San Francisco Composers Chamber Orchestra in an evening of contemporary music

By Brenden Guy, 24 October 2012

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Reviewed at Old First Church, San Francisco on 20 October 2012

Verotta, Dances to Mytilini

Varèse, Octandre

Crossman, Two Walks

Howe, Theme for a Unicorn

Bilotta, Thurber Country

Prosek, Overture to L'Avventura

Alburger, Triple Concerto for bassoon, contrabassoon and harp, Op.201

San Francisco Composers Chamber Orchestra

Concertos – for violin and for orchestra – from the Hallé

Peter Connors, 22nd March

Viktoria Mullova is a superb soloist in Brahms' Violin Concerto, while an orchestra full of soloists play Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra with Kahchun Wong presiding.

*****

Guitars, electronics and ancient treatises: the JACK Quartet at 92NY

Kurt Gottschalk, 20th March

At 92NY, the JACK Quartet performs four new works developed in their JACK Studio, including a commissioned premiere from the electrifying Tristan Perich.

****1

Kristiina Poska makes an exciting return to conduct the RSNO

Simon Thompson, 20th March

Kristiina Poska directs the RSNO in gripping Tchaikovsky and Pärt, but words and music only occasionally match in Elena Langer's new song cycle.

***11

Chopin and Franck reframed with elegance and insight in Dublin

Andrew Larkin, 20th March

In Dublin, Jean-Luc Tingaud and Louis Lortie bring clarity and purpose to two composers often ill at ease with the orchestra.

****1

Jaap van Zweden and the Seoul Philharmonic’s measured Mahler 6

SangKwon Lee, 19th March

That last movement proves the evening’s true point of reckoning in the Seoul Philharmonic's performance of Mahler’s Sixth Symphony at Lotte Concert Hall.

****1

Shared language and living history: Zubin Mehta and the Vienna Phil

Chanda VanderHart, 19th March

Zubin Mehta, Pinchas Zukerman and the Vienna Philharmonic meet in repertoire they know intimately, illuminating it through mutual understanding.

*****

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Brenden Guy

British clarinetist Brenden Guy is a graduate of the Royal College of Music and San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He currently resides in San Francisco as an active performer and arts publicist.