Time has not been kind to the recorder, but virtuoso Marion Verbruggen has.
The Dutch musician, appearing with San Francisco’s Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra in several Bay Area concerts this weekend, is among the instrument’s best-known masters.
Winner of many international competitions, she teaches at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, and performs with chamber music ensembles around the world.
Verbruggen calls San Franci Read More
Once the famed bad boy of dance, Mark Morris is now known as the grand old man of the genre — the characterization having more to do with the nature of his art, rather than his age, 55. The choreographer, whose 1989 “Dido and Aeneas” returns to Cal Performances in Berkeley this weekend for the first time in a decade, has gone from infamous to truly famous — not so much because he has changed, but because the world has caught up with his quirky, imaginative and sincere creations. Read More
All singers experience highs and lows in their careers, but San Francisco mezzo soprano Zheng Cao has faced unique extremes. At 44, persistence, determination and what must be called medical miracles have enabled her survival against great odds. At the same time, triumphs on the stage have made her world-famous. Read More
Friends of Larkin inaugural gala: Some 300 dedicated young philanthropists were at the Fairmont Hotel on Saturday for the group’s first gala benefit. Proceeds will go to Larkin Street Services, a 26-year-old organization that offers 25 programs serving homeless and at-risk youths in San Francisco.
First look at Pacific Asia art Read More
Long before orchestras were common, individuals and small groups of performers played chamber music in homes and castles. As presented in recitals, duets, trios, quartets or in other modest-size groupings, chamber music remains a widespread genre. The Bay Area is especially rich in such events. A significant number of them are moderately priced and many are free.Here is a sampling of a few exceptional offerings this month: Read More
