San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
JOSHUA KOSMAN’S CLASSICAL MUSIC PICK
The San Francisco Girls Chorus isn’t just a skilled and adventurous ensemble in its own right. It’s also an energetic collaborator with all kinds of other local musical groups, which makes its offerings delightfully varied and unpredictable.
For its annual holiday concert under Artistic Director Valérie Sainte-Agathe, the group will be sharing the stage of Davies Symphony Hall with both the Kronos Quartet and the women’s chorus Musae. The program is a diverse one, ranging from Christmas sing-alongs to music by composers Reena Esmail and Michael Gordon.
San Francisco Girls Chorus:
7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 17. $30-$62. Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave., S.F. 415-392-4400. www.sfgirlschorus. org 10 Ave. of the Flags, San Rafael. www.marincenter.org
Mission Dolores Basilica Choir “Christmas Concert.” Jerome Lenk conducts works by Gounod. David Hatt, organ. 5 p.m. Sun., Dec. 16. $20-$30. Mission Dolores Basilica, 3321 16th St., S.F. 415-621-8203. www.missiondolores.org
Noon Concert: Nipper Trio Barbara Riccardi, violin; Sarah Fiene, cello; Richard Riccardi, piano. Noon Wed., Dec. 19. Free. Throckmorton Theatre, 142 Throckmorton, Mill Valley. www.throckmortontheatre.org
Noontime Concerts: Spanish Brass Holiday and Seasonal works. 12:30 p.m. Tues., Dec. 11. Old St. Mary’s Cathedral, 660 California St., S.F. www.noontimeconcerts.org
Oakland Symphony Michael Morgan conducts “Swing and Soul: Let Us Break Bread Together.” Ellen Hoffman, piano; Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir; Vocal Rush. 4 p.m. Sun., Dec. 16. $15-$60. Paramount Theatre, Oakland. 510-444-0801. www.oaklandsymphony.org
Old First Concerts Kitka Women’s Vocal Ensemble. “Wintersongs: Harmonies of Heaven and Earth.” 8 p.m. Fri., Dec. 21. $5-$25, under 12 free. Sandra Wright Shen, piano. Works by Crumb, Messiaen, Bach, Liszt, Chopin, others. 4 p.m. Sun., Dec. 23. $5-$25, under 12 free. Old First Presbyterian Church, 1751 Sacramento St., S.F. www.oldfirstconcerts.org
Sacred and Profane “Heavenly Spheres: Sacred Songs of the Night Sky.” Jonathan Dimmock, organ. 4 p.m. Sun., Dec. 16. $10-$28. St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 1111 O’Farrell St., S.F. www.sacredprofane.org
S.F. Bay Area Chamber Choir “The Sound of Christmas Past.” 7 p.m. Sat., Dec. 22. $10-$40. St. Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church, 500 De Haro St., S.F. www.sfbaychoir.org
S.F. Contemporary Music Players “Community: Sonic Meditations.” Works by Pauline Oliveros,, Cornelius Cardew. 3 p.m. Sun., Dec. 16. Free. Women’s Building, 3543 18th St., S.F. www.sfcmp.org
S.F. Choral Society “Festival of Carols.” Bryan Baker conducts works by Holst, Moses Hogan, others. With the Crowden Chamber Singers, Epiphone Brass Ensemble. 3 p.m. Sun., Dec. 16. $13-$15. First Unitarian Church, 1187 Franklin St., S.F. 415-221-5590. www.sfchoral.org
S.F. Gay Men’s Chorus “Home for the Holidays.” 5 p.m. Sun., Dec. 16. Green Music Center, 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. www.sfgmc.org S.F. Girl’s Chorus with the Kronos Quartet, Musae “Holiday at Davies.” 7:30 p.m. Mon., Dec. 17. $30-$62. Davies Symphony Hall, 201 van Ness Ave., S.F. www.sfgirlschorus.org
S.F. Renaissance Voices “La Pastorela (the Shepherd’s Story).” 8 p.m. Sun., Dec. 16. $20-$30. Derek Tam conducts “A Festival of Lessons and Carols.” 4 p.m. Sat., Dec. 22. Free. Incarnation Episcopal Church, 1750 29th Ave., S.F. sunsetarts.wordpress.com S.F. Symphony “More Is More: Beethoven Horn Sextet & Mozart Clarinet Quintet.” Works by Beethoven, Mozart, Taneyev. 2 p.m. Sun., Dec. 16. $45. Edwin Outwater conducts “Holiday Brass.” 7:30 p.m. Sun., Dec. 16. $25-$95. “Home Alone.” Film screening with orchestral accompaniment. With Young Women’s Choral Project, Ragazzi Boys Chorus, S.F. Symphony Chorus. 7:30 p.m. Wed.-Fri., Dec. 19-21. $27.50-$165. The Midtown Men vocal quartet. 7:30 p.m. Sat., Dec. 22. $25-$85. “‘Twas the Night: A Festival of Carols.” Ragnar Bohlin conducts seasonal works. With the S.F. Girls Chorus, S.F. Symphony Chorus, Jonathan Dimmock, organ. 7:30 p.m. Sun., Dec. 23. $55-$135. Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave., S.F. www.sfsymphony.org
Schola Cantorum Gregory Wait conducts “A John Rutter Christmas: Annual Holiday Concert.” 3 p.m. Sun., Dec. 16. $33. Mountain View Cemnter for Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View. 650-254-1700. www.scholacantorum.org SingersMarin “’Tis the Season ... Sing Joy.” 4 p.m. Sun., Dec. 16. $15-$40. Marin Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium, 10 Ave. of the Flags, San Rafael. 415-383-3712. www.singersmarin.org
Sing Napa Valley “A Day for Dancing.” 3 p.m. Sun., Dec. 16. $25-$30. Napa Methodist Church, 625 Randolph St., Napa. 707-255-4662. www.singnapavalley.org Sonos Handbell Ensemble with Frederica von Stade Mezzo-soprano. 2:30 p.m. Sun., Dec. 16. $32-$72. Bing Concert Hall, 327 Lasuen St., Stanford. live.stanford.edu
Voices of Music “Virtuoso Baroque Concerto Holiday Celebration.” $5-$47. 8 p.m. Thurs., Dec. 20 at Tateuchi Hall, 230 San Antonio Circle, Mountain View. 8 p.m. Sat., Dec. 22 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 1111 O’Farrell St., S.F. 7:30 p.m. Sun., Dec. 23 at St. Mary Magdalen Church, 2005 Berryman St., Berkeley. www.voicesofmusic.org