Lisa Hirsch

The early music ensemble delivers an earthy, thrilling program exploring the relationship of the sensual and the spiritual in Renaissance vocal music.

Extraordinary singing by Michael Fabiano was the main reward in an otherwise uninspiring performance.

From the “rat” Lohengrin to the violence-saturated Ring, Bayreuth 2015 featured disturbing but provoking images along with a lot of musical highlights.

You’d be forgiven if you haven’t heard of Rebel and Aubert, but ABS’ performance highlighted the inventiveness of their lesser-known works.

The premiere of Marco Tutino's new opera delivered neo-Puccini without the punch or musical power.

Berlioz’s grandest of grand operas makes it to the War Memorial Opera House in a production that scores points on every level.

A new chamber opera by Tarik O'Regan shows the continuing power of Conrad's story, despite some flaws.

Benjamin Britten's Curlew River, a comparative rarity in that composer's catalog, presented by Cal Performances, offered two performances of an acclaimed production that originated in London and is now touring the United States.

The Hagen Quartet of Austria plays a program of Mozart, Shostakovich, and Brahms in a performance presented by San Francisco Performances.

Colorful and imaginative orchestral works dominate at a concert in which the younger composers outshine the elder master Philip Glass.