Reviews

The San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra closed its 2012-2013 season with an inspired concert that included interesting and meaningful juxtapositions.

John Eliot Gardiner’s 28th CD in a series of Bach cantatas is a must-have recording, for its superb music-making as well as its detailed essays.

Pianist Garrick Ohlsson’s remarkable versatility in both classical and Romantic repertoire gets fine hearings around the Bay Area.

The Santa Rosa Symphony, with guest pianist Olga Kern, parade Russian classics in a resounding season-capper.

Using a program trend of multimediazation Pamela Freund-Striplen and the Gold Coast Chamber Players commanded attention of patrons with seven revelatory treats for the ears and eyes.

The San Francisco Symphony’s Beethoven Project reached a radiant high point over the weekend, as Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas returned to the composer’s Missa Solemnis.

So unerring in the selections on Rodgers & Hammerstein At the Movies, the John Wilson Orchestra’s new disc, you will likely enjoy yourself immensely and maybe even swoon.

Santos, the new oratorio by Gabriela Lena Frank for the San Francisco Girls Chorus and the Berkeley Symphony, shows a composer reaching the height of her considerable powers.

The Marin Symphony, with pianist Joyce Yang, provides an illuminating session of compare-and-contrast of Debussy’s La Mer, along with some delicious Ravel.

There was a lot of excitement at the San Francisco Symphony Saturday night. But even by this orchestra’s high standards, this was a thrilling, surprising — and even alarming — night.