A star turn by a young violinist, and strong conducting from guest Mei-Ann Chen started the new year off right in at Weill Hall.
Joana Carneiro conducted a fascinating U.S. premiere of renowned composer Sofia Gubaidulina’s latest orchestra work.
The symphony is recording Schumann’s four symphonies, but orchestra and soloist made a stronger case for Richard Strauss.
The Greek violinist joined the S.F. Symphony for an all-Sibelius segment of the program, which also included Schumann’s Symphony No. 3.
Violinist Gidon Kremer joined the symphony in bringing the composer’s love letter, Violin Concerto No. 1, to Davies.
A wide-ranging program jumped from percussion to Debussy’s harp concerto to Bernstein’s Serenade (after Plato’s Symposium).
In a refreshing departure, the S.F. Symphony, with guest conductor Susanna Mälkki, highlighted the music of Finland.
Guest conductor Mälkki led the symphony through a program of Mussorgsky, Shostakovich, and Prokofiev.
In Kaija Saariaho’s Laterna Magica and Hector Berlioz’s Les nuits d’ete, sound color is deployed in the evocation of light.
Christina and Michelle Naughton were the highlight of the orchestra’s October concert set.
