Classical Music

The Telegraph Quartet is pictured during its SF Music Day 2020 recording session at the striking, beautifully lit and almost empty Herbst Theatre. (Courtesy Marcus Phillips)

SF Music Day goes virtual with Herbst broadcast

Performers pre-record sets in empty, iconic theater

The Telegraph Quartet is pictured during its SF Music Day 2020 recording session at the striking, beautifully lit and almost empty Herbst Theatre. (Courtesy Marcus Phillips)
Night view of the War Memorial Opera House. (By Kit Leong/Shutterstock)

Why are the great opera companies silent?

By Patti Niemi Leading a major opera company like the Metropolitan Opera,…

Night view of the War Memorial Opera House. (By Kit Leong/Shutterstock)
Musicians of the San Francisco Symphony have reached a temporary agreement with management that allows music director Esa-Pekka Salonen to begin the 2020 fall season. (Courtesy Andrew Eccles)

San Francisco Symphony, Opera musicians settle contracts

Performers’ salaries modified due to inability to play live

Musicians of the San Francisco Symphony have reached a temporary agreement with management that allows music director Esa-Pekka Salonen to begin the 2020 fall season. (Courtesy Andrew Eccles)
Left Coast Chamber Ensemble’s concert “Soft-Spoken” streaming live at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 21 features flutist Stacey Pelinka. (Courtesy Vivian Sachs)

Fall 2020 Arts Online: Classical

Music streams live, on recordings, in podcasts

Left Coast Chamber Ensemble’s concert “Soft-Spoken” streaming live at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 21 features flutist Stacey Pelinka. (Courtesy Vivian Sachs)
Violinist Tessa Lark opens Cal Performances at Home in a concert from Merkin Hall in New York City. (Courtesy Ras Dia)

Cal Performances moves from stage to screen

Fall streaming series showcases classical, jazz, multimedia virtuosos

Violinist Tessa Lark opens Cal Performances at Home in a concert from Merkin Hall in New York City. (Courtesy Ras Dia)
Nicholas McGegan and Houston Symphony musicians rehearse with social distancing. (Courtesy John Mangum)

Bay Area’s Nicholas McGegan conducts onstage concert from Texas

‘Live from Jones Hall’ showcases Houston Symphony musicians in streaming performances

Nicholas McGegan and Houston Symphony musicians rehearse with social distancing. (Courtesy John Mangum)
Tenor Russell Thomas, who was scheduled to sing the title role of “Ernani,” is among the artists appearing in San Francisco Opera’s online “Celebrating the Summer Season” from July 10-12. Courtesy Fay Fox

Opera in The City rescued via online July programming

Singers scheduled for ‘Ernani,’ ‘Steve Jobs,’ ‘Partenope’ to appear

Tenor Russell Thomas, who was scheduled to sing the title role of “Ernani,” is among the artists appearing in San Francisco Opera’s online “Celebrating the Summer Season” from July 10-12. Courtesy Fay Fox
San Francisco Girls Chorus Artistic Director Valerie Sainte-Agathe, at right with singers, says the organization has adapted well to life during the pandemic. Courtesy photo

S.F. Girls Chorus concludes virtual season with Carnegie Hall concert re-broadcast

With a dedicated corps of youthful talent, the San Francisco Girls Chorus…

San Francisco Girls Chorus Artistic Director Valerie Sainte-Agathe, at right with singers, says the organization has adapted well to life during the pandemic. Courtesy photo
Esa-Pekka Salonen, pictured in his first performance with the orchestra as music director designate, won’t be opening San Francisco Symphony’s fall 2020 season in Davies Hall. (Courtesy Brandon Patoc/San Francisco Symphony)

San Francisco Symphony cancels concerts through Dec. 31

Fall 2020 season will not go on in Davies Hall due to pandemic

Esa-Pekka Salonen, pictured in his first performance with the orchestra as music director designate, won’t be opening San Francisco Symphony’s fall 2020 season in Davies Hall. (Courtesy Brandon Patoc/San Francisco Symphony)
Eun Sun Kim, San Francisco Opera’s music director designate, won’t be conducting “Fidelio” in the War Memorial Opera House in September. (Courtesy Kristen Loken)

San Francisco Opera cancels 2020 fall season

Spring performances remain scheduled for 2021

Eun Sun Kim, San Francisco Opera’s music director designate, won’t be conducting “Fidelio” in the War Memorial Opera House in September. (Courtesy Kristen Loken)
San Francisco Symphony’s online celebration of departing music director Michael Tilson Thomas began with a focus on his first year leading the orchestra. (Courtesy San Francisco Symphony)

