Hungry for more? We have created a page with links to video clips (as well as links to artist sites and social media pages and additional reviews, interviews and media coverage) for each of the performances in our 2020–21 season.
Thanks for joining us as we share in the worldwide celebrations of Beethoven @ 250 this month. We’re delighted to feature our “home team,” SF Performances’ own Ensemble-in-Residence, the Alexander String Quartet, as we explore several of Beethoven’s most loved chamber music works.
Beethoven Marathon Part 2
Beethoven Marathon Part 1
Robert Greenberg Lecture: The First Angry Man
Beethoven Middle & Late String Quartets
with introduction by Paul Yarbrough
Beethoven Early String Quartets
with introduction by Paul Yarbrough
This eight-part series explores the history and themes of works and composers on San Francisco Performances’ 2020—21 Season. Each episode enlists the deep knowledge and razor-sharp wit of SFP music historian-in-residence, Robert “Bob” Greenberg. Informative, entertaining, and perhaps a tad bit irreverent, the BobCasts offer a digital survey of popular composers and musical genres.
The Impact of Andalucían Flamenco on Spanish Song and Dance
The Guitar and the Art of Transcription
Why All the Fuss About Beethoven?
Sergei Prokofiev: The Pianistic Steel Trust
Mozart’s “Prussian” String Quartets
The Original Fab Four:
The Birth of the String Quartet
Franz Schubert’s Winterreise
Yours For a Song: The Art of Song
SANCTUARY
Sanctuary—Recorded July 9, 2020
| Federico Mompou |
Song And Dance No. 1 Song and Dance No. 2 Song and Dance No. 3 Song and Dance No. 6 Song and Dance No. 8 Song and Dance No. 12 |
| Música Callada Book 1 I. Angelico II. Lent III. Placide IV. Afflitto e penoso V. VI. Lento molto cantabile VII. Lento profond VIII. Semplice IX. Lento |
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| Prelude No. 8 Prelude No. 9 Prelude No. 10 |
Produced, engineered and mastered by Matt Carr
Sanctuary—Recorded July 2, 2020
When Nicholas Phan contacted me to ask about doing a special video concert for SFP, it was pure serendipity. We had just begun putting together ideas for our online Sanctuary series, and I was delighted to be able to include this beautiful and profound program. The collaboration between Nick and Jake Heggie made it even more special. From the prescient observations of Emily Dickinson, as set by Jake Heggie, to the bittersweet humor of Leonard Bernstein, this meditation on our times fits the moment perfectly, while looking ahead towards better days.
—Melanie Smith
Time
Songs which touch on the subject of time—how it can be fleeting, feel suspended, how finite our time is, etc. Also, a meditation on this moment of paused performances.
| I. | |
| Charles Ives | Memories A. Very Pleasant B.Rather Sad |
| John Dowland | Time Stands Still |
| II. | |
| Ernest Chausson | Le temps des lilas |
| Lili Boulanger | Les lilas qui avaient fleuri from Clairères dans le ciel |
| Gabriel Fauré | Mandoline |
| III. | |
| Ned Rorem | Early in the Morning |
| R. Vaughan Williams |
Silent Noon |
| IV. | |
| Nadia Boulanger | Heures ternes |
| Lili Boulanger | Attente |
| Howard Swanson | I Will Lie Down in Autumn |
| V. | |
| Jake Heggie | By the Spring, at Sunset from Of Laughter and Farewell The Sun Kept Setting from How Well I Knew the Light |
| VI. | |
| Benjamin Britten | If It’s Ever Spring Again Before Life and After from Winter Words |
| Gerald Finzi | In Years Defaced from Til Earth Outwears |
| VII. | |
| Leonard Bernstein | Some Other Time from On the Town |
Produced, engineered and mastered by Matt Carr
Danny Clay (Composer) with The Living Earth Show (Andy Meyerson and Travis Andrews)
Sanctuary
For our second Sanctuary concert, we have Living Earth Show’s Music for Hard Times, written by Bay Area composer Danny Clay, which came from the frustrations and opportunities of sheltering in place and grew out of their question “Is it possible for us to use the tools of our discipline—classical art music—to make people feel better?” We also have a video (see the Program Information section below) of a post-performance artist talk moderated by pianist/composer Timo Andres (scheduled to appear 3 times in our 2020–21 season: with Jennifer Koh and Jay Campbell (in November), in a solo recital (in January) and with Anthony Roth Costanzo and the Attaca Quartet (in April).
