In December of 2014, Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony launched a new concert series in a former rehearsal room at the back of Davies Symphony Hall. Named SoundBox, it combined the Symphony’s high musical standards with a casual nightclub vibe.
It was an instant hit – one that attracted both longtime Symphony concertgoers and a new generation eager to learn more about classical music.
Over the next two years, Tilson Thomas and members of the orchestra have presented a range of music, from choral masterpieces from the Baroque era to newly composed works – all in a chic, state-of-the-art venue combining casual seating, three stages, a Meyer Sound Constellation system and large screens for accompanying video.
Now in its third season, SoundBox continues to present interesting programs – and attract new audiences. Since last fall, the series has seen a Tilson Thomas-curated tribute to Lou Harrison, as well as programs designed by Mason Bates and Edwin Outwater, John Adams and Christian Reif.
This weekend brings another installment in the series – one dedicated to music for brass instruments.
“Bell Curve,” curated by S.F. Symphony principal trombonist Timothy Higgins, includes works by composers you might know – Beethoven’s “3 Equali for four trombones,” Antonio Bertali’s “Sonata à 3 in A minor,” and Astor Piazzolla’s “Mon âme a son secret” – as well as some you probably don’t.
Higgins is both curator, performer, and composer – he’ll play his own “Alte musik,” with Symphony principal percussionist Jacob Nissly on marimba and principal keyboardist Robin Sutherland on harpsichord, and his own “Café Velocio,” with Jeffrey Anderson on tuba and Sutherland on piano. Works by Stephen Rush, Florian Maier, David Biedenbender, Hans Koolmees and Stuart Dempster complete the program.
Details: Friday, April 14, and Saturday, April 15, doors open at 8 p.m., show begins at 9; 300 Franklin St., San Francisco; $45; 415-503-5299; www.SFSoundBox.com.
FAREWELL TO NADJA: The New Century Chamber Orchestra has announced plans for its upcoming 25th anniversary festival. Celebrating the string orchestra’s quarter century and marking Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg’s final appearance as music director, the week-long festival runs May 16-20 at Herbst Theatre in San Francisco. Three programs are on the schedule. The May 16 opener features works by Lera Auerbach, Jennifer Higdon, William Bolcom and Mark O’Connor; on May 18, Salerno-Sonnenberg is the soloist for Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” and Piazzolla’s “Four Seasons of Buenos Aires.” The festival concludes May 20 with an all-Gershwin program featuring soprano Melody Moore and baritone Efrain Solis.
Details: May 16-20, Herbst Theatre, S.F.; $29-$61; 415-392-4400; www.ncco.org.
NEW SEASON@MENLO: “The Glorious Violin” is the title of the 2017 Music@Menlo festival, set to run July 14 to August 5 in Atherton and Menlo Park. This year marks the 15th anniversary season of the acclaimed South Bay chamber music festival and institute, and cellist David Finckel and pianist Wu Han, who co-founded the festival and serve as its artistic directors, have announced a full lineup of events celebrating the violin’s role in music history. More than 50 events are on the calendar, with performances on three stages. Seven mainstage programs and five artist-curated Carte Blanche concerts are featured; “Encounter” symposia, performances by the Young Artists of the festival’s Chamber Music Institute, discussions and master classes round out the schedule.
Finckel and Wu Han always assemble an astonishing roster of musicians drawn from chamber groups around the world. Artists scheduled to appear this summer include violinists Ivan Chan, Bella Hristova, Paul Huang, Soovin Kim, Arnaud Sussmann and Danbi Um; pianists Gloria Chien, Gilbert Kalish and Juho Pohjonen; cellists Clive Greensmith and Keith Robinson; San Francisco Symphony principal bassist Scott Pingel; and the Escher String Quartet.
Details: Music@Menlo, July 14-Aug. 5, performances in Atherton and Menlo Park; tickets, priced at $48-80 for adults, $20-$35 under 30, go on sale April 18; 650-331-0202; www.musicatmenlo.org.
Contact Georgia Rowe at growe@pacbell.net.
