Reviews

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Review

All Together Now

Georgia Rowe - October 12, 2009
After last month’s impressive performances of Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony, the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra returned to its 17th-century roots over the weekend with a program of short works, led by guest violinist Elizabeth Wallfisch.

The program, titled “The Concerto: An Adversarial Friendship,” was designed to explore the often-turbulent relationship between soloists and orchestras, and th

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Review

Virtue in Vespers

Chelsea Nicole Spangler - October 10, 2009
In another concert series geared toward social justice, the ArtisVocal Ensemble presented an evening of “Kirkenabendmusik” at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Berkeley on Friday.
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Review

A Few Zesty Surprises

Heuwell Tircuit - October 9, 2009
Applause broke out at unexpected times Wednesday evening in Davies Symphony Hall as guest conductor David Robertson wowed the San Francisco Symphony audience.
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Review

Having the Composer At Hand

Be'eri Moalem - October 6, 2009

Music sounds different when the composer’s in the room. It sounds even more different when he’s sitting near you and hands you a score. That was the predicament in which I found myself Sunday afternoon, at the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players’ “Contemporary Insights” lectures.

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Review

The Anatomy of Cultural Diversity, With Imani Winds and Stefon Harris

Kwami Coleman - October 6, 2009
Imani Winds, a wind quintet whose stylish grace and charm match the high quality of sound produced from their instruments, hold a substantial pedigree among fellow artists, audiences, and critics alike. 
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Review

Ah, Youth!

Jeff Dunn - October 6, 2009

If you are looking for a gift for someone beginning their odyssey into classical music, you could do worse than send them the latest DGG sampler release of repertoire standards spiced with two dances by the Mexican composer Arturo Márquez.

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Review

Bach, Stewed

Scott Cmiel - October 5, 2009
The Japanese guitarist Kazuhito Yamashita performed an ambitious, all-Bach program Friday at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
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Review

Three Notes, And Worlds of Them

Jeff Dunn - October 5, 2009
Would you rather focus on atoms, or planets? Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas chose both and overindulged a bit in one for Saturday’s San Francisco Symphony concert. It began with music of the Zen-inspired Italian Giacinto Scelsi (1905-1988), whose Hymnos took 13 minutes to elaborate just three elemental notes — D, E, and B-flat.
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Review

Thomas Hampson Surveys American Song

Jason Victor Serinus - October 2, 2009

Midway through his Song of America recital on Wednesday, presented by San Francisco Performances, Spokane-raised Thomas Hampson paused to address the adoring Herbst Theatre audience he had sung for on 10 previous occasions. “In many of the places where I’ve presented this project," the 54-year-old baritone declared, “people ask me if I’d please sing more songs like that one called Shenandoah.

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Review

Grace Notes, but Not by Accident

Brett Campbell - September 29, 2009
French music, the stereotype goes, prizes clarity, elegance, balance — in a word, gracefulness. Of course, exceptions are easy to find, but last weekend’s concerts titled “Les grâces françoises: Graceful Music From France,” by the aptly named ensemble Les grâces, made a persuasive case that a consciously graceful performance style immaculately suits the polite, early-Baroque gems.