Sex symbols of classical music at SF Symphony

October 23, 4:34 PMSF Cultural Events ExaminerKate Cohen

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Joshua Bell

I had a calm, relaxing evening of classical music in mind while perusing the San Francisco Symphony website the other day.  Lately, I’ve found myself in need of a more refined concert experience to counter the spate of loud, sweaty music venues I’ve been in recently.

Clicking through the season line-up, I thought to myself:

András Schiff: Solid chap. Does a good Beethoven piano sonata.  Michael Tilson Thomas, the Symphony’s Music Director: You have to admire his zealous undertaking of Mahler’s Symphony of a Thousand.   Leon Fleisher playing Beethoven and Schumann. Not to be missed. 

What’s this? Joshua Bell (October 23, 24, 25): violin wunderkind all grown up and wowing audiences everywhere with his Saint-Saëns and Ravel . The headshot’s not bad either.  His boyish features have aged in a flattering way that Ricky Schroeder’s have not.  

Nikolaj Znaider

Nikolaj Znaider (November 6, 7, 8): Danish violinist with a colossal repertoire including Nielsen’s daring Symphony No. 3, plus he runs the Nordic Music Academy where I imagine he teaches small children from Alpine villages to play the violin—a heartwarming thought.  Am I inventing the resemblance to Ryan Philippe?

Lang Lang

Here’s Lang Lang (December 4, 5, 6): the closest thing to a rock star the piano has seen since Van Cliburn—and he wasn’t exactly the type to induce swooning. Lang Lang, on the other hand, has that thick black hair, electric stage presence and big smile. He’s pretty handy with Chopin too.

Oh yummy! There’s one of each for October, November, and December, just before winter descends and hibernation sets in. 

But I digress.  Looks or no looks, I’d listen to them blindfolded.