Chamber Music

Bach's B-Minor Mass is for choral groups a little like a full marathon — you have to build up to it. And when you finally have mastered all the necessities for a successful presentation of the piece, you still need five good soloists and a strong orchestra.

On the cusp of its 30th anniversary, the Alexander String Quartet continues its residence at Mondavi with a performance of Schubert’s String Quartet in C Minor, D. 703, “Quartettsatz”; and his String Quartet in A Minor, D. 804, “Rosamunde.”

The Ives Quartet is a locally based ensemble with a tough-grained and determined style.

In the time it has taken Mark Padmore to make his recital debut in San Francisco, he has grown into a lieder singer to be reckoned with.

This is music that we’re used to hearing from the Bay Area’s old hands, so it will be interesting to hear the NextGen interpretations.

Darius Milhaud is one of those composers who sits on the edge of fame and familiarity.

The brilliant New Century Chamber Orchestra starts its season off with a slice of Benjamin Britten, who will have the 100th anniversary of his birth celebrated in 2013. 

It’s hard to go wrong with the New Esterhazy Quartet playing Haydn. 

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.

For the second week of Music in the Vineyards, up in Napa, the Pacifica Quartet takes over for the Borromeo.