Tuesday, August 3, 2021
Contact: Nancy Bertossa
(415) 677-0328 or nancy@sfperformances.org

San Francisco Performances 2021–22 Season Fall Schedule

Fall Highlights

SFP Debut of Catalyst Quartet (Oct 7 & Nov 11)
Performing a four-part series exploring music from composers who have been overlooked due to race or gender

PIVOT Festival Year VII: Ghost Stories

Theo Bleckmann, singer/composer (Oct 20)
Program Elegy

Brooklyn Rider and Nicholas Phan, tenor (Oct 21)
West Coast Premiere of Stranger by Nico Muhly

The Living Earth Show and the SFP Debut of Post:ballet (Oct 22 & 24)
World Premiere of Lyra

Jennifer Koh, violin and Missy Mazzoli, composer-pianist (Oct 23)
All Mazzoli program

Jan Lisiecki, piano (Oct 27)
Chopin’s “Night Music”

Dover Quartet with SFP Debut of Davóne Tines, bass-baritone (Nov 9)

SFP Debut of the Castalian Quartet (Nov 17)

SAN FRANCISCO, CA—August 3, 2021—San Francisco Performances (SFP) begins its 42nd season on Thursday, Oct 7th with the SFP debut of Catalyst Quartet, at 7:30pm in Herbst Theatre.

The Grammy Award-winning Catalyst Quartet (Oct 7, Nov 11, Feb 11, and Apr 7) has a bold and compelling mission: “We believe in the unity that can be achieved through music and imagine our programs and project with this in mind.”

The Quartet has chosen to team up with guest artists in four programs throughout the season to explore music from composers who have been overlooked due to their race or gender. The first event with pianist Stewart Goodyear (Oct 7) will present works by George Walker and Samuel ColeridgeTaylor, followed by a program with clarinetist Anthony McGill (Nov 11) in his SFP debut, with works by Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, Florence Price, and Samuel Coleridge Taylor.

The PIVOT Festival, now in its seventh year, is an innovative exploration of new adventures in the performing arts and has become an eagerly anticipated highlight of SFP's season. Ghost Stories is the theme this year for this five-day festival of music. This breakout series brings together some of today’s artist-thinkers who explore the presence of the past and the impact of memories on our hearts, reminding us to look with hope to the future.

Vocal chameleon Theo Bleckmann (Oct 20) has successfully balanced genres and styles from classical to jazz, inventing his own distinct voice along the way. His PIVOT project Elegy (also his debut album) showcases him as a composer as much as a singer. Although its underlying concept may be dark, Bleckmann and his trio of musicians deliver an achingly poetic program. Brooklyn Rider and tenor Nicholas Phan (Oct 21) perform the West Coast Premiere of Nico Muhly’s Stranger, a reflection on the American immigrant experience from four different perspectives. The piece received its World Premiere at the Kimmel Center, Philadelphia in 2020 with its current cast. SFP is excited to present the Bay Area artists The Living Earth Show and Post:ballet in the World Premiere of Lyra. This take on the age-old story of Orpheus and Eurydice features music by Samuel Adams, choreography by Vanessa Thiessen, direction by Robert Dekkers, and the cinematography of Benjamin Tarquin, in a highly collaborative synthesis of dance, projected film, live music, and new spatial sound technology. The piece will have two performances (Oct 22 & Oct 24) and will be performed in the Taube Atrium Theater. Violinist Jennifer Koh and composer-pianist Missy Mazzoli (Oct 23) partner in an all-Mazzoli evening of music. NPR has referred to Mazzoli as “the 21st Century’s gatecrasher of new classical music.”

SFP is thrilled to again present Jan Lisiecki (Oct 27) who at age 18 became the youngest performer to receive Gramophone’s Young Artist Award. Still in his mid-20s the Canadian pianist brings Chopin’s “Night Music” for his SFP performance.

The American Dover Quartet (Nov 9) with its youthful vitality and fresh sound team up with bass-baritone Davóne Tines who makes his SFP debut. Known for his ability to bring together opera, spirituals, gospel and anthems, Tines joins the Quartet in a wide-ranging program of Zemlinsky, Barber, Caroline Shaw, and Brahms.

Founded scarcely a decade ago, the Castalian Quartet (Nov 17) was named the 2019 Young Artist of the Year by the Royal Philharmonic Society. The ensemble makes its SFP debut performing pieces by Mendelssohn, Ligeti, and Sibelius.

