Classical picks: Renee Fleming, Pepe Romero
This week's classical music calendar features soprano Renée Fleming in concert; the return of Chamber Music San Francisco with a full schedule; and classical guitar legend Pepe Romero.
Fabulous Fleming: With her gorgeous vocal sound and command of works from song repertoire to opera, Renée Fleming always dazzles. Accompanied by pianist Howard Watkins, the great soprano comes to Cal Performances on Friday to sing a wide range of works by composers including Faure, Handel, Liszt, Hazel Dickens, Björk, Burt Bacharach, Caroline Shaw, Nico Muhly, and others. She performs with a new video created in collaboration with the National Geographic Society, exploring humanity's relationship with nature. Details: 8 p.m. Friday; Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley; $81-$184; calperformances.org.
Piano magic: Chamber Music San Francisco launches its 2024season with pianist Zlata Chochieva; the Moscowborn, Berlin-based artist brings a program of works by Chopin, Rachmaninoff, and Scriabin. As always, the series offers three performances by each artist, at the Lesher Center in Walnut Creek, Oshman Family JCC, and Herbst Theatre in San Francisco. Additional events scheduled for later in the series include cellist Steven Isserlis, the Esme Quartet, and Boccherini String Trio. Single tickets and season passes are available. Details: Zlata Chochieva performs 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Walnut Creek, 3p.m. Sunday in San Francisco, 7:30 p.m. Monday in Palo Alto; single tickets $21-$75; chambermusicsf.org.
Guitar Hero: Fans of classical guitar will want to be at Saturday's concert by legendary artist Pepe Romero. Presented by the Omni Foundation for the Performing Arts, the great Spanish guitarist will play works by Isaac Albéniz, Heitor VillaLobos, and others. Details: 7:30 Saturday; Herbst Theatre, San Francisco; $55-$75; omniconcerts.com.