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

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

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

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

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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