Janos Gereben

Few operas have been worked over as much as Bizet's Carmen. In the East Bay, where Berkeley West Edge Opera's Carmen Fixation opened Saturday night, the opera company offered a "different" version, with a standout performance by Buffy Baggott.

Highlights of the San Francisco Symphony's 2011-2012 centennial season were announced previously, but today's news is of the complete schedule, and it's stunning.

It's astonishing for a veteran of too many Turandot performances to keep count of, to find one of the best in Palo Alto, but the tiny West Bay Opera once again conquered a musical Goliath.

Something magical happened during Dmitri Hvorostovsky's recital at Davies Symphony Hall on Sunday. Twice.

Many enthusiastic Gilbert & Sullivan fans are not familiar with The Yeomen of the Guard.
And yet, when you finally get to this atypical, unusual work — currently presented by Lamplighters — there are great rewards to be found, including some of G&S' best music and most clever lyrics.