San Francisco

Magnificent orchestral work under Eun Sun Kim elevates SFO’s Tristan und Isolde

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United StatesUnited States Wagner, Tristan und Isolde: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of San Francisco Opera / Eun Sun Kim (conductor). War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco, 23.10.2024. (HS)

Anja Kempe (Isolde) and Simon O’Neill (Tristan) in the Act II love duet © Corey Weaver

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Esa-Pekka Salonen’s Cello Concerto creates a giddy ride in its San Francisco debut

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United StatesUnited States Beethoven, Salonen, Debussy: Rainer Eudeikis (cello), San Francisco Symphony / Esa-Pekka Salonen (conductor). Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco, 18.10.2024. (HS)

Rainer Eudeikis (cello, front l) and Jacob Nissly (bongos and congas, front r) © Brandon Patoc

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Majestic Brahms Symphony No.4 from Esa-Pekka Salonen and the San Francisco Symphony

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United StatesUnited States Shostakovich, Brahms: Sayaka Shoji (violin), San Francisco Symphony / Esa-Pekka Salonen (conductor). Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco, 4.10.2024. (HS)

Violinist Sayaka Shoji plays Shostakovich’s Concerto No.1 with Esa-Pekka Salonen conducting © Stefan Cohen

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Nico Muhly’s vivid Piano Concerto riffs on French Baroque ideals in its SF Symphony world premiere

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United StatesUnited States Hindemith, Muhly, Bach: Alexandre Tharaud (piano), San Francisco Symphony / Esa-Pekka Salonen (conductor). Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco, 28.9.2024. (HS)

Alexandre Tharaud plays the world premiere of Nico Muhly’s Piano Concerto with the SF Symphony conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen © Kristin Loken

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San Francisco Opera’s The Handmaid’s Tale could not be timelier, even if the music feels dated

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United StatesUnited States Poul Ruders, The Handmaid’s Tale: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of San Francisco Opera / Karen Kamensek (conductor). War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco, 14.9.2024. (HS)

The Commander (John Relyea), Offred (Irene Roberts) and Serena Joy (Lindsay Ammann) © Corey Weaver/SFO

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