Jens Ibsen is a composer and baritone based in Oakland, CA. His work alchemizes metal into music for the concert hall. For his long-form music criticism, check out his Substack here. His Instagram is jens.ibsen. Articles By This Author Review The Sublime Antics of Losing Kontrol Jens Ibsen - August 11, 2026 Clarice Assad's Kontrol brilliantly parodies a tech demo gone haywire. Review Music@Menlo: Many Voices, Resonating as One Jens Ibsen - August 4, 2026 In their final Menlo season, David Finckel and Wu Han program music that mattered — and musicians who make it matter again. Review Midsummer Mozart Goes to Paris Jens Ibsen - July 28, 2026 A Berkeley program ties Mozart's Parisian era to Enlightenment ideals, always sounds fresh, and never overstays its welcome. Review Del Sol String Quartet Honors Hawaiian History on Angel Island Jens Ibsen - July 13, 2026 The string quartet hosts a regular concert series on the island. Each program focuses on the experience of a different immigrant community. Artist Spotlight Yoshiki is a Rebellious Rock Star Grounded in Classical Tradition Jens Ibsen - July 7, 2026 The multihyphenate will perform classical and rock repertoire at Walt Disney Concert Hall on July 16-17. Review Amateur Singers, Uncommon Ambition: Ensemble Continuo Takes on Frank Martin Jens Ibsen - June 30, 2026 A community choir's ambitious program — Philip Glass, Frank Martin, and Maurice Duruflé — proves that amateur singers can achieve the sublime. Review Francis Johnson's Music Gets a Spirited New Life Jens Ibsen - June 16, 2026 Francis Johnson gets a dazzling revival from Music of the Regiment and the New York Baroque Dance Company. Review Napa’s Breathtaking Aeternum Choir Sings of Love, Loss, and Transcendence Jens Ibsen - May 19, 2026 During a program of sacred music, the world-class vocal ensemble was unafraid to resonate with current events.
