Classical Music

From left, Laura Krumm, Roberto Aronica and Ekaterina Semenchuk portray jealous lovers in “Cavalleria Rusticana.” (Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera)

‘Cavalleria Rusticana,’ ‘Pagliacci’ stir emotions at War Memorial Opera House

San Francisco Opera unveiled its 96th season Friday with a satisfying production,…

From left, Laura Krumm, Roberto Aronica and Ekaterina Semenchuk portray jealous lovers in “Cavalleria Rusticana.” (Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera)
Russell Thomas and Sondra Radvanovsky sing the lead roles in San Francisco Opera’s “Roberto Devereux.” (Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera)

San Francisco Opera triumphs with regal ‘Roberto Devereux’

San Francisco Opera has staged Donizetti’s “Roberto Devereux” just once, in 1979,…

Russell Thomas and Sondra Radvanovsky sing the lead roles in San Francisco Opera’s “Roberto Devereux.” (Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera)
From left, in foreground, Sean Lee, Michelle Ross, Doori Na, Kristin Lee, Hannah Tarley, Itzhak Perlman and Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony play at the 2018-19 season's opening concert in Davies Hall. (Courtesy Drew Altizer)

Violin greats join SF Symphony for 2018 gala

When maestro Michael Tilson Thomas announced “quite a lineup of fiddle players”…

From left, in foreground, Sean Lee, Michelle Ross, Doori Na, Kristin Lee, Hannah Tarley, Itzhak Perlman and Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony play at the 2018-19 season's opening concert in Davies Hall. (Courtesy Drew Altizer)
Meigui Zhang and Christopher Oglesby appear in Merola Opera Program’s production of “The Rake’s Progress.” (Courtesy Kristen Loken)

Merola singers skillfully advance in ‘Rake’s Progress’

Nothing is as it seems in Igor Stravinsky’s “The Rake’s Progress,” presented…

Meigui Zhang and Christopher Oglesby appear in Merola Opera Program’s production of “The Rake’s Progress.” (Courtesy Kristen Loken)
Donna Missal is about to release her recording “This Time.” (Courtesy Justin Bettman)

Donna Missal breaks out with ‘Keep Lying’

Donna Missal was a toddler when her renowned record producer father Steve…

Donna Missal is about to release her recording “This Time.” (Courtesy Justin Bettman)
The San Francisco Symphony provides live accompaniment to “The Little Mermaid” in Davies Hall at 7:30 p.m. July 6-7 and 2 p.m. July 8. (Courtesy San Francisco Symphony)

Lots of pop in summer with the SF Symphony

It might even be better than Sensurround: The original “Star Wars” trilogy…

The San Francisco Symphony provides live accompaniment to “The Little Mermaid” in Davies Hall at 7:30 p.m. July 6-7 and 2 p.m. July 8. (Courtesy San Francisco Symphony)
San Francisco Opera's blazing finale of Wagner’s “Die Walküre” with Iréne Theorin as Brünnhilde and Greer Grimsley as Wotan is a highlight of the 2018 "Ring" Cycle. (Courtesy Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera)

SF Opera completes triumphant ‘Ring’ again

San Francisco Opera’s modern-set, 21st-century production of Wagner’s massive 19th-century masterwork “Der…

San Francisco Opera's blazing finale of Wagner’s “Die Walküre” with Iréne Theorin as Brünnhilde and Greer Grimsley as Wotan is a highlight of the 2018 "Ring" Cycle. (Courtesy Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera)
Stanislav Trofimov sings the title role in San Francisco Symphony’s “Boris Godunov.” (Courtesy Cory Weaver)

Orchestra rings, drama static in SF Symphony’s ‘Boris Godunov’

With booming voices and plentiful political peril, the San Francisco Symphony’s “Boris…

Stanislav Trofimov sings the title role in San Francisco Symphony’s “Boris Godunov.” (Courtesy Cory Weaver)
San Francisco Opera kicked off a series of three contemporary-set “Ring” cycles with "Das Rheingold.” (Courtesy Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera)

SF Opera launches ‘Ring’ with shimmering ‘Rheingold’

Fresh mixed-media effects and a strong cast set the stage for San…

San Francisco Opera kicked off a series of three contemporary-set “Ring” cycles with "Das Rheingold.” (Courtesy Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera)
San Francisco Opera’s revival of Wagner’s “Ring” begins with technological advances in Das Rheingold,” the first work in the cycle. (Courtesy Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera)

New tech brings SF Opera’s ‘Ring’ revival solidly into 21st century

Opera fans from around the world, especially Richard Wagner aficionados, will flock…

San Francisco Opera’s revival of Wagner’s “Ring” begins with technological advances in Das Rheingold,” the first work in the cycle. (Courtesy Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera)
Iréne Theorin, pictured in the "Ring" in 2009, has been tapped to sing Brünnhilde with San Francisco Opera this summer. (Courtesy Karin Cooper)

