Arts & Culture :: Music

Our week beats your year

Our week beats your year

  • by Roberto Friedman
  • Jul 30, 2019

The headline is not meant to be insulting. It's an homage to a new book titled, "My Week Beats Your Year — Encounters with Lou Reed, 1972-2013" (Hat & Beard Press) compiled by Michael Heath and edited by Pat Thomas.

Summer stage & screen scores

Summer stage & screen scores

  • by Gregg Shapiro
  • Jul 30, 2019

You have to admit that it's more than a little strange to watch the third season of Netflix's "Stranger Things" while the strangest thing of all is living in the White House.

Swapping souls

Swapping souls

  • by Philip Campbell
  • Jul 25, 2019

"If I Were You" is up and ready to go. Workshopped in January, double-cast from this year's crop of talented Merolini, and set for a run at Herbst Theatre August 1-6.

Fiddling through a difficult history

Fiddling through a difficult history

  • by Roberto Friedman
  • Jul 23, 2019

The opening-night film for the 39th San Francisco Jewish Film Festival lit up the Castro Theatre screen last Thursday night.

Post-Stonewall 50 soundtrack

Post-Stonewall 50 soundtrack

  • by Gregg Shapiro
  • Jul 23, 2019

Consider any or all of the following albums by LGBTQ artists to provide the music for your queer ears.

Summer concert introduces opera stars

Summer concert introduces opera stars

  • by Philip Campbell
  • Jul 16, 2019

Fresh faces, big voices, and an enthusiastic audience charged the San Francisco Conservatory of Music last week at the 62nd season opener of the Merola Opera Program.

Relevant reissues

Relevant reissues

  • by Gregg Shapiro
  • Jul 9, 2019

The female duo known as Zhané, whose moniker was a combo of their first names Renée Neufville and Jean Norris, had a hit with their debut disc "Pronounced Jah-Nay" (Motown/UMe), newly reissued in a double-LP vinyl set.

Summertime ovations for SF Symphony, SF Opera

Summertime ovations for SF Symphony, SF Opera

  • by Philip Campbell
  • Jul 2, 2019

San Francisco music-lovers taking staycations this summer can plan concert events knowing there is no lack of cultural activity in the coming months.

No happy ending, but a glorious opera

No happy ending, but a glorious opera

  • by Philip Campbell
  • Jun 25, 2019

The third and final entry in San Francisco Opera's summer season opened on Father's Day with stage director Leah Hausman's entertaining revival of David McVicar's Lyric Opera of Chicago production of Dvorak's dark and dreamlike "Rusalka."

Pride 2019: LGBTQ Pride whirlwind

Pride 2019: LGBTQ Pride whirlwind

  • by Roberto Friedman
  • Jun 25, 2019

There's an old comic movie about a European charter tour called "If It's Tuesday, It Must Be Belgium." Likewise, you could call the movie of our whirlwind last week "If It's Thursday, It Must Be Frameline."

Pride 2019: Why Judy Garland still matters

Pride 2019: Why Judy Garland still matters

  • by Brian Bromberger
  • Jun 25, 2019

While she was not the greatest singer of the 20th century, Judy Garland was possibly the greatest entertainer of the modern age. June 22 was the 50th anniversary of her untimely death at age 47 from an accidental overdose of barbiturates.

Updating 'Orlando'

Updating 'Orlando'

  • by Philip Campbell
  • Jun 18, 2019

"Orlando," the second installment in SFO's highly contrasted summer line-up of three, updates Handel's adventurous score to a 20th-century setting and adds psychological insight for 21st-century listeners.

Mahler marvels

Mahler marvels

  • by Tim Pfaff
  • Jun 18, 2019

As would only be fitting, MTT, our own private Merlin of Mahler, is crafting his farewell season as music director of the SF Symphony around two major pillars of the composer's output, the Sixth and Eighth Symphonies.

Trans performance celebrated: 'Fresh Meat'

Trans performance celebrated: 'Fresh Meat'

  • by Rae Raucci
  • Jun 14, 2019

The Fresh Meat Festival is an annual San Francisco performance celebration of transgender talent in diverse areas, from musical and vocal acts to dance performances, performance arts, theater pieces, and beyond.