Reviews

The New Esterházy String Quartet, with soprano Christine Brandes, was equally at home in the works of Haydn’s London period and in his less-showy, earlier pieces.

Pianist Lara Downes offers music of exiled composers in an intimate setting, to launch the inaugural Classical Revolution Festival.

Opera San Jose is a first-rate demonstration of why opera companies have been rediscovering this pearl of an opera by the young Georges Bizet.

The first night of the S.F. Opera's Rigoletto, featured three much-heralded SFO debutants, faring best in secondary roles, and inspired conducting by Luisotti.

Even if you’re awash in recordings of the Schubert Cello Quintet piece, this recording by the Arcanto Quartet and Oliver Marron is one to hear.

Guest conductor Semyon Bychkov launches S.F. Symphony’s 101st season with fine playing, even without the typical opening-night glitz ’n’ glamour.

ETHEL goes to great extremes to play down the fact that it’s a classical ensemble, but in the end it doesn’t matter. The album is great and well-played.

Handel’s best-known opera has achieved popularity due to a staggering succession of supremely engaging melodies. The reason for the full-house in Salzburg was the stars.

Here is a readable, restless, illuminating study of John Cage, a musician who influenced how all of us think about music.

After a game of musical chairs in recent years, the Artemis Quartet is still up on its game, as heard on its latest CD of Schubert masterworks.