—Melanie Smith
Music for Hard Times
Danny Clay, composer
The Living Earth Show (Andy Meyerson and Travis Andrews)
Part 1 (0:00)
Part 2 (6:17)
Part 3 (9:13)
Part 4 (11:38)
Part 5 (16:57)
Part 6 (20:37)
Part 7 (24:43)
Part 8 (28:44)
Sanctuary—Recorded June 12, 2020
Having the Alexander String Quartet come back together for the first time since March to finish a recording of Brahms and perform these quartets seemed like the perfect opportunity to share this music, in this moment, with our patrons and friends. It’s the ideal way to begin this new Sanctuary series as well, with some of Brahms’ most stirring, beautiful and tender works, including a special arrangement of the Intermezzo Op. 118, No. 2 for piano, arranged here for the ASQ by first violinist Zakarias Grafilo.
The Alexander String Quartet will be appearing in our upcoming season with Robert Greenberg for our Saturday Morning Series and in a special Beethoven Marathon of 2 performances in December.
—Melanie Smith
Zakarias Grafilo, violin
Frederick Lifsitz, violin
Paul Yarbrough, viola
Sandy Wilson, cello
| Brahms | String Quartet in C minor, Opus 51, No. 1 Allegro Romanze: Poco Adagio Allegretto molto moderato e comodo Allegro |
| String Quartet in A minor, Opus 51, No. 2 Allegro non troppo Andante moderato Quasi Minuetto, moderato Finale: Allegro non assai |
|
| Intermezzo in A Major, Opus 118, No. 2 Andante teneramente (arranged for string quartet by Zakarias Grafilo) |
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Funded in part by a generous gift from Thomas and Lily Beischer
Produced, engineered and mastered by Matt Carr
Front Row Archives
Brahms String Quintet
Frederick Lifsitz, Sandy Wilson and Eli Eban introduce this week’s Front Row Concert featuring the Alexander String Quartet/Eli Eban recording of the Andantino from Brahms’ Quintet in B minor for Clarinet and Strings, Op. 115. We also featured their recording of a track from Mozart’s Quintet in A Major for Clarinet and Strings, KV 581 three weeks ago. The Alexander String Quartet will be appearing in our upcoming season with Robert Greenberg for our Saturday Morning Series and in a special Beethoven Marathon of 2 performances in December.
The Alexander String Quartet has been Ensemble-in-Residence with San Francisco Performances for 25 years. We are honored to be able to present them in a variety of concerts each year. Their final performance of this season was scheduled for Saturday, May 16, and we had hoped to have a special toast to them, with all of you, to celebrate the Quartet and their ongoing relationship with SFP. But since we can't do that right now, we're thrilled to offer this preview of their upcoming CD, featuring the clarinet quintets of Mozart (three weeks ago) and Brahms (this week), with clarinetist Eli Eban. I hope you will enjoy this beautiful new recording, in anticipation of its public release in August.
—Melanie Smith
Zakarias Grafilo, violin
Frederick Lifsitz, violin
Paul Yarbrough, viola
Sandy Wilson, cello
Eli Eban, clarinet
| Brahms | Andantino—Presto non assai, ma con sentimento from Quintet in B minor for Clarinet and Strings, Op. 115 Recorded at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Belvedere, CA on June 10–14, 2019 |
Track from the upcoming Foghorn Classics release: Brahms & Mozart Clarinet Quintets
Sunday, April 3, 2011
While we had looked forward to the return of the Pavel Haas Quartet, in partnership with pianist Boris Giltburg, this past March, we must now look ahead to their return in a future season. Since their formation in 2002, the PHQ has become one of Europe’s most exciting and beloved chamber ensembles. We’re delighted to be able to offer this archival recording of their San Francisco Performances debut concert from 2011.
—Melanie Smith
Veronika Jarůšková, violin
Eva Karová, violin
Pavel Nikl, viola
Peter Jarůšek, cello
| Schulhoff | Quartet No. 1 Presto con fuoco Allegretto con moto e con malinconia grotesca Allegro giocoso alla slovacca Andante molto sostenuto |
| Debussy | Quartet in G minor, Op. 10 Animé et très décidé Assez vif et bien rhythmé Andantino doucement expressif Très modéré; Très mouvementé et avec passion |
| Haas | Quartet No. 2, Op. 7 “From the Monkey Mountains” Landscape (Andante) Coach, Coachman and Horse (Andante) The Moon and I (Largo e misterioso) Wild Night (Vivace e con fuoco) |
Original performance was made possible in part through the generous support of James and Kathleen Leak.
