Previews

The Marin Symphony's 2009-2010 opening concert starts with the quintessentially American music of George Gershwin.

In its 11th season, the Ives Quartet once again is taking a fresh look at chamber music, with the result being a typically (for it) eclectic mix of pieces that relate to each other in surprising ways. “Putting the Pieces Together” is the first of its three-concert main-stage series.

Beyond the splendor of the big city’s symphony, the extraordinarily progressive California Symphony is often relegated to “over there” status.

The Bay Area's longstanding professional men's choir is still the gold standard for many devotees of choral singing.

There are lots of good things happening at San Francisco State University this year, beginning with the superb Eroica Trio.

"I wish we had thought to add a third tenor," jokes David Tayler about the upcoming Voices of Music concert featuring 17th-century virtuoso duets for two tenors. But though we're used to tenors baying "Torna a Sorriento" or "Nessun dorma" at every media opportunity, it's a voice type we're not as used to in early music.

An evening of quality classical music might be closer to home than you realized. The Bay Area is blessed with a lively regional music scene. Two stellar orchestras that are part of this scene are opening their 2009-2010 seasons this month.

The first musical loves of Dominique Pelletey, the visionary behind Chamber Music Day, were folk, punk, and experimental pop. His current love, classical chamber music, offers him the same intimacy, approachability, and focus, but has given him more through its complexity and beauty.