SINCE 1999 A LIVE REVIEW SITE FOR OPERA, BALLET, CONCERTS, BROADCASTS, AND THEATRE
United States Schubert, Winterreise: Mark Padmore (tenor), Dame Mitsuko Uchida (piano). Cal Performances. Hertz Hall, University of California, Berkeley. 17.3.2024. (HS)
United States Sibelius: Lisa Batiashvili (violin), San Francisco Symphony / Esa-Pekka Salonen (conductor). Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco, 14.3.2024. (HS)
Esa-Pekka Salonen and San Francisco Symphony to part ways after one final season
Esa-Pekka Salonen surprised almost everyone in 2018 by signing a five-year contract to be San Francisco Symphony’s music director after he had told the world that he did not want to have that role again. His tenure began in 2020 – unfortunately coinciding with the onset of COVID-19 – and now there will not be another term. He will leave the post when his five-year contract ends in June 2025. The organization has just over a year to decide who might be next to lead the orchestra.
United States Various: Conrad Tao (piano). Cal Performances, Hertz Hall, University of California, Berkeley, 3.3.2024. (HS)
United States Various: Kronos Quartet (David Harrington, John Sherba [violins], Hank Dutt [viola], Paul Wiancko [cello]), Peni Candra Rini (voice), Leslie Gray, Andy McGraw, Midiyanto (shadow theater). Cal Performances, Zellerbach Hall, University of California, Berkeley, 2.3.2024. (HS)
United States Various: Lawrence Brownlee (tenor), Kevin J. Miller (piano). San Francisco Performances, Herbst Theatre, San Francisco, 29.2.2024. (HS)
United States Stravinsky, Brahms: Sasha Cooke (mezzo-soprano), Nicholas Phan (tenor), Luca Pisaroni (baritone), Julia Fischer (violin), San Francisco Symphony / Esa-Pekka Salonen (conductor). Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco, 23.2.2024. (HS)
San Francisco Opera takes a step back in the 2024-25 season
After a 2023-24 season that featured three significant and well-received new operas, San Francisco Opera this week announced a 2024-25 season with fewer performances and only one company premiere – The Handmaid’s Tale, which dates from 2000.