Previews

In November, the Mill Valley Chamber Music Society presents Concertante, a well-established string ensemble that last year finished an impressive two-year commissioning project.

Let the coolest cats, bassist Marcus Shelby and his Trio, show your kids what jazz is all about. Both fun and educational, SFJAZZ Family Matinees provide a window into the exciting world of live jazz.

A noted medieval ensemble brings to life dance-until-you-die music from Old Europe.

Luminaries from all over gather to honor the glorious voice and career of a great mezzo-soprano, not to mention her offstage work for young people.

Every seat should be taken for a production that delivers the unbeatable combination of Susan Graham and David Daniels. Potentially as rewarding are the San Francisco debut of soprano Lisette Oropesa and the return of early-music specialist and contralto Sonia Prina.

If you’ve been avoiding “modern” music like the plague, you may not realize that fashion has brought new music back into audience-pleasing land. One of the more attractive young exponents of this trend is Kenji Bunch, the Oregon-born, multistylistic composer whose Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra brings back the glory days of melody.

Tragedy and comedy vie for attention in Richard Strauss’ technically demanding, gorgeous score and Hugo von Hofmannsthal’s fascinating play-within-a-play libretto.

A respected church music director is being celebrated for his six decades of excellence and inspiration.

Nicola Luisotti takes the San Francisco Opera Orchestra across the Bay Bridge, to Cal Performances on Oct. 28 and talks candidly about his passion for conducting the orchestra.

The Cashore Marionettes will come to life at Cal Performances on Oct. 23. They are in no way a simple puppet show, but characters alive on stage.