There's MTT the evangelist, advocating for rarely heard works and composers. And there's MTT the maestro, conducting old chestnuts with fresh vigor. Both were in full display last night, with a first half dedicated to modernists works from between the two world wars by composers rarely invited to Davies Symphony hall; and a second half with the ubiquitous Beethoven, in fine form. The program repeats tonight and tomorrow. more ›

In our inbox, we found all these convincing reasons to attend the performance of Beethoven's 9th symphony of the Symphony Parnassus tomorrow night: Our conductor and Music Director is Stephen Paulson, who by day is the San Francisco Symphony's principal bassoonist; Anyway, Symphony Parnassus rocks, we're a well-kept secret in the local performing arts community, and our goal is to let the secret out. Plus, you haven't lived until you've experienced the B9 live. more ›