San Francisco Symphony at Davies Symphony Hall, November 26, 2023

San Francisco Symphony presents guest conductor Gustavo Dudamel and soloist Jorge Glem
Davies Symphony Hall
201 Van Ness, San Francisco, CA 94102 USA
2:00 PM, Sunday, November 26, 2023

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[2:00 PM] {orchestra noodling}
[2:10 PM] {pre-recorded announcements}
[2:11 PM] {concert tuning}
[2:11 PM] {enter GD}

1. [2:12 PM] [Gabriela Ortiz](https://www.gabrielaortiz.com/) (b. 1964): Kauyumari (2021)
   [2:19 PM] {work ends}

[2:20 PM] {Various members of the orchestra noodle away while a bit of substitution and rearrangement takes place with help of the stage hands}
[2:22 PM] {Greetings and speech from GG}
[2:25 PM] {concert tuning}
[2:26 PM] {enter GD & JG}

1. [2:27 PM] [Gonzalo Grau](http://www.gonzalograu.com/) (b. 1972): Odisea, Concerto for Venezuelan Cuatro and Orchestra (2023), featuring Jorge Glem
   [2:50 PM] {work ends; applause and curtain calls}
   
   Encore
2. [2:53 PM] (JG solo cuatro medley)
   [3:01 PM] {applause at work end}
   [3:02 PM] {set ends}

[3:19 PM] {orchestral noodling}
[3:21 PM] {concert tuning}
[3:22 PM] {enter GD}

Johannes Brahms (1833–1897): Symphony No. 2 in D major, Opus 73 (1877)

1. [3:23 PM] Allegro non troppo
2. [3:39 PM] Adagio non troppo
3. [3:49 PM] Allegretto grazioso (quasi andantino)
4. [4:55 PM] Allegro con spirito
   [4:03 PM] {applause at end of set goes on for a long time…}
   [4:08 PM] {show ends}

San Francisco Symphony

• Esa-Pekka Salonen: music director;
• symphony members vary by program; see the current list.

• Gustavo Dudamel: conductor;
• Jorge Glem: cuatro.

I'll start by admitting that I still don't like Brahms all that much, but I was intrigued enough by the first half of the program to put up with a strong dose of him for the event's conclusion.

I liked the opening work by Gabriela Ortiz: I wouldn't mind listening to it again, maybe I'll go poking around on Youtube next week.

About half of the world premier of Gonzalo Grau's Odisea is on YouTube. My guess is that a full recording will be available reasonably soon. I liked it, but like my recent experience with Silk Road Ensemble, I would have enjoyed it more if the event came with a sort of 'map' to tell us what was happening when … without it, I felt like a kid in the back seat. Are we there yet?

I was also put off just a little by the distraction of the nearly constant percussive tap of Glem's finger picks. In the YouTube recording, that element seems to have been greatly mitigated by creative engineering/mixing. I'm willing to chalk that complaint up to one of the obvious pitfalls of sitting close up front…a niggle, but one worth the bonus of being that close to the action.

Program Notes or program notes

Andrew Gilbert posted a nice promo article with SFCV that included bits of interview with Jorge Glem about Odisea.

David Bratman posted a lukewarm review of Friday's show with SFCV.

Joshua Kosman posted an enthusiastic review – also of Friday's show – with the SF Chronicle Datebook. A few minor details changed this afternoon (Glem wore a blue hat today; I missed the violin bump … if it happened again), but I think his observations fit today's show to a 'T'!

Back to the previous event! ☸ Up to the 2023 yearbox! ☸ Up to the 2023 event list! ☸ On to the next event!