Harvey Steiman

Disappointing Beethoven Ninth from Eun Sun Kim Sun and the San Francisco Opera Orchestra

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United StatesUnited States Beethoven, Symphony No.9 in D minor: Jennifer Holloway (soprano), Annika Schlicht (mezzo-soprano), Russell Thomas (tenor), Kwangchul Youn (bass), Chorus and Orchestra of San Francisco Opera / Eun Sun Kim (conductor). War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco, 26.10.2024. (HS)

[l-r] Jennifer Holloway (soprano), Annika Schlicht (mezzo-soprano), Russell Thomas (tenor), Kwangchul Youn (bass), with the Chorus and Orchestra of San Francisco Opera conducted by Eun Sun Kim © Cory Weaver

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Thomas Wilkins, Michelle Cann and the SF Symphony transmit the juice in Gershwin and Bernstein

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United StatesUnited States Bernstein, Gershwin, Still: Michelle Cann (piano), San Francisco Symphony / Thomas Wilkins (conductor). Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco, 25.10.2024. (HS)

Pianist Michelle Cann embraces conductor Thomas Wilkins after their Rhapsody in Blue © Harvey Steiman

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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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Edgar Meyer’s chamber music trios mix freshness and virtuosity in Berkeley recital

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United StatesUnited States Bach, Meyer: Tessa Lark (violin), Josh Roman (cello), Edgar Meyer (double bass). Presented by Cal Performances, Hertz Hall, University of California, Berkeley, 20.10.2024. (HS)

Tessa Lark (violin), Edgar Meyer (double bass), and Josh Roman (cello) at Hertz Hall © Harvey Steiman

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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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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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