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!

Chamber Orchestra/Orchestra Review
September 20, 2016
MTT Gives Musician’s View of Beethoven’s Fifth
BY Niels Swinkels

The conductor provides a revelatory reading of an iconic masterwork, devoid of the usual drama.

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Chamber Music Review
September 20, 2016
New Esterházy Delivers a Bracing Romp Through Four Quartets
BY David Bratman

The quartet’s meticulous attention to detail enlivens a program of Mozart and Haydn in an intimate setting.

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Opera Review
September 20, 2016
Opera San José Discovers a Perfect Lucia
BY Charlise Tiee

Superb performances animated this traditional staging of Donizetti’s classic.

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Chamber Music Review
September 19, 2016
New Century Chamber Orchestra Finds Gold in Their Silver Season Opener
BY Rebecca Wishnia

With pianist Inon Barnatan, the orchestra was in tip-top form covering Mozart and Philip Glass.

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Recital Review
September 14, 2016
In a Chatty Mood, Jon Nakamatsu Dazzles at the Steinway Society
BY Anatole Leikin

The pianist was eloquent, both speaking and playing, in a big recital.

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Festival Review
September 13, 2016
Making Possible the Impossible at S.F. Electronic Music Festival
BY Rebecca Wishnia

Sometimes a walk on the wild side leads to new perspectives.

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Chamber Music Review
September 13, 2016
S.F. Symphony Celebrates Steve Reich in Style with Clapping on Stage and Off
BY Giacomo Fiore

A rousing retrospective ranges from minimalist to expansive, and celebrates both the somber and the spontaneous.

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Opera Review
September 13, 2016
Opera in the Park Turns 43
BY Jason Victor Serinus

Golden Gate Park glows with great performances that outshine the fog and chill.

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Opera Review
September 12, 2016
Dreaming Big, Red Chamber Collaborators Rise to the Challenge
BY Steven Winn

S.F. Opera’s new commission transcends its limitations with sumptuous staging and beguiling performances.

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Opera Review
September 12, 2016
S.F. Opera's Chénier Strong, Except Where It Counts
BY Jason Victor Serinus

Many things were right about the new production that opened S.F. Opera’s season, but the debuting romantic leads disappointed.

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