Artist Spotlights

Emanuel Ax is not just one of the finest classical music pianists of our (or any) time, he’s also a mensch — as gracious to talk to as he is inspiring to hear. The Polish-born, Canadian-raised virtuoso comes to the Bay Area Jan. 12 for a solo all-Schubert performance at Stanford’s Dinkelspiel Hall.

Matt Haimovitz, the Montreal-based cellist, celebrated for his spirited approach to genre-bending and performance, is a mere 40. A week after a Grammy nod, Haimovitz spoke with SFCV about his visit, the Grammy-worthy album, and his wide-ranging musical mission.

Terrance Kelly and his Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir showcase their infectious spirit at the Oakland East Bay Symphony's holiday celebration, “Let Us Break Bread Together.”

SFCV catches up with pianist Yefim Bronfman, loved by audiences as one of the more virtuosic and commanding soloists on the concert hall stage. Emanuel Ax calls him a “complete pianist,” and Esa-Pekka Salonen says, he “can play better than most other people on the planet.”

SFCV catches up with Turtle Island String Quartet violinist David Balakrishnan who is looking forward to an upcoming gig in San Francisco gig, featuring tributes to Jimi Hendrix.

Acclaimed cellist Tanya Tomkins is equally at home with early music, the classics, and contemporary compositions, but on the weekend of Nov. 19, it’s the early music and instrument that will be in the limelight.

Mark O’Connor — the protean superfiddler, composer, music educator, and inventor of “The O’Connor Violin Method,” which has helped school countless budding violinists — heads to the Bay Area this month. The New Century Chamber Orchestra has designated him the featured composer this season.

Celebrated pop singer and songsmith Rufus Wainwright tells SFCV why he's turned towards composing arias and settings of Shakespeare, and why writers of opera and snarky critics are uneasy bedfellows.

One the eve of the 25th anniversary of S.F. Conservatory's chamber music master's degree program, Bonnie Hampton talks about her life, the founding of the program, and the value of being present every day.

SFCV catches up with Conductor Alan Curtis, who is based in Florence, but is back in the Bay Area this week to lead Handel's Xerxes for Berkeley West Edge.