DECEMBER

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Friday, December 5, 2008 – 8pm

Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra

Rinaldo Alessandrini, conductor; Marta Almajano, soprano

A Scarlatti: Christmas Cantata O di Betlemme altera; Corelli: Christmas Concerto in G Minor, Op. 6, No. 8; Vivaldi: Concerto for Strings in D Major, RV 121; Geminiani: Concerto Grosso in E Minor, Op. 3, No. 3; Dall’abaco: Concerto a quattro da chiesa in D Minor, Op. 2, No. 1

First United Methodist Church

625 Hamilton Ave., Palo Alto

Information: (415) 392-4400

http://www.magnificatbaroque.org

***

Friday, December 5, 2008 – 8pm

Magnificat

Voices and Instruments of the Early Baroque - Warren Stewart, Artistic Director

Rigatti's Christmas Vespers: A Venetian Christmas Celebration

First Lutheran Church

600 Homer Ave., Palo Alto

Information: (800) 853-8155

***

Saturday, December 6, 2008 – 1pm

Sarah Cahill, Kate Stenberg, Eva-Maria Zimmermann

Solo piano and violin-piano duet

At 1 pm: Concert No. 1. Program: Birds in Warped Time. Solo piano works by Luciano Berio, Percy Grainger, Berkeley teen Dylan Mattingly, Meredith Monk, Per Nørgård, Tan Dun, and Lois Vierk, violin & piano duets by Grazyna Bacewicz, Olivier Messiaen, and Somei Satoh, plus Steed Cowart: Blackberry Winter (world premiere). At 4 pm: Concert No. 2. Program: Deep River Dreams. Music for violin & piano from 1904 by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, solo piano works by Samuel Barber, Morton Feldman, Mamoru Fujieda, Ingram Marshall (world premiere), and Olivier Messiaen, and selections from Sueños de Chambi by Berkeley’s Gabriela Lena Frank. At 8 pm: Concert No. 3. Program: Ruth Crawford and Her Milieu. Crawford's Sonata for Violin and Piano (1924), Study in Mixed Accents (1920) and selections from Nine Preludes (1927-8), plus violin & piano duets by Johanna Beyer and Henry Cowell, and solo piano works of Beyer, Cowell, Dane Rudhyar, Lou Harrison, and Alexander Scriabin.

Swedenborgian Church

2107 Lyon Street, San Francisco

Information: (415) 934-8134

http://www.otherminds.org

***

Saturday, December 6, 2008 – 8pm

Old First Concerts

Teresa McCollough, Piano

Old First Church

1751 Sacramento Street, San Francisco

Information: (415) 474-1608

$15; $12 students & seniors

HTTP://www.noevalleymusicseries.com

***

Saturday, December 6, 2008 – 8:15pm

Noe Valley Music Series:

Roy Zimmerman

Works by Crumb, Messiaen, Reynolds, Winges, Gershwin, Rzewski and others.

The popular satirical songwriter takes aim at both the joys and absurdities of the holiday season in his special PeaceNick performance. Roy presents an evening of Pacifist-Humanist-Seasonal satire - music to laugh at while the presents get unwrapped and the administration in Washington gets ready to change.

Noe Valley Ministry

1021 Sanchez Street, San Francisco

$17 (door); $15 advance

Information: (415) 454-5238

***

Saturday, December 6, 2008 – 8pm

Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra

Rinaldo Alessandrini, conductor; Marta Almajano, soprano

First Congregational Church

2345 Channing Way, Berkeley

Information: (415) 392-4400

http://livelyarts.stanford.edu

***

Saturday, December 6, 2008 – 8pm

Santa Rosa Symphony

Martin Matalon's Metropolis, score to Fritz Lang's film (1927)

Memorial Auditorium

Stanford University

551 Serra Mall, Stanford

Information: (650) 725-2787

***

Saturday, December 6, 2008 – 3pm

S.F. State faculty members Jassen Todorov and Roger Woodward

Violin and Piano

Works by 19th and 20th century composers, including Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn, and Saint-Saëns.

Knuth Hall

Creative Arts building

S.F. State, 1600 Holloway Ave., S.F.

