San Francisco

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

by

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

Read more

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

by

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

Read more

Salonen and the SFS extend works by Ravel and Schoenberg with stagings, dancing and singing

by

United StatesUnited States Ravel, Schoenberg: Mary Elizabeth Williams (soprano), Alonzo King LINES Ballet, San Francisco Symphony / Esa-Pekka Salonen (conductor). Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco. 8.6.2024. (HS)

Adji Cissoko (left) and Shuaib Elhassan (right) in Ravel’s Mother Goose © Kristen Loken

Read more

Innocence, Kaija Saariaho’s masterpiece, packs a wallop in its U.S. premiere in San Francisco

by

United StatesUnited States Saariaho, Innocence: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of San Francisco Opera / Clément Mao-Takacs (conductor). War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco, 1.6.2024. (HS)

Rotating set for a wedding venue and the scene of a school shooting © Corey Weaver/SFO

Read more