Reviews

Jason Victor Serinus - March 13, 2011

Something special is happening at the Livermore Valley Opera, which has taken the care to stage Puccini’s Madama Butterfly with a cast that does the opera and the company proud.

Jason Victor Serinus - March 13, 2011

To prolonged high-pitched cheers and applause, Munich-born tenor Jonas Kaufmann, 41, strode onto the stage of Zellerbach Hall for his Bay Area debut, offering a unique instrument and experience; one of the most versatile, compelling, and vexing recitals in memory.

Jeff Dunn - March 12, 2011

The latest release from the Bay Brass, an ensemble made up of some of the best musicians in the S.F. Symphony, Ballet, and Opera orchestras offers attractive compositions and more than belies prejudices often conjured up by brass ensembles, with excellent playing and first rate sonics.

Anna Carol Dudley - March 8, 2011

Words and music came together (or didn’t) Sunday in five works sung by Volti and the Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir — Robert Geary’s gift to creators and performers of new choral music.

Jeff Dunn - March 7, 2011

The S.F. Symphony and Anne Sofie von Otter dressed up their offerings with immensely enjoyable performances of works by Hindemith, Brahms, and a panoply of Scandinavian composers.

Janos Gereben - March 7, 2011

Few operas have been worked over as much as Bizet's Carmen. In the East Bay, where Berkeley West Edge Opera's Carmen Fixation opened Saturday night, the opera company offered a "different" version, with a standout performance by Buffy Baggott.

Matthew Cmiel - March 7, 2011

Last week’s Other Minds Festival showcased world musicians doing wild and crazy, and often enjoyable and inventive, things.

Jason Victor Serinus - March 7, 2011

Eugene Chan’s resonant baritone voice and passionate delivery were the prize in a somewhat self-conscious Sunday recital.

Jason Victor Serinus - March 6, 2011

Mezzo-soprano Zheng Cao, in the midst of an astounding series of performances with Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, performed as a substitute for the great mezzo Frederica von Stade (Flicka), singing beautifully and giving fully of her heart and soul.

Matthew Cmiel - March 4, 2011

The San Francisco Contemporary Music Players ensemble continues to evolve and explore new music, as evidenced by its Monday concert that displayed rich variety.