Information: (415) 338-2467

http://musicdance.sfsu.edu

***

Saturday, December 6, 2008 – 1-10pm

San Francisco Performances

Elliott Carter Centenary Celebration

Pacifica Quartet/Ursula Oppens, piano/Robert Greenberg, lecturer. The Pacifica String Quartet, pianist Ursula Oppens and San Francisco Performances’ Music Historian-in-Residence Robert Greenberg celebrate the 100th year of the dean of American composers, Elliott Carter, with a weekend mini-festival of his chamber and piano works. The all-day sessions explore the genius and complexity of two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner Carter with the screening of a documentary film about his life followed by a Q&A session with the artists; lectures by Greenberg, and performances of Carter’s complete string quartets by the Pacifica and of his piano sonatas by Oppens.

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Forum

$39-$95

Information: (415) 392-2545

http://www.marinsymphony.org

***

Saturday, December 6, 2008 – 8pm

Alexander Sung and Burke Schuchmann

Alexander Sung, piano; and Burke Schuchmann, cello. Program: all-Beethoven concert.

Green Room/War Memorial Performing Arts Center

401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

$20-$25

Information: (415) 392-4400

***

Saturday, December 6, 2008 – 7:30pm

Marin Symphony Chamber Chorus and Orchestra

Festive carols from around the world for chorus, harp, piano, organ, percussion, and oboe.

Church of Saint Raphael

1104 Fifth Ave., San Rafael

Information: (415) 479-8100

***

Saturday, December 6, 2008 – 8pm

Magnificat

Voices and Instruments of the Early Baroque - Warren Stewart, Artistic Director

Rigatti's Christmas Vespers: A Venetian Christmas Celebration

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church

2300 Bancroft Way, Berkeley

Information: (800) 853-8155

http://www.magnificatbaroque.org

***

Sunday, December 7, 2008 – 2-6pm

San Francisco Performances

Elliott Carter Centenary Celebration

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Forum

$39-$95

Information: (415) 392-2545

***

Sunday, December 7, 2008 – 7:30pm

Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra

Rinaldo Alessandrini, conductor; Marta Almajano, soprano

First Congregational Church

2345 Channing Way, Berkeley

Information: (415) 392-4400

http://montalvoarts.org/events/cypress_string_quartet_3/

***

Sunday, December 7, 2008 – 4:30 pm

Cindy Blackman Quartet

Cindy Blackman, drum; George Mitchell, acoustic bass; Carlton Holmes, keyboards; Antoine Roney, sax

First-call New York drummer, Cindy Blackman “was one of the highlights of our festival this year. She is a remarkable performer, both in terms of presentation and her musical vision. Her ensemble was first class, with glimpses of Coltrane threading through the percussive sheets of sound.” - Artistic Director of the Lake George Jazz Weekend, 9/08

Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society

Douglas Beach House

307 Mirada Rd, Half Moon Bay, CA

$35, $5 discount students

Information: (650) 726-4143

www.bachddsoc.org

***

Sunday, December 7, 2008 – 4:30pm

San Francisco Contemporary Music Players

Mezzo-soprano, flute, guitar, viola and three percussion. David Milnes, music director.

Boulez's Le Marteau sans maitre. Performance and discussion of the piece followed by an informal reception.

Presidio Interfaith Chapel

30 Fisher Loop, San Francisco

Information: (415) 278-9566

http://www.sfcmp.org

***

Sunday, December 7, 2008 – 3pm

Cypress String Quartet

Violins, viola, cello

“From the Artist’s Studio” takes a closer look at what inspirations drive a composer’s creativity. This year’s series of four concerts focuses on the link between visual arts and music. Program: Musical Landscapes: Block Landscapes and Lees/Quartet No 6. Historic Villa.

15400 Montalvo Road, Saratoga

Information: (408) 961-5858

***

Sunday, December 7, 2008 – 4pm

Old First Concerts

Splendors of the Italian Baroque

Ragazzi Boys Chorus. Program: Works by Monteverdi and Allegri, and familiar carols sung with the chorus and organ.

