Reviews

Pianist Alexander Melnikov enchants listeners with his playing of the entire set of Shostakovich Preludes and Fugures.

A performer and scholar plays and talks about J.S. Bach’s French Suites, performing them on a triplet of harpsichords variously tuned. The result: hearing them better than ever.

The free Festival of New American Music, in Sacramento, presents a variety of welcome works that bode well for the future.

In its 20th season, Magnificat brings an ancient biblical oratorio to life in a manner the composer would have recognized.

The Santa Rosa Symphony performs David Carlson’s new song cycle, whose text was impassioned but mostly unintelligible.

The S.F. Symphony delivers an excellent program displaying Schubert’s varied moods and idioms.

SFCV’s critic visits New York to review a dark new chamber opera involving polygamy ... obsession.

In his second of three "Project San Francisco" appearances this year, Joshua Bell gave a recital at Davies Symphony Hall in another demonstration of superb bow control and the ability to make the audience swoon.

Shaham and his Strad and J.S. Bach: a canny combination of brilliance and satisfying music-making.

A fine choral ensemble invites its audience to think about loved ones who have died, and sings about deliverance and rest.