Harvey Steiman

William Kentridge’s production of South African opera, Sybil, dazzles in its US premiere in Berkeley

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United StatesUnited States Kyle Shepherd, Nhlanhla Mahlangu, Waiting for the Sybil: Nhlanhla Mahlangu, Xolisile Bongwana, Ayanda Nhlangothi, Zandile Hlatshwayo, Siphiwe Nkabinde, S’busiso Shozi (voices), Kyle Shepherd (piano). Cal Performances, Zellerbach Auditorium, University of California Berkeley, 19.3.2023. (HS)

Singers (right) contemplate a cryptic prophecy by the Sybil, danced by Teresa Phuti Mojela © Catharyn Hayne

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Zakir Hussain and friends improvise a delicious 90 minutes of percussion

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United StatesUnited States Zakir Hussain’s Masters of Percussion: Zakir Hussain (tabla), Sabir Khan (sārangī, vocals), Tupac Mantilla (percussion), Melissa Hié (djembe, vocals, balafon), Navin Sharma (dholak). Cal Performances, Zellerbach Hall, University of California, Berkeley, 11.3.2023. (HS)

From left: Navin Sharma (dholak), Tupac Mantilla (percussion), Melissa Hié (djembe), Sabit Khan (sarangi), Zakir Hussain (tabla)

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Thielemann’s no-nonsense walk through the Alps with the Vienna Phil at Cal Performances

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United StatesUnited States Schoenberg, R. Strauss: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Christian Thielemann (conductor). Presented by Cal Performances, Zellerbach Hall, University of California, Berkeley, 7.3.2023. (HS)

Christian Thielemann conducts the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra © VPO

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Esa-Pekka Salonen finds his own style in Prokofiev after stumbling in Bartók

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United StatesUnited States Ravel, Bartók, Prokofiev: Pierre-Laurent Aimard (piano), San Francisco Symphony / Esa-Pekka Salonen (conductor). Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco, 17.2.2023. (HS)

Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard and the SF Symphony © Kristen Loken

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Everest – An Immersive Experience wraps a graphic opera around the audience

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United StatesUnited States Joby Talbot, Everest – An Immersive Experience: Vocal ensemble, Soloists and Orchestra of Opera Parallèle / Nicole Paiement (conductor). Z Space, San Francisco, 3.2.2023. (HS)

Avatars of Hadleigh Adams as Doug Hansen (l) and Nathan Granner as Rob Hall – a vigorous duet as they start their final climb on Everest © Stefan Cohen

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San Francisco Opera’s upcoming 2023-2024 season emphasizes fresh works

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San Francisco Opera – September 2023 to June 2024

Music director Eun Sun Kim and general director Matthew Shilvock © Codey Pickens

Works by contemporary composers Mason Bates, Rhiannon Giddens and Kaija Saariaho bring fresh voices to San Francisco Opera’s next season at the War Memorial Opera House and continues a trend to present new works.

Adding to last fall’s world premiere of Antony and Cleopatra by John Adams and this coming June’s El último sueño de Frida y Diego by Gabriela Lena Frank, these three pieces place San Francisco squarely in an era that is reviving interest in modern opera.

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With Michael Tilson Thomas back on the San Francisco Symphony podium, a program of rarities springs to life

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United StatesUnited States Debussy, Messiaen, Villa-Lobos: Jean-Yves Thibaudet (piano), Cynthia Miller (ondes Martenot), San Francisco Symphony Chorus (guest director: Grant Gershon), San Francisco Symphony / Michael Tilson Thomas (conductor). Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco, 26.1.2023. (HS)

Michael Tilson Thomas and Jean-Yves Thibaudet share a moment at the start of Debussy’s Fantaisie © Stefan Cohen

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