Previews

Joseph Sargent - May 3, 2010

Cantare Con Vivo Music Director David Morales takes the title of his ensemble quite literally. In 23 years of conducting this conglomerate of large, small, and children’s groups, he has developed an unwavering commitment to using singers’ own life experiences to enhance their performance.

Michael Zwiebach - April 28, 2010

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.

Michael Zwiebach - April 27, 2010

Les grâces is a small chamber music group you may not have heard of, but they have a growing reputation. Their upcoming concerts featuring world-class musicians are worth a visit.

Jeff Kaliss - April 27, 2010

In the late '50s, musician and scholar Gunther Schuller attempted to formally integrate jazz and classical music under a concept he dubbed Third Stream. It was a turbulent but persistent confluence, which will be in evidence in an upcoming San José Chamber Orchestra concert.

Marianne Lipanovich - April 27, 2010

The San Francisco Bach Choir is holding a Thanksgiving celebration, of sorts, at its next performances, on May 15 and 16. The program, “Celebrating American Heroes,” is more than just an acknowledgment of the famous heroes and events in American history.

Ken Bullock - April 27, 2010

Isaac Albéniz, the Spanish Catalan pianist and composer is well-known for his 12 “impressions” of Iberia, considered the greatest of Spanish piano works. Pianist Robert Schwartz will perform this magnus opus May 7 to honor the anniversary of the composer's birth 150 years ago.

Joseph Sargent - April 26, 2010

The San Francisco Renaissance Voices present a daunting program of two Masses by Josquin des Prez.

Michael Zwiebach - April 21, 2010

When a choral group with “Bach” in its name meets the St. John's Passion, you expect all the stops to be pulled, and California Bach Society is doing just that.

Matthew Cmiel - April 20, 2010

On May 2 and 4, in Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts, the California Symphony will present its season finale, a concert featuring Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1 and Tchaikovsky’s Pezza Capriccioso for cello and orchestra, both performed by the same 14-year-soloist, Sarina Zhang, on two different instruments.

Marianne Lipanovich - April 20, 2010

It’s story time at the Marin Center in San Rafael when the Marin Symphony plays its upcoming Family Concert the afternoon of May 8. “Once Upon a Symphony,” conducted by George Thomson, explores musical works that are based on old and new childhood tales, from Mother Goose to Harry Potter.