Category Archives: Music

California Bach Society – Handel Anthems

Posted on April 28, 2012 by Michael

I’ve been meaning to check out one of the California Bach Society’s concerts ever since hearing about the great work that Paul Flight was doing with the group. Tonight we heard a delightful program of Handel Anthems. Continue reading →

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Coming Up: Mason Bates’ Mass Transmission

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Michael

Before we launch Mass Transmission into the world tomorrow evening, I’d like to reflect on some of the musical aspects that I love about both this piece and other works by Mason Bates. Continue reading →

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Debussy Reviews; On to Bates

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Michael

The reviews for the San Francisco Symphony production of Le martyre de Saint Sébastien are in. The Chorus finally gets to take a 6-week breather, and then we start rehearsals for the premiere of Mason Bates’ Mass Transmission. Continue reading →

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Coming Up: Debussy

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Michael

If you’re in San Francisco this weekend and love Debussy, you really should try to get to see and hear our production of Le martyre de Saint Sébastien at the San Francisco Symphony. We’re doing the full incidental music in a semi-staged production. Continue reading →

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Coming Up: Brahms and Schütz

Posted on November 17, 2011 by Michael

Tonight begins our four-concert run of Brahms’ A German Requiem with the San Francisco Symphony, conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas. The program opens with the Chorus singing one of Heinrich Schütz’s a cappella six-part motets, Ich bin ein rechter Weinstock, conducted by Ragnar Bohlin. Continue reading →

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Coming Up: Verdi Requiem

Posted on October 13, 2011 by Michael

When you work on music notation software for a living and you sing in choruses, the two tend to intersect. The Verdi Requiem turns out to be one of music notation’s record holders. Continue reading →

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Heart of a Soldier

Posted on September 21, 2011 by Michael

I attended Sunday’s performance of the new Christopher Theofanidis opera Heart of a Soldier in its premiere run at San Francisco Opera, and found it to be a very moving and powerful piece. Continue reading →

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A Chorister’s Preview of the SFS Centennial

Posted on September 20, 2011 by Michael

The centennial season of the San Francisco Symphony has begun! What does that mean for the SFS Chorus? Continue reading →

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