Features

In 1911, just after the Great Quake of 1906 wiped out much of the city, the San Francisco Symphony was born, and the orchestra is now preparing for a star-spangled centennial season. Here's a preview of great things to come.

Messiah and The Nutcracker define the Christmas season for many music lovers. Here are a few to catch, ranging from the traditional to the unusual, along with some other holiday fare to look into.

One of music’s greatest joys is watching young artists develop at home, then soar to success. For those who have nurtured and cheered soprano Elza van den Heever and tenor David Lomelí as they have blossomed in San Francisco, the joy is compounded by the fact that both are launching major international careers.

One of America’s foremost composers is still working at a heavy pace. In this interview, he discusses his current and future projects, including his “Son of El Niño” to come.

The picks of this year's litter (and two of the best Messiah's) for your consideration.

Smule, creator of the Magic Piano app for iPad, has released the Magic Fiddle on iTunes, turning the PC tablet into a musical instrument.

Classical music has enhanced the drama and romance in film since the days of silent movies. Over the decades it’s continued to be a staple in the repertoire of film scores from Disney’s Fantasia to Coppola’s The Godfather. Rarer, though, are films that focus specifically on classical music and the musicians that play it. Here are some of our favorite films, all of which are available through Netflix or Amazon.com.