San Francisco Symphony presents CALIFORNIA FESTIVAL: FROM THE EDGE featuring organist James McVinnie
Davies Symphony Hall
201 Van Ness, San Francisco, CA 94102 USA
7:30 PM, Saturday, November 18, 2023

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• Terry Riley: City Lights: Aquatic Park (world premiere)
• Gabriela Smith: Breathing Forests
• Stravinsky (orch. Stucky): Les Noces

[7:35 PM] {lights down, announcements, performers out}

Igor Stravinsky (1882–1971): Octet for Wind Instruments (1923/rev. 1952), K041

1. [7:37 PM] Sinfonia
2. [7:41 PM] Tema con variazioni–
3. [7:48 PM] Finale
   [7:52 PM] {work ends; pause to set things up onstage for the next section of the show}

[7:58 PM] {lights down, greetings and speech from Gabriella Smith}
[8:03 PM] {concert tuning; applause for entrance of James McVinnie and EPS}

Gabriella Smith (b. 1991): Breathing Forests (2021), featuring organist James McVinnie

1. [8:04 PM] Grow
2. [8:13 PM] Breathe
3. [8:22 PM] Burn
   [8:34 PM] {set ends: applause and ovations}
   [8:36 PM] {set break!}

[8:57 PM] {lights down, concert tuning}
[8:57 PM] {applause for entrance of EPS; long speech in recognition of horn player Robert Ward}
[9:01 PM] {EPS calls the soloists up to the stage}

Stravinsky (orch. Steven Stucky): Les Noces (1917/orch. 2005)

1. [9:01 PM] Part One, Scene 1: At the Bride’s House (The Tresses) »
2. [9:07 PM] Part One, Scene 2: At the Bridegroom’s House »
3. [9:12 PM] Part One, Scene 3: The Bride’s Departure »
4. [9:15 PM] Part Two, Scene 4: The Wedding Feast (The Red Table)
   [9:25 PM] {set ends}
   [9:23 PM] {show ends}

• Paul Appleby: tenor vox;
• Kayleigh Decker: mezzo-soprano vox;
• Lauren Snouffer: soprano vox;
• David Soar: bass vox;

San Francisco Symphony & Chorus

• Hillary Leben: animator;
• Esa-Pekka Salonen: conductor, music director;
• Jenny Wong: choral director. performers vary by program.

I was really disappointed to review the digital program a few days before the event and find out that Terry Riley's piece had been removed without explanation (not finished in time?). Oh well. Schedule's are always a gamble when something brand new is to be born!

Stravinsky's Octet for Wind Instruments was a decent substitution: I really enjoyed listening to it … maybe my first time? I certainly didn't recognize it as it unfolded.

Gabriella Smith's Breathing Forests was altogether different, she had the whole orchestra bleeping and scraping away at full volume while the organ created big swelling waves of sound like a Cecil Taylor extravaganza. Very cool!

I was also unfamiliar with Stravinsky's Les Noces. As presented tonight, it was another wild piece. I liked it, but from my seat up front, I couldn't see the accompanying animation. Perhaps that was a plus!

Program Notes or program notes

Lisa Hirsch posted a review of the show with SFCV, ending with a rather grumpy take on tonight's performance of Les Noces.

Joshua Kosman posted a review of the show with the SFChronicle Datebook.

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