Previews

Five Bay Area composers spent 15 months scaling down Stravinsky’s huge Rite of Spring for the S.F. Chamber Orchestra. Excitement promises to ensue in April performances.

Popular British composer Roxanna Panufnik has composed a section of Chanticleer’s new musical tale about the young Jesus, The Boy Whose Father Was God, set for four Bay Area performances.

The guitar virtuosi Susana Prieto and Alexis Muzurakis have spent the last 12 years together as Duo Melis. Their upcoming appearance in San Francisco should not be missed.

Cellist Tanya Tomkins completes the cycle of Bach's cello suites this weekend in concerts sponsored by Voices of Music. Historically-informed practice aside, Tomkins' urgent, impassioned playing is a great match for these pieces.

Last year's Persian concert at Oakland East Bay Symphony was so successful that they're at it again, and bringing back piano soloist Tara Kamangar, who scored with the audience last year.

Of the two major pianists visiting San Francisco this weekend, Di Wu may be the less well known, but she was a finalist at the Van Cliburn Competition last year, showing that she has technique to burn.

Cappella Romana has become the premier exponent and explorer of the musical traditions of Byzantium and other early Christian music. An upcoming concert showcases that expertise, before a return to Stanford to begin a research project aiming to re-create the acoustics of ancient Byzantine churches.

When it comes to Bach’s choral works, the S.F. Bach Choir knows the music as well as anyone. So it’s well worth a listen when it performs its favorites. 

The S.F. Opera has released a series of charming movies adapted from one-hour, family style stage productions, and they're showing for free! Next up: Mozart's Magic Flute. Yes, it is magical and the perfect way to introduce your youngest set to opera.

Any singer who has performed Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis can attest that this is one piece not for the faint of heart. It therefore takes some gumption to tackle this work, yet this is precisely the challenge adopted by the 100-voice Cantare Chorale, led by David Morales.