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

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

Read more

Extra dimensions from dance lift Julia Bullock’s touching Messiaen song cycle in Berkeley

United StatesUnited States Messiaen, Harawi: Julia Bullock (soprano), Conor Hanick (piano), American Modern Opera Company. Presented by Cal Performances, Zellerbach Hall, University of California Berkeley, 27.9.2024. (HS)

Pianist Conor Hanick, singer Julia Bullock and dancer Or Schraiber © Brittany Hosea-Small

Read more

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

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

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