San Francisco Symphony

Esa-Pekka Salonen is coming back to California to head up the San Francisco Symphony. (Courtesy Andrew Eccles)

Esa-Pekka Salonen named San Francisco Symphony director

The San Francisco Symphony’s next music director, its 12th in 107 years,…

 

Ragazzi Continuo singers perform “An English Christmas” across the Bay Area. (Courtesy David Allen)

Holiday Classical 2018: A-caroling we go!

Bay Area classical and choral musicians offer holiday concerts galore, with classic…

 

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”…

 

Pianist Sarah Cahill, known for championing new music, appears in an Old First Concerts presentation. (Courtesy Marianne LaRochelle)

July 22-24: Sarah Cahill, San Francisco Symphony, Krush Groove, Low Anthem, Opera San Jose, Retro Futura, Zak Ové, Five Finger Death Punch, Breaking Benjamin, Psychedelic Furs

SUNDAY, JULY 22 Sarah Cahill: The pianist performs commissioned American music by…

Pianist Sarah Cahill, known for championing new music, appears in an Old First Concerts presentation. (Courtesy Marianne LaRochelle)
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)
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 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)
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)
Andrew Stenson sings the title role in San Francisco Symphony's concert of Leonard Bernstein's “Candide.” (Courtesy Dario Acosta)

‘Candide’ has become a cult favorite

Patrons anticipating upcoming San Francisco Symphony concerts of “Candide” and expecting a…

Andrew Stenson sings the title role in San Francisco Symphony's concert of Leonard Bernstein's “Candide.” (Courtesy Dario Acosta)
The San Francisco Symphony has canceled scheduled appearances by conductor Charles Dutoit.

SF Symphony cans Charles Dutoit following sex abuse report

The San Francisco Symphony has deleted accused sexual predator Charles Dutoit from…

The San Francisco Symphony has canceled scheduled appearances by conductor Charles Dutoit.
Mission Dolores Basilica Choir, the resident group of the oldest church in The City, appears in its annual Candlelight Christmas Concert with conductor Jerome Lenk. (Courtesy Mark Leet)

Holiday Choral Music 2017: Sing out, it’s Christmas!

Bay Area classical and choral groups are busy during the season for…

Mission Dolores Basilica Choir, the resident group of the oldest church in The City, appears in its annual Candlelight Christmas Concert with conductor Jerome Lenk. (Courtesy Mark Leet)
Arnold Schwarzenegger (pictured with his son Joseph Baena, right) is slated to appear on Fox News' new show "OJBECTified." (Courtesy Twiiter)

Arnold sort of reflects on affair, divorce, O.J.

Arnold Schwarzenegger has a few new words about his affair with Mildred…

Arnold Schwarzenegger (pictured with his son Joseph Baena, right) is slated to appear on Fox News' new show "OJBECTified." (Courtesy Twiiter)
San Francisco Symphony Music Director Michael Tilson announced that he'll be leaving the job after his 25th season with the orchestra. (Courtesy Art Streiber/ San Francisco Symphony)

MTT announces retirement from SF Symphony

On Tuesday, San Francisco Symphony Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas announced that…

San Francisco Symphony Music Director Michael Tilson announced that he'll be leaving the job after his 25th season with the orchestra. (Courtesy Art Streiber/ San Francisco Symphony)
Leonard Bernstein, left, and Michael Tilson Thomas appear at the premiere of Bernstein’s “Arias and Barcarolles.” (Courtesy San Francisco Symphony)

SF Symphony celebrates Bernstein centennial

The San Francisco Symphony is observing the late Leonard Bernstein’s 100th birthday…

Leonard Bernstein, left, and Michael Tilson Thomas appear at the premiere of Bernstein’s “Arias and Barcarolles.” (Courtesy San Francisco Symphony)
Cello great Yo-Yo Ma, center, helped San Francisco Symphony Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas and the orchestra open the 2017-18 season with a bang. (Courtesy Devlin Shand/Drew Altizer Photography)

Yo-Yo Ma joins MTT, SF Symphony at festive 2017 gala

On Thursday at Davies Symphony Hall at the gala opening of San…

Cello great Yo-Yo Ma, center, helped San Francisco Symphony Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas and the orchestra open the 2017-18 season with a bang. (Courtesy Devlin Shand/Drew Altizer Photography)
San Francisco Performances opens its season with mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard performing an All-Bernstein Centennial program on Oct. 1 at Herbst Theatre. (Courtesy Becca Fay)

Fall 2017 Arts Preview: Classical

Virtuosity abounds – with chamber ensembles, orchestras, soloists and grand opera. Here…

San Francisco Performances opens its season with mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard performing an All-Bernstein Centennial program on Oct. 1 at Herbst Theatre. (Courtesy Becca Fay)
“The Making of A Great Moment,” a comedy written for Danny Scheie, left, and Aysan Celik, is onstage at Z Space. (Courtesy Meghan Moore)

July 27-28: The Making of A Great Moment, G-Eazy, Summer of Love conference, Stanford Summer Jazz, Refugees without Refuge, San Francisco Symphony, Madeline Kenney

THURSDAY, JULY 27 The Making of A Great Moment: The world premiere…

“The Making of A Great Moment,” a comedy written for Danny Scheie, left, and Aysan Celik, is onstage at Z Space. (Courtesy Meghan Moore)
San Francisco Symphony closes its 2016-17 season with performances of Berlioz’s groundbreaking “Roméo et Juliette.” (Courtesy Stefan Cohen)

SF Symphony’s Berlioz ‘Roméo et Juliette’ c’est magnifique

When Hector Berlioz set out to write “Roméo et Juliette,” he vowed…

San Francisco Symphony closes its 2016-17 season with performances of Berlioz’s groundbreaking “Roméo et Juliette.” (Courtesy Stefan Cohen)
Works by performance artist Tania Bruguera (pictured in a 2015 piece in Havana) are the subject of “Talking to Power” at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, which opens with a party tonight. (Courtesy Studio Bruguera and Yo También Exijo Platform/Pablo León de la Barra)

June 16-17: Tania Bruguera-Talking to Power, San Francisco Symphony, Gay Kitchen Sink, Juneteenth Third on 3rd, I Am Still Here, Record Company, Hal Sparks, Christina P., Phono del Sol

FRIDAY, JUNE 16 Tania Bruguera-Talking to Power: The exhibition, which runs through…

Works by performance artist Tania Bruguera (pictured in a 2015 piece in Havana) are the subject of “Talking to Power” at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, which opens with a party tonight. (Courtesy Studio Bruguera and Yo También Exijo Platform/Pablo León de la Barra)