Classical highlights: California Symphony, tenor Appleby
Classical music lovers will want to check out these two events on this weekend’s calendar.
California Symphony takes flight: There’s a bird theme in California Symphony’s program this weekend: from Sibelius’ “Swan of Tuonela” to the nature sounds of Dvorak’s Symphony No. 8 and Haydn’s Symphony No. 83, “The Hen,” it’s a program of avian delights. Music director Donato Cabrera, who conducted a magnificent performance of Vaughan Williams’ Fifth Symphony in the orchestra’s previous program, opens this one with the composer’s beloved “The Lark Ascending,” with concertmaster Jennifer Cho as soloist.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 4 p.m. Sunday; Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek; proof of vaccination required and masks must be worn inside the venue; $44$74; 925-943-7469; www.californiasymphony.org.
Appleby sings: American tenor Paul Appleby made an indelible impression as miner Joe Cannon in the world premiere of John Adams’ “Girls of the Golden West” at San Francisco Opera and is slated to return to the company as Cesar in the world premiere of Adams’ “Antony and Cleopatra” this fall. He makes a much-anticipated stop for a vocal recital at Cal Performances on Sunday. Accompanied by pianist Conor Hanick, Appleby will sing music by Schubert and Schumann, Alban Berg’s “Altenberg Lieder” and Beethoven’s lone song cycle, “An die ferne Geliebte.”
Details: 3p.m. Sunday; Hertz Hall, UC Berkeley; proof of vaccination required and masks must be worn in the venue; $63-$68; calperformances.org.