Lang-Lang is the antidote to recessions and deaths of classical music. There are only a few others than the Chinese piano superstar who can sell out Davies Symphony hall on a Tuesday evening for a solo recital of Beethoven, Albeniz and Prokofiev, as part of the SF Symphony Great performers series. more ›

Pianist Simone Dinnerstein is, if you will, the anti-Lang-Lang. When at age five, he was giving his first public recitals, she would not approach the piano for another couple years. When he fast became a global celebrity, she toiled in relative obscurity for a while, paying her dues in smaller concert halls. Yet, both of them will play around civic center within this week: Lang-Lang just performed his concerto for iPad this past Monday at Davies Symphony hall, and Simone will return for a piano recital at Herbst Theater on Saturday at 8pm. She also rejoined Lang-Lang at the Sony label (her first release with Sony is an all-Bach recording due this fall), even though we can't confirm she received the same $3 million he did. more ›

The music season on Wednesday night, with a sparkling opening night gala. The evening started with complimentary champagne in the hallways of Davies Symphony Hall, because nothing lubricates appreciation for music better than bubbly. Still, two women left the hall after the national anthem, because there is only so much orchestral music than one can put up with, even inebriated. The bemused look on Michael Tilsson Thomas' face as they left was priceless. more ›

Lang Lang's appeal draws beyond the boundaries of classical music. Lang Lang is "the Yao Ming of the piano." You don't get to become a global mega-star by showing restraint and humility and understated sophistication. Since we last saw him here two years ago, he became the face of the Olympics, performing during the Opening ceremony, and received endorsements by Audi, Sony or Rolex.Ca-shing! Check that clip above of him playing the Yellow River concerto in a red tuxedo on a red piano, and you get everything that's wrong with him: tacky and kitschy, he's that close from making Elton John look refined. Lang Lang and Chopin, paired in a symphony series last week, seemed a match made in heaven: over the top, schmaltzy, Romanticism on steroids. Perfect for swooning teenage girls. Boy were we wrong: Lang Lang's performance of Chopin 1st piano concerto was, aside a sparkling brooch affixed to his black jacket which was missing its companion tiara, a model of taste and refinement. It was spec-ta-cu-lar. more ›

If you're still recovering from the comment war over the Western-calendar New Year dance party with the Falun Gong, we've got a nice non-sectarian Chinese New Year musical performance with the SF Symphony to soothe your spirits! more ›

Lang Lang opened a series of sold-out performances with the SF Symphony on Wednesday night. The pianist headlined a concert at Davies Symphony Hall, which also included the US premiere of The Flight of Icarus by John Pickard and a Haydn symphony. more ›