By Lina Broydo
The Effervescent Yuja Wang Returns to Davies Symphony Hall
May 15 at 7:30 p.m.
The euphoric excitement and the thrilling magic runs through the entire Davies Symphony Hall as the mighty powerful but miniature in stature Yuja Wang runs with the Olympic championship’s Gold Medal speed through the keys of the Steinway piano as she performs selections from Vingt Regards sur l’Enfant-Jésus (Twenty Contemplations on the Infant Jesus) by Olivier Messiaen; Piano Sonata No.7 White Mass by Alexander Scriabin; L’Isle Joyeuse by Claude Debussy; Four Ballades by Frédéric Chopin.
The most famous and exhilarating woman pianist in the world who is also a stunning fashionista sells out the concert halls all over the world. Bring a pair of binoculars just in case your tickets will be located very high in the section as I call it “Close to God.”
As I was out of luck to buy a ticket to this particular concert, I hope you are more fortunate than me this time.
Information
415-864-6000
sfsymphony.org
Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco
Photo courtesy of SF Symphony
Smuin Contemporary Ballet concludes its 30th season with Dance Series 2 Elvis-inspired “Tupelo Tornado”
May 16-19 in Mountain View; May 24-25 in Walnut Creek; May 30-31 in Carmel
Headlined by the World Premiere of the Elvis-inspired “Tupelo Tornado” from international superstar Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. This extraordinary new ballet inspired by the life and music of Elvis promises a rollicking work set to a collage of tunes and soundbites from the King of Rock and Roll.
Rounding out the program is Smuin dancer Brennan Wall’s vivid and complex Untwine set to Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” reinterpreted by Max Richter, and Michael Smuin’s dreamy “Starshadows” exploring the mystery and beauty of intimate relationships. Don’t miss performances by the world renowned Smuin Ballet Company as they enrich our cultural life in the Bay Area annually.
Information
415-912-1899; smuinballet.org
MOUNTAIN VIEW: Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts
WALNUT CREEK: Lesher Center for the Arts
CARMEL: Sunset Center
Photos courtesy of Smuin Ballet
They Are Back!
The San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers Starring Alasdair Fraser are Tuning Their Fiddles for the Fab Concerts on May 17, 18 and 19
Back by popular demand (and mine!) The San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers starring Alasdair Fraser have scheduled a number of concerts in Davis, Santa Rosa and Berkeley. You may find it hard to sit still when you hear more than 60 musicians on fiddles and cellos (plus piano, drum and guitars) play tunes that range from the rousing and danceable to soothing and romantic.
Led by Scottish fiddle icon Alasdair Fraser, the adventure begins in Scotland and then branches out to embrace the musical traditions of Brittany, Galicia, Scandinavia, Cape Breton and more.
Tapping toes, dancing in your seat or even in the aisles is encouraged! (Any hope for a repeat concert in Palo Alto where I heard them last year? Please and thanks, Alistair!)
Information
530-757-5626
sffiddles.org
May 17 (Davis); May 18 (Santa Rosa); May 19 (Berkeley);
Photos courtesy of the SF Scottish Fiddlers
Virtuoso Pianist Bruce Liu in San Francisco Debut
May 17 at 8 p.m.
Born in Paris, France to Chinese parents, Bruce Liu grew up in Montreal, Canada and captured the world’s attention in 2021, when he won the Gold Medal at the Chopin International Piano Competition in Warsaw, Poland. (A famous piano competition I dream of one day to attend, not as a musician, but as a great fan!) With his sold out performances in Tokyo, San Paulo, Paris, Brussels, Warsaw, Seoul, Tel Aviv, Toronto, London, Cleveland and Luxembourg, just to name a few, Liu is on his way to capture the hearts of the music aficionados in San Francisco. His exclusive appearance at the historic Herbst Theater will feature compositions by Haydn, Chopin, Kapustin, Rameau and Prokofiev.
Liu’s life has been steeped in cultural diversity, which has shaped his differences in attitude, personality and character (who else would use his publicity photo as featured in my column?) He draws on various sources of inspiration for his art: European refinement, Chinese long tradition, North American dynamism and openness. And if you see him smile – that’s his artistic path.
Information
415-392-4400
chambermusicSF.org
Herbst Theater in San Francisco
Photo courtesy of Chamber Music San Francisco
“Innocence” – On the Stage of San Francisco Opera
June 1, 7, 12, 16, 18, 21, 2024
Is this “I Do” over? A joyous wedding celebration takes a shocking turn when the darkest of family secrets is revealed and a young bride has an impossible decision to make. Intrigued? Well, let’s attend this intricate staging of the resilience at the edge of tragedy as it is unveiled in the breathtaking production by the SF Opera.
Based on the libretto of one of the most awarded literary authors in Scandinavia and translated into 46 languages and sold in more than 2 million copies, Finnish-Estonian novelist, librettist and playwright Sofi Oksanen (b. 1977) is an icon of her field. Maestro Clement Mao-Takacs leads an international cast of singers and actors, including Finnish folk singer Vilma Jaa.
Information
415-864-3330
sfopera.com
War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco
Photos courtesy of SF Opera
2024 San Francisco Decorator Showcase Adds Spectacular Magic to a Pacific Height Mansion at “Billionaire’s Row”
On View through May 27
The magnificent Dutch Colonial Revival house located at 2898 Broadway in San Francisco was designed in 1899 by architect Walter D. Bliss.
With its stunning panoramic views of San Francisco’s Bay, this spectacular home has been transformed by accomplished award winning interior designers to a gorgeous jewel of the decorators showcase we can visit and learn about some of the great ideas to implement in our homes.
Proceeds from the Decorators Showcase have provided access for hundreds of deserving, talented Bay Area students to a world-class college preparatory education offered by San Francisco University High School (UHS). Since its launch in 1977 the Decorators Showcase has raised over $18 millions to benefit the UHS financial aid program.
Information and Tickets
(415) 447-5830
Tickets available at the door and online at DecoratorShowcase.org
$45 general admission; $40 for seniors (60 and over)
Group Tickets $35 – purchase of 10 tickets required
Photo courtesy of the Decorators Showcase