Friday, January 22, 2010
We were delighted to welcome legendary pianist Richard Goode as guest artist for our 40th season gala last fall. It was a great way to begin this season, and to celebrate our milestone year. Here’s a recording from another great evening with him, a few years back. We look forward to sharing in his artistry again, in person, in the future.
—Melanie Smith
| Bach | The Well Tempered Clavier, Book II Prelude and Fugue in F-sharp minor, BWV 883 Prelude and Fugue in G Major, BWV 884 |
| Haydn | Piano Sonata in C Major, Hob. XVI:21 Allegro Adagio Finale: Presto |
| Piano Sonata in C minor, Hob. XVI:20 Moderato Andante con moto Finale: Allegro |
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| Piano Sonata in G Major, Hob. XVI:40 Allegretto e innocente Presto |
|
| Schumann | Kreisleriana, Op. 16 Ausserst bewegt Sehr innig und nicht zu rasch Sehr aufgeregt Sehr langsam Sehr lebhaft Sehr langsam Sehr rasch Schnell und spielend |
Original performance was a Shenson Piano Series performance made possible by Fred M. Levin and Nancy Livingston, The Shenson Foundation and was sponsored by Concert Partners: Anonymous, in memory of Peter F. Ostwald, M.D.; David and Judith Preves Anderson; the Rev. Richard Fabian; Dr. Daniel J. Fourrier Jr.; Ellen Friedman; Frederick D. Hammer; Mr. James Hayward; Kim and Judith Maxell; and Robert and Adelle Rosenzweig.
Mozart String Quintet
Frederick Lifsitz, Sandy Wilson and Eli Eban introduce this week’s Front Row Concert featuring the Alexander String Quartet/Eli Eban recording of the Menuetto from Mozart’s Quintet in A Major for Clarinet and Strings, KV 581. We will also be featuring a track from their recording of Brahm’s Quintet in B minor, Op. 115 in a future Front Row concert. The Alexander String Quartet will be appearing in our upcoming season with Robert Greenberg for our Saturday Morning Series and in a special Beethoven Marathon of 2 performances in December.
The Alexander String Quartet has been Ensemble-in-Residence with San Francisco Performances for 25 years. We are honored to be able to present them in a variety of concerts each year. Their final performance of this season was scheduled for Saturday, May 16, and we had hoped to have a special toast to them, with all of you, to celebrate the Quartet and their ongoing relationship with SFP. But since we can't do that right now, we're thrilled to offer this preview of their upcoming CD, featuring the clarinet quintets of Mozart (this week) and Brahms (in a future installment of Front Row), with clarinetist Eli Eban. I hope you will enjoy this beautiful new recording, in anticipation of its public release in August.
—Melanie Smith
Zakarias Grafilo, violin
Frederick Lifsitz, violin
Paul Yarbrough, viola
Sandy Wilson, cello
Eli Eban, clarinet
| Mozart | Menuetto—Trio I—Trio II from Quintet in A Major for Clarinet and Strings, KV 581 Recorded at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Belvedere, CA on June 10–14, 2019 |
Track from the upcoming Foghorn Classics release: Brahms & Mozart Clarinet Quintets
YouTube Playlist
Violist Ori Kam of the Jerusalem Quartet introduces this week’s Front Row Concert of Jerusalem Quartet video performances.
We were looking forward to presenting the Jerusalem Quartet for the first time this past March, and now plans are being made to reschedule that concert for next season. In the meantime, we hope you will enjoy this special video performance by the quartet, in anticipation of their return sometime next fall.
—Melanie Smith
Alexander Pavlovsky, violin
Sergei Bresler, violin
Ori Kam, viola
Kyril Zlotnikov, cello
| Mozart | String Quartet No. 15 in D minor, K. 421 Allegro moderato Andante Menuetto and Trio.Allegretto Allegretto ma non troppo Recorded at the Scubertiade Hohenems |
| Shostakovich | String Quartet No. 3 in F Major, Op. 73 Allegretto Moderato con moto Allegro non troppo Adagio (attacca) Moderato Recorded at Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (2013) |
| Brahms | String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, Op. 51 Allegro Romanze, Poco adagio Allegretto molto moderatro e comodo Allegro Recorded at Concert Hall of the Marlinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg (2013) |
| Debussy | String Quartet in G minor, Op. 10 Andantino, doucement expressif Recorded at the Scubertiade Hohenems |
Saturday, April 26, 2008
We are honored to share this archival concert recording of Dubravka Tomšič, from 2008. She was the only protégé of the legendary Artur Rubinstein, who considered her “a perfect and marvelous pianist.” While not widely known in this country, Ms. Tomšič’s regal demeanor and virtuosity, combined with passion and subtlety, make her truly one of the great artists of our time.
