Harvey Steiman

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

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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

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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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