Month: September 2016

Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony celebrate a world premiere by Chinese American composer Bright Sheng in a concert which features the incomparable talent of Yuja Wang, and works by two of the greatest Russian composers of the 20th century – Dmitri Shostakovich and Igor Stravinsky. The world premiere is Bright Sheng’s Dream…

Fun, farcical and frolicsome – Donizetti’s sparkling comedy Don Pasquale is the next production in San Francisco Opera’s fall season line-up. Throw in a dash of Laurent Pelly’s clever and creative design, and some fabulous Bel Canto specialists, and you have all the elements for a delightful evening at the opera. San Francisco Opera’s Don…

The Metropolitan Opera celebrates the 50th anniversary of its Lincoln Center home this season, with a production of Wagner’s epic drama, Tristan und Isolde. It was in 1966 that The Metropolitan Opera House took its place alongside the Avery Fischer Hall (now the David Geffen Hall) – home of the New York Philharmonic – and…

Downbeat calls him “One of the premier musicians of his generation … “, he’s regarded as one of the world’s most versatile bassists, is a four-time GRAMMY winner, has appeared on over 300 recordings, is the host of NPR’s Jazz Night in America, and is Resident Artistic Director of SFJAZZ – this is Christian McBride,…

  Ever creative, ever enterprising, San Francisco Symphony Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas has devised a new concert format which he and the Symphony will be introducing on Sunday afternoon. MTT calls it a Discovery Concert the purpose of which is to explore Beethoven’s Symphony No 5, to find out what it is about this symphony…

Trailer for ‘San Francisco Beyond the Postcard’  © Christian Jeunet The Tuesday movie this week – and next – at the San Francisco Alliance Française features a two-part documentary on the city by French filmmaker Christian Jeunet. Entitled San Francisco Beyond the Postcard, this documentary aims to celebrate what’s wonderful about the city, apart from…

In the second production of its new season at the War Memorial Opera House this week, San Francisco Opera presents the world premiere of Dream of the Red Chamber, a Company commission, and a co-production with the Hong Kong Arts Festival. Dream of the Red Chamber is based on the classic 18th century Chinese novel…

San Francisco Opera launches its 94th Season at the War Memorial Opera House this week with two premieres – the first US performance of Sir David McVicar’s sumptuous new production of Giordano’s Andrea Chénier, followed by the world premiere of Bright Sheng and David Henry Hwang’s Dream of the Red Chamber. It’s also the inaugural…

Scott Fitzgerald’s Tender is the Night returns to the Riviera this month, in a widely acclaimed adaptation for ballet by Boris Eifman, who brings his celebrated company of dancers to the Grimaldi Forum for only two performances of his latest creation, Up and Down. The Eifman Ballet of Saint Petersburg comes to Monte-Carlo to mark…

September is always an exciting month at Davies Symphony Hall, as Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony launch their new Season with a Gala Concert. This year’s fun-filled extravaganza features a fabulous performance by MTT and the Symphony, with guest stars Renée Fleming – “possessor of the most sheerly beautiful soprano…