Steven Winn

Orchestra, chorus, and soloists coalesce under McGegan’s baton to bring down the walls in Palo Alto.

Pianist Jonathan Biss curates an evening of late period Beethoven at San Francisco Performances.

Standout vocal performances and attention to musical details do full justice to Bach’s spiritual masterwork.

The Italian bass-baritone delivers an opera buffa performance for the ages.

S.F. Opera’s new commission transcends its limitations with sumptuous staging and beguiling performances.

The North American premiere of a 1734 Handel serenata is an interesting glimpse of the composer fulfilling his duties as unofficial court composer. Eyes and ears were on some of the strongly cast soloists.

Thomas Adès’ early masterpiece has lost none of its shock value, but there is serious musical and dramatic entertainment, exploited to the full by West Edge Opera.

Anne Sexton’s dark, wordy libretto is buoyed by strong performances and Conrad Susa’s score.

Calixto Bieito’s setting of Bizet’s classic explores the corrosive effects of doomed love.

The semistaged production cleverly transcends limits and delivers an exuberant reading of Bernstein’s score.