Arts & Culture :: Music

Saving Saint-Saëns: 'Carnaval des Animaux' and other works

Saving Saint-Saëns: 'Carnaval des Animaux' and other works

  • by Tim Pfaff
  • Dec 21, 2021

Camille Saint-Saëns has gotten a comparatively bad rap as being 'superficial.' New and recent recordings may prove that bias wrong.

Martha Wash: new music with love

Martha Wash: new music with love

  • by Cornelius Washington
  • Dec 7, 2021

If anyone can get us through this virus, from a musical perspective, it's Martha Wash. Her new album, 'Love & Conflict,' is the must-have album of the season. The iconic singer shared her thoughts and opinions in an expanded interview.

Cassandra's complex: Shotgun's take on Malvina Reynolds; SF Playhouse's 'Twelfth Night'

Cassandra's complex: Shotgun's take on Malvina Reynolds; SF Playhouse's 'Twelfth Night'

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Dec 7, 2021

Malvina Reynolds's "Little Boxes" expands to a performance arty stage event, while SF Playhouse's one-act version of Shakespeare comedy of errors is colorfully anachronistic.

Rizo's holiday extravaganza

Rizo's holiday extravaganza

  • by David-Elijah Nahmod
  • Dec 2, 2021

The fabulous Rizo will bring her unique style of performing to a holiday themed show on the stage of the Great Star Theater in Chinatown on December 10 and 11.

Holiday concerts of note

Holiday concerts of note

  • by Philip Campbell
  • Nov 30, 2021

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.

Stephen Sondheim: March 22, 1930-November 26, 2021

Stephen Sondheim: March 22, 1930-November 26, 2021

  • by Brian Bromberger
  • Nov 29, 2021

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.

Igor Levit performs Shostakovich's 'Passacaglia on DSCH' in 3-CD set

Igor Levit performs Shostakovich's 'Passacaglia on DSCH' in 3-CD set

  • by Tim Pfaff
  • Nov 23, 2021

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.

Holigay events: choral, cabaret, comedy and more for December fun

Holigay events: choral, cabaret, comedy and more for December fun

  • by David-Elijah Nahmod
  • Nov 22, 2021

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.

Lena Hall: Broadway's shining star returns to Feinstein's

Lena Hall: Broadway's shining star returns to Feinstein's

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Nov 16, 2021

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.

Simply marvelous: Chris Conde, queer-conscious rapper

Simply marvelous: Chris Conde, queer-conscious rapper

  • by Gregg Shapiro
  • Nov 16, 2021

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

Josie Cotton's more than Johnny's girl

Josie Cotton's more than Johnny's girl

  • by Gregg Shapiro
  • Nov 9, 2021

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.

Music for a new century: Mark Adamo concerts at Bay Area venues

Music for a new century: Mark Adamo concerts at Bay Area venues

  • by Philip Campbell
  • Oct 28, 2021

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.'

50 years in 50 weeks: batting 2000 & love for Liza

50 years in 50 weeks: batting 2000 & love for Liza

  • by Jim Provenzano
  • Oct 28, 2021

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.

Out at Outside Lands

Out at Outside Lands

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Oct 26, 2021

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.