Old First Church

1751 Sacramento Street, San Francisco

Information: (415) 474-1608

$15; $12 students & seniors

http://www.sfsymphony.org

***

Sunday, December 7, 2008 – 11am & 3pm

San Francisco Symphony Musicians

Deck the Hall

Davies Symphony Hall

Van Ness Ave. and Grove Street, San Francisco

Information: (415) 864-6000

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Sunday, December 7, 2008 – 2pm

San Francisco Symphony Musicians

Chamber Music at the California Palace of the Legion of Honor

100 34th Avenue, San Francisco

Information: (415) 864-6000

www.famsf.org

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Sunday, December 7, 2008 – 7pm

San Francisco Symphony Musicians, Lang Lang

Piano Trios

Lang Lang with SFS Musicians: piano trios by Tchaikovsky and Schubert

Davies Symphony Hall

Van Ness Ave. and Grove Street, San Francisco

Information: (415) 864-6000

http://www.sfsymphony.org

***

Sunday, December 7, 2008 – 4:30pm

San Francisco Contemporary Music Players

Contemporary Insights: Music and Conversation

The San Francisco Contemporary Music Players continues its season of Contemporary Insights: Music and Conversation events with a performance and discussion of Pierre Boulez's Le Marteau sans maître (The Hammer without a master). The audience is invited to a post-performance reception with wine and snacks.

Presidio Chapel on Fisher Loop, San Francisco

$10 suggested donation

Information: (415) 278-9566

HTTP://www.sfcmp.org/indexflash.htm

***

Sunday, December 7, 2008 – 2pm

Mill Valley Philharmonic

Orchestra featuring members of Mill Valley Philharmonic

Telemann's Alster Overture, Handel's Pastorale from the Messiah, Johann Hasse's Sinfonia in G for Two Flutes, J.S. Bach's Orchestral Suite No. 1, J.S. Bach's Double Violin Concerto in D Minor

142 Throckmorton Theatre

142 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley

Information: (415) 383-9600

http://www.millvalleyphilharmonic.org

***

Monday, December 8, 2008 – 8pm

San Francisco Contemporary Music Players

David Milnes, Music Director

Program: Luca Francesconi/A fuoco; Kaija Saariaho/Sept Papillons (Seven Butterflies), Leighton Fong, cello; Zhou Long/Wild Grass, Stephen Harrison, cello; Pierre Boulez/Le Marteau sans maître (The Hammer Without a Master), Janna Baty, mezzo-soprano

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Forum

701 Mission Street, San Francisco

Information: (415) 978-2787

http://www.sfcmp.org

***

Tuesday, December 9, 2008 – 12:30pm

Noontime Concerts

R. Michaelian, V. Ehrlich & J. Fath

Noontime Concerts' 20th Anniversary. Roxanne Michaelian, piano; Victoria Ehrlich, cello; and Josepha Fath, violin. Program:Ludwig van Beethoven: The Archduke Trio and More.

Old St. Mary's Cathedral

660 California Street, San Francisco

$5 donation

Information: (415) 777-3211

http://www.noontimeconcerts.org

***

Tuesday, December 9, 2008 – 8pm

Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra

Rinaldo Alessandrini, conductor; Marta Almajano, soprano

A Scarlatti: Christmas Cantata O di Betlemme altera; Corelli: Christmas Concerto in G minor, Op. 6, No. 8; Vivaldi: Concerto for Strings in D major, RV 121; Geminiani: Concerto Grosso in E minor, Op. 3, No. 3; Dall’abaco: Concerto a quattro da chiesa in D minor, Op. 2, No. 1

Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church

49 Knox Dr., Lafayette

Information: (415) 392-4400

http://www.livelyarts.stanford.edu

***

Tuesday, December 9, 2008 – 8pm

Chanticleer

Orchestra of Voices

A Chanticleer Christmas

Memorial Auditorium

Stanford University

551 Serra Mall, Stanford

Information: (650) 725-2787

***

Wednesday, December 10, 2008 – 8pm

Chanticleer

Orchestra of Voices

A Chanticleer Christmas

Memorial Auditorium

Stanford University

551 Serra Mall, Stanford

Information: (650) 725-2787

http://www.livelyarts.stanford.edu

***

Wednesday, December 10, 2008 – 6pm

A Concert and Conversation with Cellist, Alisa Weilerstein and Pianist, Inon Barnatan

Cello and Piano

A one-hour program of: Beethoven's Sonata No. 5 in D Major, Op. 102, No. 2; Kodaly's Sonata for Solo Cello, Op. 8; Golijov's Omaramor; and Chopin's Sonata for Cello and Piano, Op. 65

Community Music Center

544 Capp Street, San Francisco

Information: (415) 647-6015

http://sfcmc.org/calendar/index.php?id=&event_id=882

***

Thursday, December 11, 2008 – 8pm

Left Coast Chamber Ensemble

Happy Birthdays! Messiaen, Carter and Rorem

Program: Olivier Messiaen/Le merle noir; Ned Rorem/Trio for flute, cello and piano; Elliot Carter/Enchanted Preludes; Ryan Brown/New Work as companion to Carter's Enchanted Preludes; and Maurice Ravel/Chansons Madecasses.

