Classical Music Reviews

Every week, our professional critics attend concerts throughout the Bay Area to let you know what went well...and occasionally what didn't. Let their insights enrich your musical experiences, and feel free to share your own views!

Recital Review
February 18, 2020
Anderson & Roe Piano Duo Sit and Deliver at Herbst
BY Catriona Barr

The keyboard virtuosos know how to thrill and chill, but also how to connect intimately with their rapt listeners.

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Jazz Review
February 18, 2020
Alex Conde Makes Magic at the Intersection of Jazz and Flamenco
BY Andrew Gilbert

The Spanish pianist debuts his new album at Red Poppy Art House.

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Chamber Orchestra/Orchestra Review
February 18, 2020
Weimar Comes to Los Angeles in All Its Dark Splendor
BY Jim Farber

The second weekend of the LA Phil’s exploration of Weimar culture was capped by two of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill’s memorable collaborations.

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Chamber Music Review
February 17, 2020
Harrowing Quartets From Ariel and Violins of Hope
BY David Bratman

The Ariel Quartet plays two of the warhorses in the repertoire, in concert at Kohl Mansion.

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Opera Review
February 17, 2020
A Bloody Valentine’s Macbeth From West Bay Opera
BY Ilana Walder-Biesanz

It’s an all-out production, and singers and orchestra shine.

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Chamber Orchestra/Orchestra Review
February 17, 2020
Jean-Yves Thibaudet Tangos With SF Symphony in an Evening of Lush, Dramatic Music
BY Steven Winn

Film composer Aaron Zigman’s Tango Manos is the highlight of this festive valentine of a concert.

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Dance Review
February 17, 2020
SF Ballet Looks to the Exit Sign in The Big Hunger
BY Janice Berman

The dancing is admirable, but the ideas don’t pay off in Trey McIntyre’s new piece.

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Dance Review
February 15, 2020
SF Ballet Reveals Some Hard Edges With Sandpaper
BY Janice Berman

It’s all bright on the surface, but Mark Morris’s sprightly play on perky, mid-century musical tropes has a darker side, too.

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Chamber Music Review
February 11, 2020
Rhiannon Giddens, Francesco Turrisi, and Jason Sypher Transform Bing With there is no Other
BY Jonathan Leal

The power trio braids strands of music, history, sociology, and culture into a spiritual whole that transcends easy categories.

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Jazz Review
February 11, 2020
Paula West Goes Deep at Feinstein’s
BY Andrew Gilbert

The jazz singer demonstrates her skill at excavating hidden depths in her material, and she does it all with swing and panache.

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