Artist Spotlights

Stardom has come fast for young Yuja Wang, who is learning how to pace herself and seeking a mentor.

Concertmaster Laura Albers stakes out her space in the orchestra pit, then revs up to play Wagner’s long, intense operas.

Founder and violinist of the Kronos Quartet David Harrington talks with SFCV about ancient Chinese tunes and modern Chinese toys, and how a collaboration with pipa virtuoso Wu Man has helped the Kronos Quartet span cultures and time.

The last time Dawn Upshaw appeared at the Ojai Music Festival was in June of 2006. Five years later, and now a cancer survivor, the renowned soprano will reprise her performance there. Here, she talks with SFCV about what makes the Festival unique, teaching at Bard college, and an exciting new collaboration with Peter Sellars.

In her upcoming recital the English soprano (and young mother) Kate Royal traces a dramatic journey of a woman in and out of love.

Edgar Meyer could be said to be playing all the “basses”: he’s collaborated and recorded in classical, jazz, bluegrass, and several other contexts. At Herbst Theatre this month, he’ll be taking on an unfamiliar role: playing bass solo, in public.

Conductor Michael Morgan’s modesty becomes him, yet it’s in service to a mission that he pursues no less relentlessly than most other conductors pursue fame and fortune.

The violinist-turned-conductor tells of conducting for Karajan, being encouraged by Previn, and having a sports-minded family.

For the first time, visionary New York City vocalist Meredith Monk and the Oakland-based Kitka Women’s Vocal Ensemble will showcase four decades of Monk’s dramatic compositions.

Open to improvising, the Venezuelan pianist knows her own voice and says she loves sharing it with audiences.