Artist Spotlights

Cameron Carpenter

Michael Zwiebach - April 28, 2009

Cameron Carpenter is a rarity in the rarified world of classical organists. Flamboyant and virtuosic in performance, he has earned not only recognition among musicians, but also popularity as a soloist that overshadows all other exponents of the instrument.

Nadya Tichman

Marianne Lipanovich - April 21, 2009
This week, from April 22 through April 25, the San Francisco Symphony will be performing Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Symphony No. 4 (1935), one of the composer's best. Long-time symphony member and Associate Concertmaster Nadya Tichman is the soloist for the same composer's haunting tone poem, The Lark Ascending (1914, rev. 1920).

Sérgio Assad

Brian Gleeson - April 20, 2009
Life is full for guitarist and composer Sérgio Assad. The Brazilian performs with his brother, Odair, in arguably the best guitar duo on the planet, tours for other ensemble projects, and teaches at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Jonathan Biss

Lisa Petrie - April 6, 2009

Pianist Jonathan Biss talks about what it's like to grow up in a family of musicians, finding time for tennis and Philip Roth, and what's in store for Bay Area audiences.

Both of your parents are professional musicians: Your mother is violinist Miriam Fried, and your father is violist and violinist Paul Biss. What was family life like growing up?

Fred Frith

Lisa Houston - April 3, 2009
Mills College caps off its Music Festival this Sunday with a concert celebrating the reopening of its beautifully restored concert hall and the 60th birthday of Music Department Chair, Fred Frith. The composer, improviser, and guitar pioneer discusses teaching, improvisation, and what fuels his creative fire.

Nicholas McGegan

Marianne Lipanovich - March 16, 2009
Catching up with Nicholas McGegan isn’t easy. He may be based in Berkeley, but as a conductor and expert in Baroque and early music, he’s in demand across the country and in Europe, with forays into Asia. But when he is at home, one of his roles is as music director laureate of San Francisco’s Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra.

James Conlon

Janos Gereben - March 10, 2009
When you conduct the San Francisco Symphony March 12 and 14 (and at the March 13 "6.5" concert), you are leading your own suite from the Shostakovich opera Lady Macbeth of the Mtse
Nicole Cabell
Artist Spotlight

Nicole Cabell

Lisa Houston - March 2, 2009
Nicole Cabell

Barbara Bonney

Lisa Houston - February 25, 2009

The soprano and teacher discusses her upcoming concert of André Previn songs, her professorship at Salzburg’s Mozarteum, and life on the links.

You performed songs by André Previn in a San Francisco Performances recital at Herbst Theatre on Feb. 25 at 8 p.m. This was the U.S. premiere. Have the songs been premiered in Europe? 

What's Playing on Lynne Morrow's iPod? and other questions on the record...

Polly Winograd Ikonen - January 22, 2009

Bay Area choral conductor and music professor Lynne Morrow talks to SFCV about why she doesn't listen to classical music.