—Melanie Smith
Please note that the Brahms Intermezzo in A Major, Opus 118, No. 2 listed in the program notes is not included in this recording for technical reasons.
| Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart |
Adagio in B minor, K. 540 |
| Domenico Scarlatti | Sonata in C Major, K. 159 Sonata in C minor, K. 11 Sonata in G Major, K. 125 Sonata in D Major, K. 29 |
| Serge Prokofiev | Piano Sonata No. 3 in A minor, Op.28 Allegro tempestoso; Moderato; Allegro tempestoso |
| Alojz Srebotnjak | Macedonian Dances Allegro vivace Andante Vivacissimo Adagio Allegro rustico |
| Johannes Brahms | Intermezzo in A minor, Op. 118, No. 1 Intermezzo in E-flat minor, Op. 118, No. 6 Rhapsody in E-flat Major, Op. 119, No. 4 |
| Ludwig van Beethoven |
Piano Sonata in F minor, Op. 57 “Appassionata” Allegro assai Andanate con moto Allegro ma non troppo |
| ENCORES | |
| Frédéric Chopin | Waltz No. 7 in C-Sharp minor, Op. 64, No. 2 Waltz No. 6 in D-Flat Major, Op. 64, No. 1 |
2004–05
President Melanie Smith introduces our special Front Row Concert celebrating our 40th Anniversary.
TRACK LIST
| RUTH A. FELT | Remarks |
| ANDRÉ WATTS, piano | |
| Frédéric Chopin | Étude in A-Flat Op. 25, No. 1 |
| Alexander Tcherepnin |
Bagatelle, Op. 5 |
| LUCIA POPP, soprano and HERMANN PREY, baritone | |
| Hugo Wolf | From Italienisches Liederbuch: |
| “Auch kleine Dinge” | |
| “Du denks mit einem Fadchen” | |
| “Und wilst du deinen Liebsten” | |
| “Ein Stanchen Euch zu bringen” | |
| “Benedeit die selge Mutter” | |
| “Ich Hab in Penna Einen Liebsten wohen” | |
| RICHARD STOLTZMAN, clarinet | |
| Thelonius Monk | Round Midnight |
| MARIAN McPARTLAND, piano | |
| Jerome Kern | All the Things You Are |
| Billy Taylor | It’s a Grand Night for Swinging |
| MOSES HOGAN CHORALE | |
| Various | I Can Tell the World |
| The Battle of Jericho | |
| DAWN UPSHAW, soprano and STEPHEN PRUTSMAN, piano | |
| John Dowland | Come again: Sweet love doth now invite |
| Can she excuse my wrongs | |
| CHRISTIAN TETZLAFF, violin and LEIF OVE ANDSNES, piano | |
| Edvard Grieg | Violin Sonata No. 3 in C minor, Op. 45 |
| MANUEL BARRUECO, guitar | |
| Heitor Villa-Lobos | Étude No. 11 |
| ALEXANDER STRING QUARTET | |
| Dmitri Shostakovich | String Quartet No. 12 in D-flat Major, Op. 133 |
| LANG LANG, piano | |
| Frédéric Chopin | Sonata No. 3 in B minor, Op. 58 |
Sunday, November 20, 2005
The Spanish and Latin American program played by Sérgio and Odair Assad for this performance showcases what these brothers do best—combine their individual virtuosity with a remarkable unity of soul and feeling. Following in the tradition and legacy of the late great Andrés Segovia, the Assads are truly classical guitar super heroes.
SF Performances looks forward to presenting the Assad brothers once again on January 30, 2021. Until then, I hope you enjoy this memorable concert from their 2005 visit to the Herbst Theatre.