Pianist Joyce Yang (Nov 30) is a newly announced addition to the 2021–22 season. Blessed with “poetic and sensitive pianism” (Washington Post) and a “wondrous sense of color” (San Francisco Classical Voice), Grammy-nominated Yang captivates audiences with her virtuosity, lyricism, and interpretive sensitivity. In solo recital, Yang’s innovative programs have been praised as “extraordinary” and “kaleidoscopic” (Los Angeles Times). She makes her solo SFP debut in this concert, having already performed on our stage with the Alexander String Quartet.

The fall programming ends with long-time favorite, Jonathan Biss (Dec 11) who combines lush playing with a compelling knack for creating engaging programs. This season he plays Schubert, Janáĉek, Kurtag, and Schumann.

Fall Debuts

  • Castalian Quartet (SFP Debut)
  • Post:ballet (SFP debut)
  • Missy Mazzoli (SFP debut)
  • Davóne Tines (SFP debut)
  • Anthony McGill, clarinet (SFP debut)
  • Joyce Yang (SFP solo debut)

Fall Premieres

  • Nico Muhly, Stranger (West Coast Premiere) performed by Brooklyn Rider, Nicholas Phan; Thursday, October 21, 2022, 7:30pm, Herbst Theatre
  • The Living Earth Show/Post:ballet, Lyra (World premiere) with music by Samuel Adams, choreography by Vanessa Thiessen, direction by Robert Dekkers, and cinematography by Benjamin Tarquin, performed by The Living Earth Show and Post:ballet, Friday, October 22, 2021, 7:30pm And Sunday, October 24, 5pm, Taube Atrium Theater

2021–22 Venues

  • Herbst Theatre, War Memorial Veterans Building
    401 Van Ness Avenue (at McAllister), San Francisco
  • Taube Atrium Theater, War Memorial Veterans Building
    401 Van Ness Avenue (at McAllister), 4th Floor, San Francisco

Ticket Information

Subscriptions are still available to the 2021-22 Season.
Subscribers receive benefits, including savings on single ticket prices, priority seating, free ticket exchange privileges and invitations to a gift concert. Call SF Performances’ subscriber hotline at (415) 677-0325 or visit sfperformances.org.

Single tickets go on sale September 13, 2021.
Single tickets may be purchased by calling the main box office line, (415) 392-2545 or visit sfperformances.org. (Subscribers have priority seating.)

2021-22 Fall Calendar

All dates, times, artists and programs are subject to change.

October 2021

The Catalyst Quartet with
Stewart Goodyear, piano
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021, 7:30PM
Herbst Theatre | $65/$55/$45
PROGRAM: GEORGE WALKER, SAMUEL COLERIDGE TAYLOR

The Grammy Award-winning Catalyst Quartet brings to a broader audience works from the African American tradition of chamber music —composers whom history has overlooked due to their race or gender—with guest artists and commentary at the start of each performance by bass-baritone Dashon Burton. The first event with pianist Stewart Goodyear will present works by George Walker and Samuel ColeridgeTaylor.

PIVOT Festival
Theo Bleckmann, singer/composer
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2021, 7:30PM
Herbst Theatre | $65/$55/$45
PROGRAM: Elegy

Vocal chameleon Theo Bleckmann has successfully balanced genres and styles from classical to jazz, inventing his own distinct voice along the way. His project Elegy (also his debut album) showcases him as a composer as much as a singer. Although its underlying concept may be dark, Bleckmann and his trio of musicians deliver an achingly poetic program.

PIVOT Festival
Brooklyn Rider with
Nicholas Phan, tenor
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2021, 7:30PM
Herbst Theatre | $65/$55/$45
PROGRAM: NICO MUHLY: Stranger, plus other works

Brooklyn Rider and tenor Nicholas Phan perform the West Coast Premiere of Nico Muhly’s Stranger, a reflection on the American immigrant experience from four different perspectives. The piece received its World Premiere at the Kimmel Center, Philadelphia in 2020 with its current cast.

PIVOT Festival
The Living Earth Show and Post:ballet
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2021, 7:30PM
Taube Atrium Theater | $65
PROGRAM: Lyra

SFP presents the Bay Area artists The Living Earth Show and Post:ballet in the World Premiere of Lyra. This take on the age-old story of Orpheus and Eurydice features music by Samuel Adams, choreography by Vanessa Thiessen, direction by Robert Dekkers, and the cinematography of Benjamin Tarquin, in a highly collaborative synthesis of dance, projected film, live music, and new spatial sound technology. The piece will have two performances (Oct 22 & Oct 24) and will be performed in the Taube Atrium Theater.

PIVOT Festival
Jennifer Koh, violin
Missy Mazzoli, composer-pianist
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2021, 7:30PM
Herbst Theatre | $65/$55/$45
PROGRAM: All MAZZOLI

Violinist Jennifer Koh and composer-pianist Missy Mazzoli partner in an all-Mazzoli evening of music. NPR has referred to Mazzoli as “the 21st Century’s gatecrasher of new classical music.”

