David Bratman

Guest conductor Juraj Valčuha led the San Francisco Symphony burnished performances, with several standout solo performances serving as highlights.

This satisfying recording of Beethoven's Ninth is a masterwork of music, and a pleasing memento of what today’s San Francisco Symphony sounds like in concert.

Michael Tilson Thomas began a two-week “Beethoven Project” with his S.F. Symphony, appropriately enough, with a concert of early Beethoven.

San José’s best venue for chamber music is continuing through a financial restructuring. But as the time to announce next year’s season arrives, some presenters are unsure of its availability and are making other plans.

The Cypress String Quartet “Call and Response” has come full circle, commissioning new works for long enough that is has come around to composer Jennifer Higdon for the second time.

Herbert Blomstedt draws mixed results and leaking energy from the S.F. Symphony, conducting Beethoven and Nielsen.

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

The Escher Quartet comes to rescue to fill a program in San José, with its amply satisfying playing of Beethoven quartets.

The Ives Quartet parlayed a feast of chords into an enjoyable recital in Palo Alto, featuring David Conte’s strong second quartet.

Philharmonia Baroque outdoes even itself in “storm and stress” works by Mozart, Haydn, and J.C. Bach.