The San Francisco Symphony Opens its New Season with Semyon Bychkov by Steven Kruger

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Semyon Bychkov. Photo by Fabrizio Ferri.


The San Francisco Symphony
Davies Hall, San Francisco
Saturday, September 8, 2012

Semyon Bychkov, conductor
Pinchas Zukerman, violin

Wagner – Overture to Tannhauser (1845)
Bruch – Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Opus 26 (1866)
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Tchaikovsky - Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Opus 64, (1888)

There is always something a little peculiar about opening week at the San Francisco Symphony. Audiences have been away for the summer and are distractible. The orchestra may sound a bit less used to itself than usual. Sunlight in the lobby is still too bright for anyone to settle down. And programming commonly amounts either to a Gala smorgasbord or a visit to Denny’s, but seldom manages subtlety for musical gourmets. No different this year, but with a few wacky touches from the peanut gallery — about which more in a moment.

Read the full review on the Berkshire Review, an international journal for the arts!