PIVOT Festival
The Living Earth Show and Post:ballet
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2021, 5:00PM
Taube Atrium Theater | $65
PROGRAM: Lyra

SFP presents the Bay Area artists The Living Earth Show and Post:ballet in the World Premiere of Lyra. This take on the age-old story of Orpheus and Eurydice features music by Samuel Adams, choreography by Vanessa Thiessen, direction by Robert Dekkers, and the cinematography of Benjamin Tarquin, in a highly collaborative synthesis of dance, projected film, live music, and new spatial sound technology.

Jan Lisiecki, piano
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2021, 7:30PM
Herbst Theatre | $70/$55/$45
PROGRAM: All CHOPIN: “Night Music”

At age 18 Jan Lisiecki became the youngest performer to receive Gramophone’s Young Artist Award. Still in his mid-20s the Canadian pianist brings Chopin’s “Night Music” for this SFP performance.

November 2021

Dover Quartet with
Davóne Tines, bass-baritone
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2021, 7:30PM
Herbst Theatre | $70/$55/$45
PROGRAM: ZEMLINSKY, BARBER, CAROLINE SHAW, BRAHMS

The American Dover Quartet with its youthful vitality and fresh sound team up with bass-baritone Davóne Tines, known for his ability to bring together opera, spirituals, gospel and anthems—in a wide-ranging program of Zemlinsky, Barber, Caroline Shaw, and Brahms

The Catalyst Quartet with
Anthony McGill, clarinet
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2021, 7:30PM
Herbst Theatre | $65/$55/$45
PROGRAM: COLERIDGE-TAYLOR PERKINSON, FLORENCE PRICE, SAMUEL COLERIDGE TAYLOR

The Catalyst Quartet has chosen to team up with guest artists in four programs throughout the season to explore music from composers who have been overlooked due to their race or gender. This second performance with clarinetist Anthony McGill in his SFP debut, presents works by Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, Florence Price, and Samuel Coleridge Taylor.

Castalian Quartet WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2021, 7:30PM Herbst Theatre | $70/$55/$45 PROGRAM: MENDELSSOHN, LIGETI, SIBELIUS

The Castalian Quartet was named the 2019 Young Artist of the Year by the Royal Philharmonic Society. The ensemble makes its SFP debut performing pieces by Mendelssohn, Ligeti, and Sibelius.

Joyce Yang, piano
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2021, 7:30PM
Herbst Theatre | $70/$55/$45
PROGRAM: BACH, RACHMANINOFF, TCHAIKOVSKY, LISZT

Blessed with “poetic and sensitive pianism” (Washington Post) and a “wondrous sense of color” (San Francisco Classical Voice), Grammy-nominated pianist Joyce Yang captivates audiences with her virtuosity, lyricism, and interpretive sensitivity. In solo recital, Yang’s innovative programs have been praised as “extraordinary” and “kaleidoscopic” (Los Angeles Times). She makes her solo SFP debut in this concert, having already performed on our stage with the Alexander String Quartet.

December 2021

Jonathan Biss, piano
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2021, 7:30PM
Herbst Theatre | $85/$70/$50
PROGRAM: SCHUBERT, JANÁČEK, KURTAG, and SCHUMANN

Long-time SFP favorite Jonathan Biss, combines lush playing with a compelling knack for creating engaging programs. This season he plays Schubert, Janáĉek, Kurtag, and Schumann.

About San Francisco Performances

San Francisco Performances has been a leader in the Bay Area cultural scene since our founding in 1979. With a strong curatorial vision and adventurous programming, we are the city’s premier presenter of intimate concerts and solo performances.

We have introduced hundreds of established and emerging classical music, jazz and dance artists to audiences, including Yo-Yo Ma, the Juilliard String Quartet, Philip Glass, Wendy Whelan, and the Paul Taylor Dance Company. We also champion a new generation, committed to building a contemporary and equitable repertoire. Performers like violinist Jennifer Koh, tenor Lawrence Brownlee and pianist/composer Vijay Iyer are moving their art into the present and future, making it accessible to younger audiences while converting many traditionalists to new possibilities. They represent the path forward.

Quality, intimacy and connection are the hallmarks of San Francisco Performances. We nurture unique relationships with today’s best artists to create an accessible, warm and engaging arts experience.

For selected high-resolution images of the 2021–22 season, please visit https://sfperformances.org/media/2122/selectphotos.html or contact Nancy Bertossa.

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