Younis Raza – Page 20 – Repeat Performances

February 20, 2015

Oakland Symphony and Mads Tolling

Variety and spice at the Paramount. A varied and satisfying program held something for everyone last Friday evening at Oakland’s Paramount Theater, where Michael Morgan guided the Oakland East Bay Symphony through both a brand new frolic and a stern mass. But first, Assistant Conductor Bryan Nies led a performance of Samuel Barber’s complex Symphony No. 1. An early twentieth century American visionary, Barber was just 25 years old in...

Categories: music

February 7, 2015

“Angels Fear to Tread” in San Jose

A dilettante, a bully and an honest rogue walk into an opera house… In his first season as the General Director of Opera San Jose, Larry Hancock did something audacious. He was persuaded by the much beloved long-time Director Irene Dalis to present the world premiere of a new opera in his first solo season, the 2014 -15 season. That opera, Where Angels Fear to Tread, had its gala opening at San Jose’s jewel-like California Theatre on Saturday,...

Categories: opera

January 31, 2015

“The Lariat” at Thick House

Standing in the blood of history A curious but effective work by Lisa Scola Prosek caused a stir at San Francisco’s Thick House Theater last Saturday, Jan. 31, where her new historical opera was greeted by protesters. ...

Categories: opera

January 23, 2015

Oakland Symphony pulls off two tough works

Ambitious program at the Paramount Two difficult and seldom-performed works made for an exciting program at Oakland’s Paramount Theater last Friday, Jan. 23, where Michael Morgan led the Oakland East Bay Symphony in George Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F Major and Dmitri Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 8. These two works are so different that it would be surprising to find any points of parallel, but the two worked marvelously...

Categories: music

January 15, 2015

Adès and Tchaikovsky at Zellerbach

Of cowbells and onion domes – Carneiro leads Berkeley Symphony in “Sanctuary” A program of colors and contrasts showcased the skill and unity of the Berkeley Symphony last Thursday at Zellerbach Hall. As always, conductor Joana Carneiro delivered insight, exactitude and heart, drawing the audience firmly into the music along with her musicians. Titled “Sanctuary,” the program painted two very different musical portraits....

Categories: music

December 29, 2014

2014 Year in Review

Looking back, a whimsical list… After years of belt-tightening, the Bay Area’s classical music scene is standing as a vibrant example of hard work and clever programming. Despite facing under-funded public arts organizations and former donors struggling to pay their rising housing costs, most groups have squeaked through another year. And surprisingly, they did it with artistic integrity and creativity. In no particular...

Categories: opera