142 Throckmorton Avenue Theater

142 Throckmorton Avenue, Mill Valley

$20; $15 seniors & students

Information: (415) 383-9600

http://leftcoastensemble.org

***

Thursday, December 11, 2008 – 8pm

Alisa Weilerstein, cello, and Inon Barnatan, piano

Cello and Piano

Beethoven's Sonata No. 5 in D Major, Op. 102, No. 2; Kodaly's Sonata for Solo Cello, Op. 8; Golijov's Omaramor; and Chopin's Sonata for Cello and Piano, Op. 65

Herbst Theatre

401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

Information: (415) 392-2545

***

Thursday, December 11, 2008 – 8pm

New Century Chamber Orchestra

Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, violin; Melody Moore, soprano; Schola Cantorum S.F.

Program: G. F. Handel/Solomon, Overture and Entrance of the Queen of Sheba; J. S. Bach/Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F major, BWV 1047; J. S. Bach/Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D major, BWV 1050; Pedro de Cristo/Quaeramus cum Pastoribus; Antoine Brumel/Noe, Noe; Morton Lauridsen, arr. Clarice Assad/O Magnum Mysterium; and Traditional, arr. Clarice Assad/Hanukkah and Christmas Medley.

St. John's Presbyterian Church

2727 College Ave. Berkeley

Information: (415) 357-1111

http://musicdance.sfsu.edu

***

Thursday, December 11, 2008 – 7:30pm

S.F. State Chamber Music Ensembles

Knuth Hall, Creative Arts building

S.F. State, 1600 Holloway Ave., San Francisco

Information: (415) 338-1431

***

Friday, December 12, 2008 – 8pm

Afiara String Quartet

Valerie Li, violin; Yuri Cho, violin; David Samuel, viola; and Adrian Fung, 'cello

Program: Works by Schubert, Beethoven and Bush. Valerie Li, violin; Yuri Cho, violin; David Samuel, viola; Adrian Fung, ‘cello.

Old First Church

1751 Sacramento Street, San Francisco

Information: (415) 474-1608

$15; $12 students & seniors

***

Friday, December 12, 2008 – 8pm

Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra; Rinaldo Alessandrini, conductor; Marta Almajano, soprano

Herbst Theatre

401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

Information: (415) 392-4400

***

Friday, December 12, 2008 – 8pm

New Century Chamber Orchestra

Celebrate the Holidays

First United Methodist Church

625 Hamilton, Palo Alto

$32-$54

Information: (415) 392-4400

***

Saturday, December 13, 2008 – 8pm

New Century Chamber Orchestra

Celebrate the Holidays

Herbst Theater

401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

$32-$54

Information: (415) 392-4400

***

Saturday, December 13, 2008 – 10am

Alexander String Quartet

With Music Historian Robert Greenberg

Beethoven's String Quartet in A Minor, Op. 132; String Quartet in F Major, Op. 135

St. John's Presbyterian Church

2727 College Ave., Berkeley

Information: (415) 392-2545

***

Saturday, December 13, 2008 – 4pm

Part of the Old First Concerts. Presenting a musical meditation on three powerful seasonal themes of fire, angels and peace, featuring large-scale works by Karin Rehnqvist and Daniel Pinkham and a guest appearance by oboist Miriam Kapner. Also works by Martha Alter, Joan Szymko, Arvo Pärt, Håkan Olssen, Verdi, Rachmaninoff and Vaughan Williams.

