Photo by Michel Brumat
With its relatively small performance venue on Capp Street, San Francisco Community Music Center may have a problem accommodating the audience for a special (and free) event on March 16.
Coming from Paris, soprano Claudia Galli, accompanied by Grégory Moulin, will give a concert, part of their extensive U.S. recital tour, sponsored by the Luxembourg Music Export Office, in collaboration with the Consulate General of Luxembourg in San Francisco. (Yes, the Grand Duchy — of smaller population than San Francisco — has a music export office; why don't others?)
The attractive and generous program, called "Richard Strauss — des racines et des ailes" (Roots and Wings), places Strauss in the context of lieder by Schumann, Brahms, Wolf, Zemlinsky, and Berg, featuring Strauss' “Zueignung,” “Nichts,” “Die Nacht,” “Allerseelen,” “Die Georgine,” “Wie sollten wir geheim sie halten,” “Cäcilie,” “Ruhe, meine Seele,” “Ich wollt ein Sträußlein binden,” and “An die Nacht.”
Galli and Moulin first met in the Paris National Opera's Young Artist Program seven years ago, and since then they had a close artistic relationship, performing in numerous recitals throughout Europe. Galli — born in Luxembourg to an Italian father and a Portuguese mother — sang many roles in Paris, performing at the Aix en Provence Festival last year.
Moulin, originally from the Drôme region of France, has worked as accompanist, pianist coach, and conductor. He has been conducting and coaching in some of the continent's major opera houses, including Munich, Salzburg, Madrid, and Berlin.
Meanwhile, check out the Community Music Center's calendar for many other events, including the Cypress String Quartet (March 1), Angela Hewitt (March 7), Robert Stallman (March 8), student recitals and workshops — all free.