Jason Victor Serinus

In tribute to tenor Plácido Domingo in his 70th birthday year, both EMI and Sony have released DVDs of his first foray into the baritone repertoire, the lead in Verdi’s opera Simon Boccanegra.

Something special is happening at the Livermore Valley Opera, which has taken the care to stage Puccini’s Madama Butterfly with a cast that does the opera and the company proud.

To prolonged high-pitched cheers and applause, Munich-born tenor Jonas Kaufmann, 41, strode onto the stage of Zellerbach Hall for his Bay Area debut, offering a unique instrument and experience; one of the most versatile, compelling, and vexing recitals in memory.

The NCCO’s title for its upcoming concerts, “Mastery of Schubert,” is a curious one. Yet, there is little question that the gifted soprano Melody Moore will fulfill the title’s promise, the four Schubert lieder she performs on the March 24-27 concerts.

Eugene Chan’s resonant baritone voice and passionate delivery were the prize in a somewhat self-conscious Sunday recital.

Mezzo-soprano Zheng Cao, in the midst of an astounding series of performances with Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, performed as a substitute for the great mezzo Frederica von Stade (Flicka), singing beautifully and giving fully of her heart and soul.

Joyce DiDonato’s latest recording, DivaDivo displays an artist so on top of her form and versatile in her voice that, like her last CD, it has a good chance of snaring another round of awards.

Noah Bendix-Balgley, a 26-year-old violinist who combines a blossoming career in classical music with a love for Jewish music and klezmer, has over the years has become in effect become the youngest keeper of a grand tradition. He spoke with SFCV about his upcoming performance at the Jewish Music Festival and what led him to this genre.

Sexual fixation is par for the course in the operatic universe. Yet, Berkeley West Edge Opera's upcoming production promises a new twist and intriguing insight into the characters.

In his Schwabacher Debut recital, baritone Sidney Outlaw sings a commissioned song cycle based on the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.