Old First Church

1751 Sacramento Street, San Francisco

Information: (415) 474-1608

$15; $12 students & seniors

HTTP://www.noevalleymusicseries.com

***

Saturday, December 13, 2008 – 8:15pm

Noe Valley Music Series

JD Souther

One of the great singer/songwriters of the last 35 years, JD Souther was one of the principal architects of the California country-rock sound, playing a key role in the formation of the Eagles. He co-wrote their hits 'New Kid in Town', 'Best of My Love', 'Heartache Tonight', and 'Victim of Love', as well as Linda Ronstadt's classics 'Faithless Love', 'Simple Man', and 'Prisoner in Disguise'. His chart-topping hit 'You're Only Lonely' was followed by the James Taylor duet 'Her Town Too'. He formed the Souther Hillman Furay Band with Poco's Richie Furay and the Byrd's Chris Hillman. In 1985 he walked away from his performing career and subsequently wrote hit songs for artists as diverse as Roy Orbison, Crosby Stills & Nash, Dixie Chicks, Bonnie Raitt, Jimmy Buffet, George Strait, Trisha Yearwood, Don Henly and many more. After a 25 year hiatus he is performing again in a rare San Francisco concert. Plus: April Smith.

Noe Valley Ministry

1021 Sanchez Street, San Francisco

$25 (door); $25 advance

Information: (415) 454-5238

***

Sunday, December 14, 2008 – 3pm

Morrison Artists Series: Time for Three

McKenna Theatre

Creative Arts building

S.F. State, 1600 Holloway Ave., S.F.

Information: (415) 338-1431

http://www.morrisonseries.org

***

Sunday, December 14, 2008 – 5:15pm

Quartet San Francisco

String Quartet

Ellington, Brubeck, and tango music

Noe Valley Chamber Music

1021 Sanchez Street, San Francisco

Information: (415) 648-5236

http://www.nvcm.org

***

Sunday, December 14, 2008 – 5pm

New Century Chamber Orchestra

Celebrate the Holidays

Osher Marin JCC

250 N. San Pedro Rd., San Rafael

$32-$54

Information: (415) 392-4400

***

Sunday, December 14, 2008 – 4pm

Old First Concerts

Candlelight Concert

Piedmont Choirs. Program: Holiday music from around the world, including traditional favorites and contemporary works.

Old First Church

1751 Sacramento Street, San Francisco

Information: (415) 474-1608

$15; $12 students & seniors

http://www.musicatkohl.org

***

Sunday, December 14, 2008 – 7pm

S.F. Symphony Musicians with guest artist Geraldine Walther, viola

Amy Hiraga, Sarn Oliver, violins; Nancy Ellis, viola; Peter Wyrick, cello; and Robin Sutherland, piano

Mozart's String Quintet No. 3 in C Major, K. 515; Frank Bridge's Two Pieces for Viola and Piano; and Brahms' Piano Quintet in F Minor, Op. 34

Music at Kohl Mansion

2750 Adeline Dr., Burlingame

Information: (650) 762-1130

***

Monday, December 15, 2008 – 8pm

Left Coast Chamber Ensemble

Happy Birthdays! Messiaen, Carter and Rorem

Green Room/War Memorial Performing Arts Center

401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

$20; $15 seniors & students

Information: (415) 383-9600

http://leftcoastensemble.org

***

Thursday, December 18, 2008 – 7:30pm

Pacific Mozart Ensemble

Brubeck and Brahms: Canticles and Love Songs

Presenting a new complete version of Dave Brubeck's sacred works Canticles, and Brahms' Liebeslieder Waltzes, plus a pair of Brubeck settings of Langston Hughes texts.

Green Room/War Memorial Performing Arts Center

401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

$20; $15 seniors & students

Information: (510) 848-8022

HTTP://www.pacificmozart.org

***

Friday, December 19, 2008 – 7:30pm

Pacific Mozart Ensemble

Brubeck and Brahms: Canticles and Love Songs

Presenting a new complete version of Dave Brubeck's sacred works Canticles, and Brahms' Liebeslieder Waltzes, plus a pair of Brubeck settings of Langston Hughes texts.

Berkeley City Club

2315 Durant Street, Berkeley

$25; $15 students & seniors

Information: (510) 848-8022

HTTP://www.pacificmozart.org

***

Friday, December 19, 2008 – 8pm

Old First Concerts

Golden Bough

Program: Traditional and original Yuletide music from the Celtic lands in the British Isles, Brittany and Galicia. Margie Butler, vocals, Celtic harp, tin whistle; Paul Espinoza, vocals, bazouki, guitar; Kathy Sierra, fiddle.

Old First Church

1751 Sacramento Street, San Francisco

Information: (415) 474-1608

$15; $12 students & seniors