William Bolcom, one of the indisputably great American composers is showing up in the Bay Area this week and the 72-year-old is not sparing himself, so you have several chances to check him out. The festivities begin on May 2 with the world premiere, at Stanford's A.Jess Shenson Recital Series, of Billy in the Darbies, written for baritone Stephen Salter and the Lark String Quartet and based on words by Herman Melville, from his short novel, Billy Budd. The composer will be on hand for a preconcert talk.
Then the New Century Chamber Orchestra and Nadja Salerno Sonnenberg give the premiere of his violin concerto, Romanza. And then, finally, Bolcom and his wife, Joan Morris, who are well-known for their interpretations of American popular song, make an appearance at the Piedmont Piano Company in Oakland, May 10. You're not going to have a better chance this year to see a musical icon up close.