—Melanie Smith
Please note that there were some changes announced from the stage so some of the details in the PDF file are incorrect.
| Issac Albéniz | Cordoba from Cantos de Espana |
| Joaquín Rodrigo | Tonadilla para dos guitarras Allegro ma non troppo Minueto Pomposo Allegro vivace |
| Sérgio Assad | Tahhiyya li Ossoulina |
| Astor Piazzolla | Invierno Porteño from Las cuatro estaciones porteñas Zita from Suite Troileana (Announced from Stage) |
| Jacob Bittencourt | Noites Cariocas |
| Clarice Assad | Valsas do Rio I. Arcos da Lapa II. Laranjeiras III. Central do Brasil |
| Egberto Gismonti | Two Works Agua e Vinho Sete Aneis |
| Roland Dyens | Hillerod from Côtè Nord |
| Leo Brouwer | Danzas concertantes Molto vivace Toccata |
Original performance was presented in association with the Omni Foundation for the Performing Arts.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
I was very fortunate to be present at the debut concert of Trio Mediaeval for San Francisco Performances back in 2005, For someone who loves vocal music and early music, the extraordinary clarity of this ensemble took my breath away. And as Joshua Kosman of the San Francisco Chronicle said about them, “To hear the group’s note-perfect counterpoint is to be astonished at what the human voice is capable of.”
SF Performances looks forward to presenting Trio Mediaeval once again on March 6, 2021. Until then I hope you enjoy this memorable concert from one of the group’s previous visits to the Herbst Theatre.
—Melanie Smith
Please note that there were some changes announced from the stage so some of the details in the PDF file are incorrect. The program listing below reflects the recording accurately.
| St. Godric of Finchale Arr. Trio Mediaeval |
Three medieval songs Sainte Marië Viërgenë Crist and Sainte Marië Sainte Nicholas, Godes Druth |
| Anonymous England, 13th C. |
Three-voice conductus: Flos Regalis Beata Viscera Quem Trina Polluit |
| Anonymous Italy, 13th C. |
Lauda Laude Novella Solo: Torunn Østrem Ossum |
| Sungji Hong (b. 1973) |
Kyrie from ”Missa Lumen de Lumine” (2002)* |
| Anonymous Italy, 13th C. |
Lauda Benedicti e llaudati Solo: Linn Andrea Fuglseth |
| Gavin Bryars (b. 1943) |
Ave regina gloriosa (Lauda VII) (2003)* |
| Sungji Hong (b. 1973) |
Agnus Dei from ”Missa Lumen de Lumine” (2002)* |
| Anonymous England, 13th C. |
Three-voice conductus: Salve Mater misericordie Salve Virgo Virginum |
| Anonymous England, 13th C. |
Two-voice motet with drone Dou way Robyn/Sancta Mater |
| Anonymous Italy, 13th C. |
Lauda: Venite a Laudare Solo: Anna Maria Friman |
| Andrew Smith (b. 1970) |
Quam Pulchera es (2006)* Regina caeli (2002)* Ave maris stella (2004)* |
| Anonymous Italy, 13th C. |
Lauda: Oi me lasso |
| Traditional Vestfold Norway Arr. Tone Krohn |
Den elskte Jerusalem |
| Hallingdal Norway Arr. Linn Andrea Fuglseth |
Eg veit i himmerik ei borg |
| Traditional Telemark Norway Arr. Linn Andrea Fuglseth |
Nu solen går ned |
| Traditional Norway Arr. Tiriltunga |
Encore: Eg aktar inkje |
* Written for Trio Mediaeval
Original performance was made possible in part throught the generous support of the Barbro Osher Pro Suecia Foundation.
Saturday, April 29, 2006
To kick off our Front Row Concert Series, we're featuring perennial piano favorite Marc-André Hamelin from a concert in April 2006 playing a program of Schubert, Vladigerov, Wagner, Verdi and Bellini.
| Franz Schubert | Piano Sonata in A Major, K.664 Allegro moderato Andante Allegro |
| Pantcho Vladigerov | Sonatine Concertante, Opus 28 Con moto Andantino Animato giocoso |
| Richard Wagner— Franz Liszt |
Isoldens Liebestod: Schlußszene aus Tristan und Isolde |
| Giuseppe Verdi— Franz Liszt |
Ernani: Paraphrase de concert |
| Vincenzo Bellini— Franz Liszt |
Reminiscences de Norma |
These archival recordings were not created with the intent of public viewing and therefore do not meet typical quality standards for broadcast/streaming.
This past winter, we invited pianist Edward Simon to put together four concerts for our updated Salon series in the War Memorial building. For one Salon, I asked Ed if he would perform a full program of piano works by Catalan composer Federico Mompou, and he graciously agreed to do so. I had heard him play a bit of Mompou on a recording he made with vocalist Luciana Souza several years ago, and I loved the simple elegance of those pieces. They also seemed perfect for our digital Sanctuary series right now. This beautiful and thoughtful video is the perfect way for us to end our Front Row concerts for now, as we take a summer break and look forward to what may come in the fall.
—Melanie Smith