Reviews

Jonas Kaufmann's first complete Cavaradossi in Robert Carsen's fascinating modern update of Puccini's Tosca may find you devouring this DVD.

Mission Chamber Orchestra of San José plays all the music that fits, and then some, in its latest outing at Le Petit Trianon.

As any chef will tell you, the best recipes are simple ones. Here’s a Bay Area recipe that seems to work every time: Bring forth the San Francisco Symphony and engage Peter Oundjian as guest conductor. Mix and serve.

Smaller-scale oratorios that Bach repurposed are sung vibrantly by the Retrospect Ensemble, and wonderfully recorded.

Ranging from good to great, despite some odd tempos along the way, two brilliant singers render arias by Verdi, Mozart, Dvořák, and Puccini.

The latest CD from the Midwestern male vocal ensemble Cantus provocatively ventures into Chanticleer territory.

The Sanford Dole Ensemble previews Easter Week with solemn settings of Creation texts and Jesus’ last words from the cross.

Pianist Krystian Zimerman honors a great, if rarely heard, Polish composer whose music has overcome Stalinist oppression.

Gautier Capuçon transports the audience with his poetic playing of a Dutilleux work, inspired by lines from Baudelaire.

Sergio and Odair Assad have moved audiences and inspired guitarists around the world for over 30 years. Sunday, their program was musically thrilling, emotionally satisfying and, at least implicitly, a politically challenging and sympathetic view of immigration.