Steven Winn

The Merola Opera Program singers filled the War Memorial Opera House with vocal luster in everything from grand opera to zarzuela to pop.

“Take care of our baby,” Wu Han tells the audience as she and David Finckel close 24 years at Music@Menlo.

The ebullient production of Richard Strauss’ opera hits the mark musically and dramatically, as the young Merolini shine.

Keturah Stickann’s staging gives Handel's Rinaldo an animated Spiderman vibe that maximizes the work’s virtues.

Stephen Hough’s Les Noces Rouges transforms a Willa Cather tragedy into gripping chamber music.

Director Mo Zhou’s production is lifted by vivid singing from Ariana Maubach and Raúl Morales Velazco.

Though the conductor needed to iron out some kinks, Paul Huang delivered an affecting account of Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1.

 Emceed by funny, cheerleading Sapphira Cristál, the Pride Concert effortlessly integrated wildly different repertoire.

Conductor Tianyi Lu made her debut with the SF Symphony, but violinist Maria Dueñas stole the show.

The music director designate led a fluid and fierce program on June 5. The evening felt celebratory, emotional, and full of promise.