Reviews

Pugilistic and heartrending compositions battle it out at NCCO’s recital. Between rounds, Anne Marie McDermott’s graceful pianism provides welcome Mozart-relief.

Valery Gergiev and an impressive international cast deliver an amply rewarding Walküre.

The San Francisco Performances presentation of Jonathan Biss showcases Schumann and the strength of the Elias String Quartet.

A Berkeley Symphony program of “Idealists” Steven Stucky and Anton Bruckner offers different perspectives on nature.

That baritone Matthias Goerne is one of the great lieder interpreters of our era is beyond question. His latest recording of Schubert lieder is an object lesson in great song interpretation.

Perhaps the world’s preeminent ensemble for Renaissance vocal music, the Tallis Scholars deliver eloquence to die for.

The Australian Chamber Orchestra, superb and often startling performs in what anything but an ordinary night of music-making.

Chalice Consort performed Friday in San Francisco with its new Director, Ragnar Bohlin, in a program of Roman Catholic Tenebrae Responsories by composer Tomás Luis de Victoria.

In performing Bach, Buxtehude, and Telemann, newcomer Marin Baroque faces uphill battles of insufficient vocal musicianship.

The presentation of neoclassical masters, the inspiration for Ballet San Jose’s performances, covered a lot of ground, and the artists rose brightly to the challenge.