Features

Jesse Hamlin - February 16, 2010
In late 2006, Misha Dichter was visiting his wife’s family in Rio when he sat down at the piano to practice Brahms’ Ballade in D Minor, Op. 10. A simple chord in the second measure stopped him cold. The renowned pianist couldn’t stretch the fingers on his right hand to make the interval of a major sixth. He panicked.

“I have big hands.

Steven Winn - February 9, 2010
For anyone who cares about 17th-century music, 2010 is without question a Claudio Monteverdi year.
Janos Gereben - February 9, 2010

Philharmonia: Not So Baroque

As the Philharmonia Baroque announces its 30th anniversary season today, Music Director Nicholas McGegan ponders the then and now of the orchestra in terms unexpected from the renowned leader of a
Georgia Rowe - February 2, 2010
Berkeley Opera has always been known for its adventurous spirit. While it has never enjoyed the large subscriber base — or extravagant budgets — of its high-profile counterparts, the company has given audiences a wide range of productions in the last three decades, offering forgotten masterpieces, English adaptations, and world premieres alongside standards of the repertoire.
Janos Gereben - February 2, 2010

West Bay Opera Goes A-Hunting

Carl Maria von Weber's 1821 opera Der Freischütz has many distinctions:

Janos Gereben - January 26, 2010

Merola 2010 Performances

The San Francisco Opera

Jesse Hamlin - January 26, 2010
Violinist Yin Bin Qian wanted to study abroad after graduating from the prestigious Shanghai Conservatory of Music, the oldest Western-oriented music school in China. He applied to graduate school at Yale, the Eastman School of Music, USC, and other American colleges.
Michael Zwiebach - January 19, 2010
In our childhoods we all internalize the decimal system and its powers of 10. This is probably why we fetishize the ends of centuries and decades as important stock-taking moments. Not to be left out, SFCV will bring you a few end-of-decade musings over the next few months.
Janos Gereben - January 19, 2010

Opera to Offer Domingo, Ring, Much More

Just back at work for the first time in the new year, San Francisco Opera General Director David Gockley has announced plans for the company's 2010-2011 season, its 88th.

Janos Gereben - January 12, 2010

If Musicians Ruled the World ...

There it was, news over the weekend of the election victory of Ivo Josipovic, 52, for Croatia's presidency.