The Bay Area’s classical music scene is ready to heat up for summer: Here are some of the big events on the calendar.
“Erwartung” at SF Symphony: San Francisco Symphony presents Arnold Schoenberg’s “nightmare” melodrama in a new semi-staged production by Peter Sellars, on a program that also includes Ravel’s “Mother Goose,” featuring dancers from Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet. Details: 7:30 p.m. June 7-8, 2 p.m. June 9; Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco; $39-$169; sfsymphony.org.
“All We Need Is Love”: In its third collaboration with the San Francisco Symphony, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus performs a joyous high-octane program celebrating love in all its forms. Details: 7:30 p.m. June 18; Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco; $20-$139; sfsymphony.org.
Kronos Festival: The acclaimed quartet celebrates its 50th anniversary with four nights of programs spanning early works, world premieres, special guests, and more. Details: June 20-23: SFJAZZ Center, San Francisco; $25-$75, some events free; kronosquartet.org/kronos-festival-2024.
Opera in the Park: Festival Opera has two outdoor concerts featuring an orchestra and singers from its recent productions. The first is 6 p.m. June 20 in Orinda Community Park, and the second 4 p.m. June 23 in Walnut Creek’s Civic Park. Details: Admission is free at both events; www.festivalopera.org.
Recalling history: Opera Parallèle scored a recent triumph with its double bill of “Birds and Balls”; now the San Francisco company gives the West Coast premiere of “Fellow Travelers” by composer Gregory Spears and librettist Greg Pierce, an opera about forbidden love during the Lavender Scare of the mid-20th century. Details: June 21-23; Presidio Theatre, San Francisco; $30-$120; operaparallele.org.
Three shows at SF Opera: The American premiere of “Innocence” by the late Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho promises an unforgettable dramatic highlight in San Francisco Opera’s summer season; the company also has charm-filled productions of Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” and Handel’s “Partenope” on the schedule. Details: May 30-June 30; War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco; $26-$426; sfopera.com.
“Fireworks Spectacular”: San Francisco Symphony’s annual July 4th event at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View features vocalist Jessica Vosk joining Edwin Outwater and the orchestra in the outdoor venue, with fireworks bringing the concert to a big finish. Details: 7 p.m. July 4; Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View; $35-$240; sfsymphony.org.
On the “West Edge”: Led by General Director Mark Streshinsky, West Edge Opera returns to Oakland’s Scottish Rite Center for its summer season, beginning with the world premiere of “Bulrusher” by Bay Area composer Nathaniel Stookey and starring soprano Shawnette Sulker. The opera is adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-nominated play of the same name that played at Berkeley Repertory Theatre last year. Productions of “The Legend of the Ring” and “Jacqueline” are also on the schedule. Details: Aug. 3-18; Scottish Rite Center, Oakland; series tickets $144-$420, single tickets available in June. Westedgeopera.org.
