San Francisco Symphony

Cooking for the Gala Crowd: The Opening Night Gala at San Francisco Symphony

The Weekend Hitlist: Eddie Izzard, The Melvins, Zine Fest, Download

Friday: Bernadette Peters with the San Francisco Symphony

Art Attack

Small arts groups want the city to stop favoring the Gang of Six

Hot Bach in the Summertime

Small arts groups want the city to stop favoring the Gang of Six

Mercury Soul Merges Visual Art with Classical Music and Contemporary Electronica

Small arts groups want the city to stop favoring the Gang of Six

The Cult of Oz

Small arts groups want the city to stop favoring the Gang of Six

San Francisco Symphony’s Opening Gala Gives an Indie Critic the Night Off

Small arts groups want the city to stop favoring the Gang of Six

Golden Gate for Sale

The people overseeing the San Francisco landmark consider selling ad space on the bridge

Free Symphony

The people overseeing the San Francisco landmark consider selling ad space on the bridge

From symphonies to smoke machines: snapshots of three very different shows

The people overseeing the San Francisco landmark consider selling ad space on the bridge

In the Club

Moscone gets green

Not Really a Deli

But discovering a great deli sandwich during a great summer festival is quite nice

Best Dance to Attend If You Were Never Asked to the Prom

But discovering a great deli sandwich during a great summer festival is quite nice

The World on a String

As the San Francisco Conservatory of Music moves to fancy new digs, its students struggle with a shrinking professional marketplace.

What a Dick

My favorite funny, great big mess

The Rockets' Red Glare

Where to catch cool fireworks shows around town

Men in Drag

No remote controls allowed

Summer Events a Go Go!

What to do, all summer long

Innocence Well-Fed

The S.F. Symphony's summer festival of German music sends us in search of sausage, schnitzel, and sauerbraten

What's Up, Doc?

Bugs Bunny on Broadway is a multimedia salute to cartoons and classical music

Riff Raff

Free Lars Ulrich!; New Groove; Sound Off

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Free Lars Ulrich!; New Groove; Sound Off

Riff Raff

Free Lars Ulrich!; New Groove; Sound Off

Swede Victory

Conductor Herbert Blomstedt rescues an obscure composer from the classical dustbin

Riff Raff

Conductor Herbert Blomstedt rescues an obscure composer from the classical dustbin

Slap Shots

Conductor Herbert Blomstedt rescues an obscure composer from the classical dustbin

Stern Grove Festival Announces Lineup

EKAphotographySeun Kuti performs at Stern Grove, 2008 The 72nd annual series of free summer concerts at Sigmund Stern Grove--one of San Francisco's best traditions--has been announced. As always, the lineup of artists spans a diverse range of genres and styles. Performers include Roberta Flack and D ... More >>

That's Classic

EKAphotographySeun Kuti performs at Stern Grove, 2008 The 72nd annual series of free summer concerts at Sigmund Stern Grove--one of San Francisco's best traditions--has been announced. As always, the lineup of artists spans a diverse range of genres and styles. Performers include Roberta Flack and D ... More >>

Convicted Embezzler Linda Simwa Cons SF Symphony, UCSF

EKAphotographySeun Kuti performs at Stern Grove, 2008 The 72nd annual series of free summer concerts at Sigmund Stern Grove--one of San Francisco's best traditions--has been announced. As always, the lineup of artists spans a diverse range of genres and styles. Performers include Roberta Flack and D ... More >>

Isn’t It Symphonic?

EKAphotographySeun Kuti performs at Stern Grove, 2008 The 72nd annual series of free summer concerts at Sigmund Stern Grove--one of San Francisco's best traditions--has been announced. As always, the lineup of artists spans a diverse range of genres and styles. Performers include Roberta Flack and D ... More >>

10 Things To Do This Weekend For Under $10

Being a cheapskate is easy in this city -- there's plenty of culture to be had for less than the price of a fancy farmer's market cocktail. Below, our picks for a low-budget weekend.Dead Meadow at McLaren Park on SaturdayHex Dispensers @ Annie's (Friday) Loud, fast, and macabre: That seems to be the ... More >>

Mos Def and Erkyah Badu Davies Hall Show Announced

Baduizm: Erykah Badu​ If you missed your first chance to see hip-hop take over the normally-staid Davies Hall--home of the San Francisco Symphony, don't fret. Ankh Marketing and Guerilla Union (promoters of Rock the Bells) has just announced an upcoming performance by the mighty Mos Def and the di ... More >>

Five Classical Music and Opera Events to See This Fall

Baduizm: Erykah Badu​ If you missed your first chance to see hip-hop take over the normally-staid Davies Hall--home of the San Francisco Symphony, don't fret. Ankh Marketing and Guerilla Union (promoters of Rock the Bells) has just announced an upcoming performance by the mighty Mos Def and the di ... More >>

Hey DJ! Friday Q&A: Masonic aka Mason Bates

​Mason Bates is probably the only DJ who gets props from both the downtown dance community and ritzy classical society. The San Franciscan has an impressive resume fit for both worlds. He's performed with the San Francisco Symphony and is the current composer-in-residence for the California Sympho ... More >>

Trashy Music

​Mason Bates is probably the only DJ who gets props from both the downtown dance community and ritzy classical society. The San Franciscan has an impressive resume fit for both worlds. He's performed with the San Francisco Symphony and is the current composer-in-residence for the California Sympho ... More >>

San Francisco's Harvey Milk Day Plans Are Pathetic

Jerry PritikinHarvey Milk stood for ... tricycle races? ​This Saturday, May 22, is the inaugural Harvey Milk Day in the State of California. As you'd expect, there's lots of stuff happening in San Francisco commemorating the gay icon. What you might not expect is how tame San Francisco's event ... More >>

SF Symphony to Honor Mexico in Free Dolores Park Concert Today at 2 p.m.

