symphony was so successful that they're at it again, and bringing back piano soloist Tara Kamangar, who scored with the audience last year.

Of the two major pianists visiting San Francisco this weekend, Di Wu may be the less well known, but she was a finalist at the Van Cliburn Competition last year, showing that she has technique to burn.

Cappella Romana has become the premier exponent and explorer of the musical traditions of Byzantium and other early Christian music. An upcoming concert showcases that expertise, before a return to Stanford to begin a research project aiming to re-create the acoustics of ancient Byzantine churches.

When it comes to Bach’s choral works, the S.F. Bach Choir knows the music as well as anyone. So it’s well worth a listen when it performs its favorites. 

The S.F. Opera has released a series of charming movies adapted from one-hour, family style stage productions, and they're showing for free! Next up: Mozart's Magic Flute. Yes, it is magical and the perfect way to introduce your youngest set to opera.

Any singer who has performed Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis can attest that this is one piece not for the faint of heart. It therefore takes some gumption to tackle this work, yet this is precisely the challenge adopted by the 100-voice Cantare Chorale, led by David Morales.

The NCCO’s title for its upcoming concerts, “Mastery of Schubert,” is a curious one. Yet, there is little question that the gifted soprano Melody Moore will fulfill the title’s promise, the four Schubert lieder she performs on the March 24-27 concerts.

A visit from Les Percussion de Strausbourg treats the Bay Area to performances by the oldest continuing Western percussion ensemble.

In its upcoming concert set, Magnificat brings on the drama in a staging of Orazio Vecchi’s madrigal comedy L’Amfiparnaso (The Twin Peaks of Parnassus), a collaboration with three theater artists from the Dell’Arte Company for what’s sure to be a high-spirited affair.

If your week will be made by a really fine performance of a Brandenburg Concerto, as well as music by other German luminaries like Telemann and Handel, then Cal Performances is the place to be on Friday.