The holidays are here and ready to celebrate in person. Opportunities to attend concerts and seasonal music events are plentiful and most performance venues are back to full capacity.

It is no exaggeration to say that Stephen Sondheim reinvented the Broadway musical and became the quintessential musical dramatist of our age, and the most influential composer-lyricist of the second half of the 20th century.

Pianist extraordinaire Igor Levit has made new recordings of Shostakovich's 24 Preludes and Fugues, Op. 87, and Ronald Stevenson's towering Shostakovich tribute: the Passacaglia on DSCH.

It's the most wonderful time of the year, and now that the Bay Area has reopened, there's plenty to do in December. Here are several ways you can celebrate and have a joyous holiday.

Departing from her guest-star turn as a chanteuse on the hit scifi TV show 'Snowpiercer,' SF-raised Lena Hall, also of 'Hedwig' and 'Kinky Boots' fame, returns to Feinstein's ballroom to perform her new cabaret concert.

Chris Conde, the Austin-based self-proclaimed "thicc, queer Mexican" rapper, unleashes a sophomore album, 'Engulfed in the Marvelous Decay.'

In 1982, Josie Cotton released her debut album 'Convertible Music,' containing the campy new wave single "Johnny, Are You Queer?" She's done much more since then, but was happy to chat about the old days, befo0re her Nov. 13 SF concert at Great Northern.

Live classical and contemporary music concerts are back. New Century Chamber Orchestra continues its season with a program featuring American contemporary works, including the world premiere of gay composer Mark Adamo's 'Last Year.'

We'll leave the coverage of the contentious 2000 presidential election to our news editor and mention a sporty gay film, a snarky gay sports column, and leave it to Liza to give 2000 a bit of class.

Outside Lands is back. And it's outer than ever. Here's just a partial rundown of this year's queer Outside Lands highlights across a full gamut of musical genres, from R&B to rock to electronica.

Kevin Simmonds, in his short but wonderful book, 'The Monster I Am Today: Leontyne Price and A Life In Verse,' provides the reader with a poetic insight that is lyrical, loving and romantic.

The Mill Valley Film Festival returns for its 44th year October 7- 17, with in-person and online screenings. A few notable features: documentaries about Leonard Bernstein, Julia Child, and The Velvet Underground.

The 'Red Hot + Free' double album packs in the talent, Mike Maimone's newly redone songs bring gay tones to his rockin' repertory, and the late Karen Black's 'Dreaming of You' is finally released.

From her duet vocal on Meat Loaf's hit single "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" to her performance in the "Black Boys/White Boys" number in 'Hair,' plus her acting gig on 'Night Court,' Ellen Foley's talent spans genres and decades.