Reviews

Matthew Cmiel - May 2, 2012

The S.F. Contemporary Music Players wrap up its season with a range of challenging works, both new and old, brilliant and quietly glowing.

Scott Cmiel - April 30, 2012

The “indie-classical” duo Living Earth Show performs original material with both raucous good humor and subtlety.

Scott Cmiel - April 30, 2012

Yamandu Costa’s wonderfully expressive playing takes the classical guitar to new heights.

Jason Victor Serinus - April 30, 2012

French soprano Sandrine Piau brings the sun indoors, in her splendid Berkeley recital, and carries hearts away.

Jeff Dunn - April 28, 2012

Filling in for an injured Joana Carneiro, Edwin Outwater’s arrival at the Berkeley Symphony didn’t just save the day, his vigorous and focused approach effected an outstanding set of performances.

Jason Victor Serinus - April 24, 2012

The spell-binding baritone Matthias Goerne and his superb accompanist, Leif Ove Andsnes, take listeners on a transcendent artistic journey.

Jason Victor Serinus - April 22, 2012

Handel’s Alexander’s Feast yields a compact masterpiece — fresh, original, beautiful — starring the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and Chorale.

Jason Victor Serinus - April 20, 2012

A rapt listen to Dead Man Walking recorded from Houston Grand Opera’s 10th anniversary performances confirms that the opera’s brilliantly balanced score amplifies and personalizes the story’s emotional core beyond the realm of words.

Jeff Dunn - April 20, 2012

Mardi Gras, Nubian arabesques, garden insects, enchantments: All great subjects for evocative works of orchestral wizardry at the S.F. Symphony, deftly conducted by Stéphane Denève and superbly performed.

Janos Gereben - April 17, 2012

The Cleveland Orchestra did Veni, Vidi, Vici one too far. Following Caesar's example, this splendid ensemble came, played, and won in Davies Symphony Hall on Sunday and Monday, but then they left, more is the pity.