SF Symphony celebrates MTT’s 25 years with 25 days of online programs

Beloved music director to be honored in June 28 virtual tribute

San Francisco Symphony’s online celebration of departing music director Michael Tilson Thomas began with a focus on his first year leading the orchestra. (Courtesy San Francisco Symphony)
Community Music Center voice teacher Jonathan Smucker, accompanied by by Michael Mohammed, appeared in the first program of the organization’s annual Field Day fundraiser in the first of a week-long series on Facebook.(Courtesy photo)

Community Music Center kicks off virtual Field Day

Festive annual performance marathon raises funds for scholarships

Community Music Center voice teacher Jonathan Smucker, accompanied by by Michael Mohammed, appeared in the first program of the organization’s annual Field Day fundraiser in the first of a week-long series on Facebook.(Courtesy photo)
San Francisco Ballet is streaming Cathy Marston’s “Snowblind,” a highlight of the troupe’s 2018 Unbound programming of new works. (Courtesy Erik Tomasson)

Stream coronavirus blues away with classical, dance

Regular online offerings from ballet, symphony, choral groups and much more

San Francisco Ballet is streaming Cathy Marston’s “Snowblind,” a highlight of the troupe’s 2018 Unbound programming of new works. (Courtesy Erik Tomasson)
Children’s Musical Theater San Jose kicks off today’s virtual concert and fundraiser for a pavilion in San Jose’s St. James Park. (Courtesy photo)

May Day for the Arts promotes South Bay pavilion project

Friends of Levitt Pavilion San Jose hosts community concert

Children’s Musical Theater San Jose kicks off today’s virtual concert and fundraiser for a pavilion in San Jose’s St. James Park. (Courtesy photo)
H.P. Mendoza’s San Francisco-set “Fruit Fly” closes CAAMFest Online: Heritage at Home on May 22. (Courtesy CAAMFest)

Jam-packed Asian Pacific American Heritage Month goes online

Share culture in books, food, films, fine art, music, panels

H.P. Mendoza’s San Francisco-set “Fruit Fly” closes CAAMFest Online: Heritage at Home on May 22. (Courtesy CAAMFest)
The San Francisco Symphony has canceled the remainder of its season. Courtesy Stefan Cohen

SF Symphony cancels all concerts for remainder of 2019-2020 season

The San Francisco Symphony announced the cancellation of all its remaining concerts…

The San Francisco Symphony has canceled the remainder of its season. Courtesy Stefan Cohen
Violinist Alexi Kenney appears in the premiere Tiny Dorm Concert at 5 p.m. March 27. (Courtesy photo)

SF Conservatory kicks off digital Tiny Dorm Concert series

Students, alumni, faculty and friends appear in online music, lecture sessions

Violinist Alexi Kenney appears in the premiere Tiny Dorm Concert at 5 p.m. March 27. (Courtesy photo)
“Aaron Copland and the American Sound,” part of the San Francisco Symphony’s “Keeping Score” documentary and filmed concert series, is streaming on the symphony’s YouTube channel through April 8. (Courtesy San Francisco Symphony)

S.F. Symphony streams ‘Keeping Score’ series

Documentaries, filmed concerts online in wake of performance cancellations

“Aaron Copland and the American Sound,” part of the San Francisco Symphony’s “Keeping Score” documentary and filmed concert series, is streaming on the symphony’s YouTube channel through April 8. (Courtesy San Francisco Symphony)
Pocket Opera’s “Don Giovanni” featured Jaime Korkos as Donna Elvira and Anders Fröhlich as Don Giovanni. (Courtesy Nicholas Korkos)

Pocket Opera, Mozart conquer the coronavirus

Sunday’s show goes on in appealing 43rd season opener

Pocket Opera’s “Don Giovanni” featured Jaime Korkos as Donna Elvira and Anders Fröhlich as Don Giovanni. (Courtesy Nicholas Korkos)
Cellist Maya Beiser and dancer Wendy Whelan appear in “The Day” at Herbst Theatre. (Courtesy Hayim Heron)

Dance in ‘The Day’ lacks urgency

Beiser, Whelan, Lang, Childs collaboration feels self-couscious

Cellist Maya Beiser and dancer Wendy Whelan appear in “The Day” at Herbst Theatre. (Courtesy Hayim Heron)