Holiday weekend packed with music
Staff report
July 3, 2009
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| Beamed down: George Takei narrates a “Star Trek”-themed piece at Shoreline Amphitheatre on Saturday. (Courtesy photo) |
SAN FRANCISCO —
It’s Independence Day weekend, and that must mean the San Francisco Symphony is busy at various locations around the Bay Area.
The music begins at 6:30 p.m. today in Davies Symphony Hall, in "Classic Tchaikovsky," a program featuring pianist Inon Barnatan performing the composer’s Piano Concerto No. 1. Conductor James Gaffigan leads the always thrilling and dramatic "1812 Overture," along with excerpts from "Swan Lake" and "Sleeping Beauty."
Gaffigan again leads the orchestra in a Fourth of July celebration, "America’s Future," Saturday at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View. The cool program features actor George Takei narrating "Star Trek Through the Years" and Irving Berlin’s "God Bless America."
The concert also features San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra cellist Nathan Chan, vocalist Stephanie Harwood and the Mountain View Whisman Honor Choir. Listeners are invited to arrive early for family entertainment, including magicians and face painting. Gates open at 5 p.m. A fireworks display follows the concert, too.
At 2 p.m. Sunday, the symphony appears in its annual free Stern Grove Festival presentation. The concert again features pianist Barnatan performing works by Tchaikovsky, including "Swan Lake’’ and Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Opus 23. Gershwin’s "An American in Paris" and Leonard Bernstein’s music from the film "On the Waterfront" also are on the program. The concert opens with a performance by Inouye Jazz, led by SFS principal trumpet Mark Inouye.
San Francisco Symphony
Where: Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco
When: 6:30 p.m. today
Tickets: $20 to $70
Contact: (415) 864-6000, www.sfsymphony.org
Where: Shoreline Amphitheatre, One Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View
When: 8 p.m. Saturday; gates open at 5 p.m.
Tickets: $24 to $29.50 general; $15 for children 12 and under; "four-pack" discounts are $79 for reserved seats; $69 for lawn seats
Contact: (877) 598-8497, www.livenation.com
Where: Stern Grove, 19th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard, S.F.
When: 2 p.m. Sunday
Tickets: Free
Contact: (415) 252-6252, www.sterngrove.org