Theorin replaces Herlitzius in SF Opera’s ‘Ring’

Big news from San Francisco Opera: German soprano Evelyn Herlitzius will not…

Iréne Theorin, pictured in the "Ring" in 2009, has been tapped to sing Brünnhilde with San Francisco Opera this summer. (Courtesy Karin Cooper)
A rendering shows San Francisco Conservatory of Music’s new William K. Bowes, Jr. Center for Performing Arts’ 11th floor recital hall. (Courtesy Mark Cavagnero Associates)

SF Conservatory to break ground on performing arts campus

The San Francisco Conservatory of Music is expanding, to the tune of…

A rendering shows San Francisco Conservatory of Music’s new William K. Bowes, Jr. Center for Performing Arts’ 11th floor recital hall. (Courtesy Mark Cavagnero Associates)
From left, M. Lamar, and Travis Andrews and Andy Meyerson of The Living Earth Show play a late-night Old First Concerts show on Friday. (Courtesy photo)

M. Lamar alters consciousness in ‘Lordship and Bondage’

Over the past decade, New York-based composer, countertenor and multimedia artist M.…

From left, M. Lamar, and Travis Andrews and Andy Meyerson of The Living Earth Show play a late-night Old First Concerts show on Friday. (Courtesy photo)
The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus (pictured in 2016) shares stories from its fall Lavender Pen tour in its spring concert “Bridges” on March 29 in Davies Hall. (Courtesy Gareth Gooch)

SF Gay Men’s Chorus builds bridges in 40th anniversary concert

The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus is singing a particularly challenging 2016…

The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus (pictured in 2016) shares stories from its fall Lavender Pen tour in its spring concert “Bridges” on March 29 in Davies Hall. (Courtesy Gareth Gooch)
Wu Man, who plays the pipa, an ancient stringed instrument, appears in a Cal Performances presentation. (Courtesy Wind Music)

Wu Man brings a Chinese village ensemble to the Bay

Wu Man, the best known virtuoso player of the pipa, a lute-like…

Wu Man, who plays the pipa, an ancient stringed instrument, appears in a Cal Performances presentation. (Courtesy Wind Music)
San Francisco Symphony presents a semi-staged production of Ravel’s opera “L’Enfant et les sortilèges” (“The Child and the Magic Spells”) in a youth-focused concert in June 2019. (Courtesy Jean-Pierre-Maurin)

SF Symphony 2018-19 season crosses boundaries, mixes genres

As the San Francisco Symphony announced its 2018-19 season today, the influence…

San Francisco Symphony presents a semi-staged production of Ravel’s opera “L’Enfant et les sortilèges” (“The Child and the Magic Spells”) in a youth-focused concert in June 2019. (Courtesy Jean-Pierre-Maurin)
Tenor Michael Schade sings lieder and operatic selections with violinist Livia Sohn and pianist Kevin Murphy in Chamber Music San Francisco presentations Feb. 24-26. (Courtesy Harald Hoffmann)

Daniel Levenstein stays steady at the helm of Chamber Music SF

If Daniel Levenstein herded cats, it would be for rest and relaxation.…

Tenor Michael Schade sings lieder and operatic selections with violinist Livia Sohn and pianist Kevin Murphy in Chamber Music San Francisco presentations Feb. 24-26. (Courtesy Harald Hoffmann)
Sasha De Sola, with Sean Orza, danced the title role on opening night of San Francisco Ballet’s “The Sleeping Beauty.” (Courtesy Erik Tomasson)

SF Ballet’s sumptuous, splendid ‘Sleeping Beauty’

In the 21st century, San Francisco Ballet is executing the classics with…

Sasha De Sola, with Sean Orza, danced the title role on opening night of San Francisco Ballet’s “The Sleeping Beauty.” (Courtesy Erik Tomasson)
San Francisco Performances presents the Danish String Quartet in its San Francisco debut on Feb. 19 (Courtesy Caroline Bettenco)

Winter 2018 Arts Preview: Classical

Chamber music and oratorios, symphony concerts and intimate recitals with top artists…

San Francisco Performances presents the Danish String Quartet in its San Francisco debut on Feb. 19 (Courtesy Caroline Bettenco)
Andrew Stenson sings the title role and Meghan Picerno is Cunegonde in San Francisco Symphony's "Candide." (Courtesy Kristin Loken)

Best of all possible worlds in SF Symphony’s ‘Candide’

Someone in the audience at Thursday night’s San Francisco Symphony performance of…

Andrew Stenson sings the title role and Meghan Picerno is Cunegonde in San Francisco Symphony's "Candide." (Courtesy Kristin Loken)