This year’s fall classical music season is cause for celebration.
Even a brief survey of what’s to come signals optimism, with presenters offering the kind of ambitious programming we haven’t seen in several years.
It makes sense, given what we’ve gone through. The pandemic cut into the music scene like a buzz saw, with many long-planned events cancelled outright or postponed.
Now the signs are positive. Audiences have returned; new works and rarities are on the calendar. In September, San Francisco Opera, which gave us an unforgettable production of Kaija Saariaho’s “Innocence” in June, is offering Poul Rouders’ “The Handmaid’s Tale,” based on Margaret Atwood’s landmark novel.
Even after the devastating news that music director Esa-Pekka Salonen will leave the San Francisco Symphony next year, audiences will be able to celebrate his stellar work on the podium this season.
In the coming months, significant artists are scheduled to appear — the brilliant pianist Igor Levit at Cal Performances, composer Jake Heggie at San Francisco Performances, Nico Muhly at San Francisco Symphony, multi-instrumentalist Vân-Ánh Võ at Stanford Live.
Regional orchestras from Berkeley, Oakland and San Jose and Walnut Creek have exciting programs planned.
New works, enduring classics, world-renowned acts and Bay Area favorites — fall’s classical music calendar is filled with events you won’t want to miss.
Here are 10 top attractions.
‘The Handmaid’s Tale’: San Francisco Opera has a great season in store, beginning with a Sept. 6 Opera Ball, an opening night featuring Verdi’s “Un Ballo in Maschera,” productions of “Tristan and Isolde,” “Idomeneo” and more. But right now, all eyes are on “The Handmaid’s Tale”; this highly anticipated contemporary opera, based on Margaret Atwood’s futuristic novel, features a score by composer Poul Ruders and libretto by Paul Bentley to re-create the story of Offred, a woman struggling to survive in a terrifying dystopian world. Mezzo-soprano Irene Roberts returns to San Francisco to join an international cast; Karen Kamensek conducts.
Details: Sept. 14-Oct. 1; War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco; $28-438; 415-864-3330, sfopera.org.
S.F. Symphony Gala: San Francisco Symphony music director Esa-Pekka Salonen officially launches the 2024-25 season on Sept. 25 with the annual Opening Night Gala, featuring husband-and-wife pianists Lang Lang and Gina Alice in works by Saint-Saëns, along with selections from Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet.” Also in September: Salonen conducts Verdi’s “Requiem” (Sept. 19-21) and the first performances of a new piano concerto by composer Nico Muhly (Sept. 27-28).
Details: Opening Night Gala, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 25, Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco; $199-399; additional programs $30-$205; 415-864-6000, sfsymphony.org.
It’s ‘Magic’: Opera San Jose launches its 41st season with “The Magic Flute”; Mozart’s timeless opera is conducted by Alma Deutscher, who led company performances of her own opera, “Cinderella,” a few seasons back. Now she returns to the podium for this family-friendly work. The OSJ season also includes “La Boheme,” “Bluebeard’s Castle,” and “Zorro.”
Details: “The Magic Flute,” Sept. 14-29; California Theatre, San Jose; $62.50-$222.50; operasj.org.
Chanticleer around the Bay: The Bay Area’s own 12-man vocal chorus celebrates its new album, “On a Clear Day,” spanning Renaissance motets to a new composition by Ayanna Woods; the group’s season-opening program includes selections from the album, along with signature works drawn from past Chanticleer projects.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 14, San Francisco Conservatory of Music; repeat performances in Sacramento, Berkeley, Santa Clara and Mill Valley through Sept. 20; $30-$71; chanticleer.org.
Festival Opera: Following Festival Opera’s delightful double bill of “Voix Humaine” and “Dido and Aeneas” in July, the company under Zachary Gordin is presenting a series of three vocal recitals: “Lucky in Love,” featuring mezzo-soprano Kindra Scharich and pianist Jeffrey LaDeur (Sept. 22), followed by events featuring contralto Sara Couden and pianist Derek Tam (Oct. 27), and baritone Gordin, accompanied by pianist Daniel Lockert (Nov. 17).
Details: Performances at Piedmont Center for the Arts, Oakland; $40 single tickets, $95 series; festivalopera.org.
Bullock in ‘Harawi’: Cal Performances opens its 24-25 season with “Harawi,” Olivier Messiaen’s hour-long, choreographed cycle of 12 songs for voice and piano. Written in 1945 as the first part of the composer’s “Tristan” trilogy, it’s presented here in its U.S. premiere by An American Opera Company, featuring celebrated soprano Julia Bullock, accompanied by pianist Conor Hanick and directed by Zack Winokur.
Details: 8 p.m. Sept. 27; Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley; $31-$78; calperformances.org.
A new ‘Daughter’: Livermore Valley Opera returns this fall with a new production of “Daughter of the Regiment.” Donizetti’s comedy, which includes the feat of tenor prowess that earned Luciano Pavarotti the title of “King of the High C’s,” is family fun for all ages. The cast features Véronique Filloux as Marie, Chris Mosz as Tonio, and Eugene Brancoveanu as Sulpice.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 28, 2 p.m. Sept. 9 and Oct. 5-6; Bankhead Theater, Livermore; $25-$110; livermorevalleyopera.com.
Heggie and Phan: It’ll be a gala night when composer and pianist Jake Heggie and tenor Nicholas Phan launch San Francisco Performances’ season with a special concert, with proceeds to support the organization’s award-winning music education programs.
Details: 7 p.m. Oct. 4, Herbst Theatre, San Francisco; $50 concert only; separate tickets available for pre- and post-concert events; sfperformances.org.
Oakland Symphony’s new era: Kedrick Armstrong, named last year as the new music director of the Oakland Symphony, is set to conduct his official first program with the orchestra; the lineup includes music by Julia Perry and Carl Nielsen, with a tribute to Living Jazz, now celebrating its remarkable 40th anniversary. 8 p.m. Oct. 18, Paramount Theater, Oakland: $19.60-$90.00; 510-444-0801; oaklandsymphony.org.
Levit returns: In his 2023 residency at San Francisco Symphony, German pianist Igor Levit earned glowing reviews from critics and first-time concertgoers alike. He’s a superb artist, and his flawless musicianship will be on display in this visit to Cal Performances, where he’ll play Brahms’ Ballades and Liszt’s transcription of Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony. 7:30 Nov. 19, Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley; $35-$135; 510-642-9988; calperformances.org.
Contact Georgia Rowe at growe@pacbell.net.