Month: November 2017

A 14-year-old pianist who has “… lit up the world of jazz …” (Houston Chronicle) is the star turn at SFJAZZ this weekend.  Appearing with Reuben Rogers and Eric Harland, Joey Alexander – whose love for jazz was initially inspired by the music of Thelonius Monk – is quite obviously a jazz force to be…

In what promises to be a stunning finale to its Fall Season, San Francisco Opera presents the world premiere of John Adams’ Girls of the Golden West – a dramatic and moving portrayal of life on the frontier of the California Gold Rush. It’s a fitting finale to Adams’ 70th birthday year in which performances…

It comes as no surprise that Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony have organized a concert to raise funds for those affected by the recent wildfires. In a magnificent gesture, MTT, the musicians of the Symphony, the San Francisco Symphony Chorus (Director Ragnar Bohlin), members of the San Francisco Opera Chorus (Director Ian…

The Bolshoi Ballet in Cinema Season continues this weekend with a screening of the Company’s production of The Taming of the Shrew – a work commissioned in 2014 from the Choreographer-Director of Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, Jean-Christophe Maillot. Rarely does the Bolshoi commission works from foreign choreographers, but Maillot and Sergei Filin – at that…

It’s all happening at Davies Symphony Hall this week. Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony present a program of works by Ives and Beethoven; the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra, led by Christian Reif, plays the first concert of its 35th anniversary season, and MTT and the Symphony present Symphony Relief: A Benefit…

Having initially made his name as a jazz guitarist and keyboardist, Kurt Rosenwinkel – appearing in the Miner Auditorium at SFJAZZ this weekend – has also made his name as a player, composer and bandleader over his 25-year career. He made his debut recording for a major label (Verve) in 2000 with the album The…

Well known for his collaborations with composers, musicians and visual artists – including Edgar Meyer, Pharaoh Sanders, Hamza El Din, Pawel Szymanski, Jason Moran and Zakir Hussain – visionary choreographer Alonzo King presented a highly successful program in 2015, which featured vocalist Lisa Fischer on stage with his LINES Ballet. Entitled The Propelled Heart, this…

Despite the ravages to the Napa Valley region from the recent devastating wildfires, co-founders and directors of the Napa Valley Film Festival, Marc and Brenda Lhormer, are undeterred. They are going ahead with the screening of all 120 films, the culinary demonstrations, wine tastings and events that make this annual event so special. With 10%…

It is 19 years since San Francisco Opera last staged Jules Massenet’s Manon, and this weekend sees the opening of a new production by French director Vincent Boussard – co-produced by Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre, and the Israeli Opera. It features two role debuts – soprano Ellie Dehn in the title role, and…

On Classical KDFC, the first Sunday evening in the month belongs to San Francisco Opera, and the production on November 5 is Rob Kearley’s highly acclaimed revival of Verdi’s Rigoletto – the tragic tale of a father’s attempts to save his beloved daughter from a disastrous relationship, a daughter who sacrifices everything by succumbing to…