Reviews

Celluloid Soundscapes

Jessica Balik - December 9, 2008
Initially, it might seem unimaginable that a silent film from the late 1920s could occasion a West Coast premiere of a musical score. But when the score is one composed for the film, then the situation becomes feasible, indeed. The film is Metropolis, a Weimar Republic work directed by Fritz Lang in 1927.
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Review

Titanic Pianist, With Icebergs Lurking

Janos Gereben - December 9, 2008
My first encounter with the piano came from a Tom and Jerry cartoon, where Tom plays Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2. I had no idea what it was, but it made me want to play the piano.
Lang Lang was 2 years old when that historic event occurred. A few months later, he started playing the piano, at age 5 he won his first contest ...

Hallelujahs, All Around

Heuwell Tircuit - December 9, 2008
The San Francisco Bach Choir came up with an unusual idea for its Sunday afternoon concert in Calvary Presbyterian Church: a program, titled "Aleluya! A Candlelight Christmas," devoted largely to Christmas music created mostly in Spain or Latin America.

Lieder and Standards

Georgia Rowe - December 9, 2008
At his brief but beguiling vocal recital Wednesday evening at the Hotel Rex in San Francisco, Thomas Glenn remarked that he had considered calling the program “An Intimate Evening With Thomas Glenn.” He’d decided against it, he said. But the title wouldn’t have been far off.

All in the Mind

Jonathan Wilkes - December 9, 2008
I don't understand the impetus behind many of the "themed" new music programs that are so prevalent. In 2006, for example, San Francisco Contemporary Music Players offered a program called "Blood and Glamour," which, despite some enjoyable electroacoustic music, featured neither blood nor glamour.

Deep Dreams

Noel Verzosa - December 9, 2008
Not the least fascinating aspect of Other Minds' series of Saturday performances at San Francisco's Church of Swedenborg, at least for me, was the discovery that there is a Church of Swedenborg.
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Review

The Age of Innocence

Jaime Robles - December 9, 2008
It's often remarked that Benjamin Britten was fascinated by innocence, and especially the fall of innocence, yet it's seldom noted that he was also fascinated by the supernatural. Maybe it's more accurate to say that his music often evokes the supernatural — shimmering through strange dissonances and ethereal harmonies.

Solemn Vespers

Thomas Busse - December 9, 2008
'Tis the month of December, and all through the Bay The people with bank accounts in disarray Remember that Music, their childhood friend Still is performed by groups end on end. And as carols ring in holiday tones, In Starbucks, on TV, and cellular phones, They search for some tickets, to choirs even, Say? Or to many a Nutcracker at the Ballet. The symphonic concerts, all quickly-rehe
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Review

Cliché-Free Christmas

Heuwell Tircuit - December 9, 2008
The California Bach Society has a long history of elegant performances, but it rather outdid itself Friday with a program titled "A Venetian Christmas." Director Paul Flight assembled a program, performed at Saint Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church in San Francisco, entirely devoted to the glories of Venetian Christmas music from the late 16th and early 17th centuries. The program was highlighted b
Nikolaj Znaider
Review

Dr. Brahms, Meet Mr. Nielsen

Jeff Dunn - December 5, 2008

The San Francisco Symphony program was simple and twain: just two works from the same Late Romantic era, divided by an intermission — works as different as Jekyll and Hyde.