Janos Gereben

Opera companies have been disappearing lately under the continued bane of the Great Recession, and they don't return ... except one: That's S.F. Lyric Opera. After a hiatus of three years the company is producing David Lang's the little match girl passion at the ODC Theater, March 23-25.

The Bay Area remembers Mildred Rosner, a teacher and 'cello mother' to students ranging from Crowden School students in Berkeley to such greats as Bonnie Hampton and Emil Miland.

The S.F. Symphony has announced plans for 2012-2013: Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas, Executive Director Brent Assink, and Director of Artistic Planning John Mangum have come up with a year-round ambitious and complex program.

Mark Streshinsky's West Edge Opera has done it again, making up for a tiny budget with huge imagination and amazing excellence, in its current production of The Manga Flute.

This is it: The Oakland East Bay Symphony, conducted by Carl Davis, and the S.F. Silent Film Festival, in the most complete restoration possible of Napoleon, will screen the 5 1/2-hour film four times at Oakland’s Paramount Theatre.

Todd Donovan, 41, died Monday of complications from a brain tumor. A multi-talented musician, he sang baritone roles, including some major ones; played the saxophone; and produced and performed in benefit recitals across the U.S. and notably in the Bay Area.