Janos Gereben

This week, Ragnar Bohlin and the S.F. Symphony Chorus met their ultimate challenge, performing Bach's B minor Mass, a towering landmark of all music. The result is a delightful surprise; an intimate, gentle, lyrical performance of this majestic expression of yearning for peace and the good of all humanity.

In Yuja Wang's first orchestral recording the pianist enthralls, ravishes, and demonstrates a kind of magic in what the pianist describes as “red-hot" reportoire.

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.