Alondra de la Parra​This by way of the Mexican Consulate: San Francisco Symphony will hold a "special tribute to Mexico" in Dolores Park today honoring the 200th anniversary of the country's independence from Spain. The free concert will be conducted by Alondra de la Parra, a Mexico native who now ... More >>

Violins of Violence

Alondra de la Parra​This by way of the Mexican Consulate: San Francisco Symphony will hold a "special tribute to Mexico" in Dolores Park today honoring the 200th anniversary of the country's independence from Spain. The free concert will be conducted by Alondra de la Parra, a Mexico native who now ... More >>

What to Want to Be When You Grow Up

Alondra de la Parra​This by way of the Mexican Consulate: San Francisco Symphony will hold a "special tribute to Mexico" in Dolores Park today honoring the 200th anniversary of the country's independence from Spain. The free concert will be conducted by Alondra de la Parra, a Mexico native who now ... More >>

San Francisco Cops Shut Down Kids' Lemonade Stand (PIC)

Robert BrustMove along, nothing to sell here...​The law is the law -- come what may. So when the police sergeant in this photo gave the heave-ho to dozens of bell-ringing Mexican ice cream vendors during yesterday's San Francisco Symphony event at Dolores Park -- bell-ringing and classical music d ... More >>

Fall Arts: Classical music and operas to see this fall

Robert BrustMove along, nothing to sell here...​The law is the law -- come what may. So when the police sergeant in this photo gave the heave-ho to dozens of bell-ringing Mexican ice cream vendors during yesterday's San Francisco Symphony event at Dolores Park -- bell-ringing and classical music d ... More >>

Friday Night: Rufus Wainwright Does Shakespeare at Davies Symphony Hall

Rufus Wainwright​Five Shakespeare Sonnets  Rufus Wainwright and the San Francisco Symphony November 13, 2010 @ Davies Symphony Hall Better than: Rufus Wainwright sings Dante's Interno. All right, I'll just say it: most of my knowledge of classical music comes from honking "Flight of ... More >>

Ten holiday shows to suit any mood or creed

Rufus Wainwright​Five Shakespeare Sonnets  Rufus Wainwright and the San Francisco Symphony November 13, 2010 @ Davies Symphony Hall Better than: Rufus Wainwright sings Dante's Interno. All right, I'll just say it: most of my knowledge of classical music comes from honking "Flight of ... More >>

Symphony Charges S.F. Library $480 Yearly, Despite $2.6M Annual Taxpayer Subsidy

Thanks for placing your overdue-book fines in my pocket​The San Francisco Symphony will receive $2.6 million in taxpayer subsidies during the current fiscal year. Nonetheless, it charges the San Francisco Public Library an additional $480 per year for dropping off old programs, the San Francisco c ... More >>

Stern Grove Festival 2011: Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Neko Case, the Dodos, the English Beat, and More

What you're doing on Sundays this summer.​ You know what summer means in San Francisco -- uh, besides fog? It means free concerts on Sundays at Stern Grove, courtesy of the long-running Stern Grove Festival. Today, festival organizers announced the lineup for the festival's 74th consecutive ye ... More >>

S.F. Symphony Summer Conductor Michael Francis on the Joys of Performing Outdoors

Chris Cristodoulou​In the conducting world, Michael Francis is a rising star. Young, talented, and armed with a devastatingly cute British accent, this is a conductor to keep an eye on. Fortunately for us, Francis will be in town this summer, conducting the San Francisco Symphony's annual summer c ... More >>

Your S.F. Symphony Is Playing for Free to Mark Its 100th Birthday This Week

Chris Wahlberg​What do we get when an orchestra turns 100 years old? (Besides very well-tuned renditions of "Happy Birthday," that is.) In the case of the San Francisco Symphony, we get a free concert with pianist Lang Lang. The centennial birthday bash, which will be held in the Civic Center ... More >>

Snow Daze

Chris Wahlberg​What do we get when an orchestra turns 100 years old? (Besides very well-tuned renditions of "Happy Birthday," that is.) In the case of the San Francisco Symphony, we get a free concert with pianist Lang Lang. The centennial birthday bash, which will be held in the Civic Center ... More >>

Take the High Road to 2012

Chris Wahlberg​What do we get when an orchestra turns 100 years old? (Besides very well-tuned renditions of "Happy Birthday," that is.) In the case of the San Francisco Symphony, we get a free concert with pianist Lang Lang. The centennial birthday bash, which will be held in the Civic Center ... More >>