Orchestra

Terrific Timbres

William Quillen - February 10, 2009

Conductor David Robertson returned to San Francisco last week to lead the San Francisco Symphony in performances of Tchaikovsky, Sibelius, and Scriabin. Robertson once again showed his uncanny ability to summon forth rapturous sounds from this ensemble.

Review

A Charming Tribute to Felix

Heuwell Tircuit - February 10, 2009

It was almost as if Herbst Theatre itself were smiling in delight Thursday as Nicholas McGegan and his Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra played a memorial tribute to Felix Mendelssohn’s bicentennial. The audience seemed even more delighted. Glancing up and down my aisle, I noted that every face had a broad expression of pure pleasure.

Cecilia Bartoli, Mezzo-Soprano

Janos Gereben - January 30, 2009

Now in her absolute prime, Cecilia Bartoli has established herself as one of the greatest singers of this or any age. It’s not just her phenomenal technique and unique, rapid-fire coloratura, both of which will be amply demonstrated in her presentation of María Malibrán’s Salon Romantique. Nor is it simply a matter of vocal beauty, which she supplies in abundance.

Preview

Swan Lake World Premiere

Janos Gereben - January 30, 2009

It has been more than 20 years since the debut of Helgi Tomasson’s production of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake for the San Francisco Ballet. This time around the most-cherished and well-known of ballets gets a complete restaging featuring scenery and costumes by European designer Jonathan Fensom, who will try to avoid that “museum piece” feel.

Masur Conducts Gubaidulina and Bruckner

January 30, 2009

San Francisco Symphony’s new Phyllis C. Wattis Composer Residency program starts with two weeks devoted to the music of the Russian composer Sofia Gubaidulina. The first of the programs features The Light of the End, which the composer herself describes as a dramatic work in which much of the drama arises from the nature of musical instruments themselves.

Traditions and Transformations: Sounds of Silk Road Chicago

Review

Moseying Down China’s Silk Road

Heuwell Tircuit - December 29, 2008

Yo-Yo Ma’s and his Silk Road Project have come up with a new CD featuring a host of young performers supported by the Chicago Symphony. Titled Traditions and Transformations, the disc includes two standard works, Ernest Bloch’s Schelomo and Prokofiev rambunctious Scythian Suite, Op.

Review

Dr. Brahms, Meet Mr. Nielsen

Jeff Dunn - December 5, 2008

The San Francisco Symphony program was simple and twain: just two works from the same Late Romantic era, divided by an intermission — works as different as Jekyll and Hyde.

Review

Maestro of Disguise

Janos Gereben - November 26, 2008

Halloween has long gone, but Berkeley Symphony music director candidate Paul Haas arrived wearing a disguise. Thursday night at Zellerbach Auditorium: that of a competent, careful, and traditional wandsman with barely enough energy befitting his relative youth (37).