A terrific team
Two artists who have won rave reviews at Symphony Silicon Valley are returning for three performances by the orchestra at the California Theatre.
Conducted by Argentine conductor Carlos Vieu, the program features pianist Jon Nakamatsu, gold medalist at the Tenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 1997. Nakamatsu will serve as soloist in Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3, and Vieu, who conducted Symphony Silicon Valley’s “Misa Tango” performances last season, completes this weekend’s program with Carreño’s “Margariteña,” Respighi’s “Pines of Rome” and Debussy’s “Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun.”
Details: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2:30 p.m. Sunday; California Theatre, San Jose; $45-$90; 408-2862600, www.symphonysiliconvalley.org.
St. Patrick’s parades on tap
There’s a wee bit of rain in the forecast for Saturday, but that shouldn’t keep celebrants away from the Bay Area’s two biggest St. Patrick’s Day events:
Dublin: The East Bay’s celebration starts with a pancake breakfast at 7 a.m. at Fire Station No. 16, followed by the annual Dublin Lions Club Parade at 9:30 a.m. The Dublin Boulevard route starts at Amador Plaza Road and heads to the festival grounds at the Dublin Civic Center, where you’ll find live music, dancing, carnival rides, Irish food and Celtic vendors (even an Irish tea cottage) until 7 p.m. Saturday and again Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free admission. Details: dublinca.gov.
San Francisco: The city’s been marking this holiday with a grand parade since the days of the Gold Rush. The 167th annual event, with thousands marching, will step off at Second and Market streets at 11:30 a.m. The route ends at Civic Center, where a free festival will showcase Irish arts, culture, food and history from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free admission. Details: www.uissf.org.