Previews

Violinist Anne Akiko Meyers has generously donated her time for a Japan disaster relief fund-raiser, sponsored by Play for Japan USA.

As the S.F. Symphony returns to action after a brief off-week, they get to work with one of those superb but unheralded conductors who seem more inexplicable in these days of well-oiled publicity machines: Peter Oundjian, known for being self-effacing and for connecting brilliantly with orchestra players.

With ambitious programming, as well as forums and lectures, American Bach Soloists is launching a Bach Festival in San Francisco.

Audiences are discovering a wealth of Latin American music through a woodwind quintet’s missionary efforts.

Johannes Brahms' identification with an old tradition of music is the subject of the upcoming California Bach Society concerts, and choral music the composer wrote in this era has exceptional drama and impact.

A Mass by a contemporary of Bach’s receives its first West Coast hearing, performed by American Bach Soloists.

Guitarist David Russell has walked away with every competition he has ever entered and has energized a huge fan base with his nearly perfect technique and musicality. His S.F. Performances show this weekend promises to be pretty special.

Opera San José opens its production of La bohème this weekend. Puccini's bittersweet love story reliably leaves new operagoers in tears and is tailormade for young casts, OSJ's specialty.

The Ives Quartet is taking a musical journey that stretches well beyond a single concert and focuses on education and audience involvement.

Violinist Dawn Harms (member of several Bay Area music groups) performs her entertaining one-woman family show across the U.S., to squeals of delight and smiles of pleasure.