The upcoming San Francisco Opera production of Puccini’s La fanciulla del West, aka Girl of the Golden West, aka “Puccini's American opera,” returning here after an absence of 31 years, is the epitome of ”Italian-American.”
Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic gave the first concert of their national tour at Davies Hall Monday night. Symptoms of the conductor's potentially damaging injury last week were nowhere in evidence.
San Francisco Performances' much anticipated, soldout recital by Yuja Wang on Thursday was canceled because of the pianist's painful arm condition. Her doctor ordered at least a week's rest.
In the world of maestros with titanic egos, Pocket Opera’s Donald Pippin is a heartwarming exception. He is self-effacing, even humble. To a fault. Considering his accomplishments, all that modesty seems downright excessive.
In recent years the prospect of music education in public schools has
dimmed considerably, but the present and future look even worse. Most
states are facing huge budget deficits, none worse than California, and
all aspects of education are endangered.
