Reviews

Steven Blier’s N.Y. latest Festival of Song appearances in S.F., always cause for celebration, is Amores Nuevos — featuring discoveries born of a love affair with Spanish and Latin American song and blessed by the gifts of four Adler Fellows.

“Cows, in Berkeley?” No, but Schubert lieder played by the always adventurous New Century Chamber Orchestra.

Motets and songs of longing or loss made up Chora Nova’s fine Saturday program of moving works by Felix Mendelssohn and Josef Rheinberger, under Paul Flight’s direction.

Cantare Chorale met the massive challenges Beethoven posed in his shattering Missa Solemnis, with the chorus and soloists ranging from inspiring to sublime.

In tribute to tenor Plácido Domingo in his 70th birthday year, both EMI and Sony have released DVDs of his first foray into the baritone repertoire, the lead in Verdi’s opera Simon Boccanegra.

More Brahms is always a good thing, as proven on an impressive new recording by cellist Zuill Bailey and pianist Awadagin Pratt.

The young Chinese pianist Di Wu makes a thrilling local debut, with fireworks aplenty, evoking memories of Martha Argerich.

The classic story ballet Coppélia comes home to the San Francisco Ballet, in a radiantly danced new production.

The Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra elegantly paired searing orchestral music with well-etched singing in its performance of Verdi’s Requiem.

This week, Ragnar Bohlin and the S.F. Symphony Chorus met their ultimate challenge, performing Bach's B minor Mass, a towering landmark of all music. The result is a delightful surprise; an intimate, gentle, lyrical performance of this majestic expression of yearning for peace and the good of all humanity.