The weekend: October 18-19 promises a musical bounty

October 16, 10:58 AMSF Classical Music ExaminerScott Foglesong

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I just love the way this music-mad town buzzes over a busy weekend. Everywhere you look (and listen) it seems that people are industriously making music, in big halls, little halls, and in-between halls. Major artists, the up-and-coming, students; orchestras, operas, new music ensembles, soloists, benefits.

It's downright thrilling, if a bit exhausting.

So let's take a look at this weekend, when San Francisco shows off the full glory of its musical wares. Click on the names below for ticket info.

Saturday, October 18

San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Blueprint Festival

The Urgency of Now: Coming Together 8:00 PM

A set of modern works which comment on or explore painful and/or controversial events in recent history. Works by John Harbison, Bright Sheng, Andrew Imbrie, Frederic Rzewski, and John Halle, together with a pre-concert showing of the film "Outside In" at 7:00 PM. An informal post-concert discussion is offered with conductor Nicole Paiement, composer John Halle, and guest artist Carl Kihlstedt. Other soloists include Jean-Michel Fontenau on 'cello, and Christopher Basso on piano.

San Francisco Opera

Mozart: Idomeneo 8:00 PM

"Munich" opera Idomeneo is the first of the mature Mozart operas, written just before Wolfgang's move to Vienna and the forging of a new life for himself away from his father's domineering influence. One must accept that Idomeneo is an old fashioned opera seria: long recitatives alternate with solo arias, with only the occasional chorus or march for relief. The plot is the typical transvestite affair, strapping a few soap-opera appendages onto the underlying Bullfinch. But it's Mozart, folks, which means exquisite music used in the service of character exploration that utterly transcends the cardboard-cutout flatness of the characters as written.

Expect superb singing, imaginative staging, and spiffy playing from an opera orchestra that ranks among the best in the biz.

San Francisco Symphony

Leon Fleisher performs the Beethoven "Emperor" 8:00 PM

One becomes heartily sick and tired of words like "legendary", but no other will do to describe pianist Leon Fleisher. Those classic recordings of Beethoven, Brahms, Schumann, and Grieg with George Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra from the 1950s; his eminently distinguished teaching career at my alma mater, Peabody; his excellent work as a conductor (I have fond memories of a Sibelius Second at Peabody); his return to the concert hall after many years retirement due to hand injuries.

Fleisher is playing the "Emperor" Concerto, Beethoven's No. 5 in E-flat Major, a work worthy of this artist's stature. The concert also includes the lesser-heard Schumann Symphony No. 2 in C Major, and Beethoven's "Egmont" overture. Marek Janowski conducts.

Sunday, October 19

San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Wei He, violin 2:00 PM

Mr. He will be performing works of Mozart, Poulenc and Respighi at a recital in the Conservatory's main concert hall. A student of Camilla Wicks at SFCM, Wei He has played with the SF Symphony, and is a member of the Conservatory faculty.

Old First Concerts

Luthier Anthony Lane and Bay Area Violinists 4:00 PM

A group of notable string players join violin maker Anthony Lane for a demonstration and a concert. The performers include current and former members of the SF Opera Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony, New Century Chamber Orchestra, and the LA Chamber Orchestra.

Herbst Theater, War Memorial

Pets Unlimited Benefit Concert — Animals and the Arts 2:00 PM

Opera singer Jennifer Holloway joins a group of soloists with George Daugherty conducting a chamber orchestra in a concert designed to raise money for Pets Unlimited, a San Francisco charity which helps dogs and cats in need. Not only do you get a chance to hear a lot of marvelous music, but you get to help out our furry friends. For me, a dedicated, down-to-my-toes cat lover, this concert truly defines the phrase worthy cause.

Davies Symphony Hall

András Schiff, piano: Beethoven Piano Sonatas 7:00 PM

Schiff continues his series of the complete Beethoven piano sonatas at Davies Hall. I've written about this in a previous article so you can read up on the project a bit if you like. For this concert, Schiff is performing sonatas 22 through 26, including the familiar Appassionata and Les Adieux sonatas.

Schiff has just completed his recorded traversal of the Beethoven sonatas; I have an article in the pipeline about them, so stay tuned.

Such a town we live in, and such a weekend of music. Something for everybody, right in the great honored San Francisco tradition.