Reviews

The L.A. Philharmonic and Gustavo Dudamel premiere of The Gospel According to the Other Mary displays a challenging yet brilliant creation by John Adams to great effect.

Alison Balsom’s latest compilation of her trumpet selections offers some tried-and-true along with several new pieces for her, all played in her distinctive manner.

One of last century’s most powerful works of sacred music, which is virtually unknown: Lou Harrison’s La Koro Sutro, was performed in Berkeley.

The current West Bay Opera production of Aida channels the work's essence, and does well by the inner Verdi thanks to the orchestra, guest conductor, and a small but ambitious set of players.

The Finnish conductor Osmo Vänskä returns to the S.F. Symphony with violinist Hilary Hahn, and the results with the orchestra are, once again, exemplary.

Famed male vocal ensemble Chanticleer remains in top form under an interim music director, if not recorded in its full splendor on this new CD.

L.A. Philharmonic’s triumphant, in-your-face Don Giovanni blazes with excitement and intimacy, leaving our critic dazzled, even by architect Frank Gehry’s design elements.

The Oakland East Bay Symphony certainly can play, but can it swing? Its season-ending program, of new works and tried-and-true ones, was a mixed bag.

Beethoven gets a full-dress treatment, on Robert Levin’s fortepiano and Steven Isserlis’ gut-strings cello, in a pair of recitals.

Handel’s little-known opera Atalanta receives a delightful outing in Philharmonia Baroque’s new release, sung by a stellar cast — in perhaps the sole recording in print.