Bay Area Reporter :: Music News

Great Britten from the jump — Violin Concerto, 'Spring Symphony,' shorter works in new recordings

May 13, 2024 | by Tim Pfaff

Harmonia Mundi has released a new live recording of Benjamin Britten's Violin Concerto, with Isabelle Faust as soloist. As in the case of "Spring Symphony," the recording is rounded out with shorter pieces that demonstrate how fine a composer Britten was.

LZ Love's 'From The Rooter to The Tooter' - a transgender life of love & music

by Cornelius Washington
May 13, 2024

"From The Rooter to The Tooter" explores the amazing life of LZ Love, her trials, tribulations, toils and snares of being a Black child raised in the 1960s and '70s in The Bay Area.

Q-Music: country Pride playlist

by Gregg Shapiro
May 12, 2024

The genres of Country and Americana continue to expand in styles with queer musicians Jaime Wyatt, Amelia White, Creekbed Carter Hogan, Stephanie Sammons, Zoe Boekbinder, and The Western Civilization.

Glam-rock folk-singer Aaron Lee Tasjan's 'Stellar' achievement

by Gregg Shapiro
May 7, 2024

An early contender for one of the best albums of 2024, "Stellar Evolution" (Blue Élan) by queer singer/songwriter Aaron Lee Tasjan is modern pop perfection.

Tchaikovsky's 'The Enchantress' - New rarely heard opera and other works

by Tim Pfaff
May 7, 2024

One of the peskier questions in the classical music world: Does lesser-known mean lesser? New recordings of seldom-heard music by one Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, as familiar a composer as could be, say, no.

Vladimir Kornéev: International singing star to make U.S. debut in Orinda

by Jim Gladstone
Apr 30, 2024

Berlin-based singer Vladmir Kornéev has recorded five critically acclaimed albums, toured Europe, played with symphony orchestras in Germany and Montreal. He'll be in the Bay Area in May to make his United States concert debut.

Q-Music: more pre-Pride tunes with cool sounds

by Gregg Shapiro
Apr 30, 2024

Our prolific music reviewer shares new and recent albums from Palehound, The Drums, Jenny Owen Youngs, Wrabel, and the "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" 2023 Broadway Cast Recording.

SF International Arts Festival offers podium to LGBTQ performers: music and dance are on the menu

by David-Elijah Nahmod
Apr 23, 2024

Since 2003 the San Francisco International Arts Festival has celebrated the arts by bringing together a global community of performers and audiences. The festival will run from May 1 until May 12 at various venues around the city's Mission District.

Vanessa Briscoe Hay - singer on Pylon Reenactment Society's musical magnetism

by Gregg Shapiro
Apr 21, 2024

Pylon Reenactment Society, led by the band's original vocalist Vanessa Briscoe Hay, along with Jason Nesmith, Kay Stanton, and Gregory Sanders, makes its album debut on "Magnet Factory."

Going Out, April 18-26, 2024

by Jim Provenzano
Apr 18, 2024

What's black and white and read all over? Our arts and nightlife listings! Check it out this week and every week in Going Out.

Pre-Pride playlist: music from Isle of Klezbos, Kinsey Sicks, Lila Blue & more

by Gregg Shapiro
Apr 5, 2024

Celebrate the sound of new music by Isle of Klezbos, The Kinsey Sicks, Lila Blue, Melissa Errico's second Sondheim album, and a tribute to the late Nanci Griffith.

'Indigo Girls: It's Only Life After All' - music documentary's much closer to fine

by Gregg Shapiro
Apr 2, 2024

Amy Ray and Emily Saliers are the subjects of a marvelous and long overdue documentary, "Indigo Girls: It's Only Life After All" which, including their "Barbie" boost, new album and tour, adds up to more music enjoyment for their fans.

Tom Goss: gay singer/songwriter talks about his new album and his upcoming SF show

by David-Elijah Nahmod
Apr 2, 2024

Gay singer/songwriter Tom Goss celebrates the release of his latest album, "Remember What it Feels Like," with a concert at the Utah on April 11 as part of his performing tour.

Birds, balls & battles: Opera Parallèle pairs two one-act operas

by Philip Campbell
Mar 26, 2024

Innovative Opera Parallèle is re-teaming with SFJAZZ April 5-7 for a world premiere double bill. Two one-act operas, "Vinkensport, or The Finch Opera" and "Balls" extend the partnerships' repertoire of edgy contemporary works and clever musical hook-ups.

'Drag Me to the Movies' - Cinematic songs with the SF Gay Men's Chorus

by David-Elijah Nahmod
Mar 19, 2024

On March 28 the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus will take to the stage of Davies Symphony Hall for an evening that will celebrate the magic of the movies with hit songs, and guest performer Lady Camden.

Arts & Culture :: Music