How Do You Get To Carnegie Hall?
In the case of the San Francisco Girls Chorus, it looks like they already established the answer to this famed question … “practice!”
Later this month, the SFGC, led by Music Director and Principal Conductor Valérie Sainte-Agathe, will make its Carnegie Hall debut alongside the Philip Glass Ensemble on Feb. 16 at 8 p.m. with a rare performance of the composer’s groundbreaking 1970 work Music With Changing Parts. Not to fret if you can’t make it to New York, however, as the program will be repeated in San Francisco on Feb. 20 at 7:30 p.m. at Davies Symphony Hall under the auspices of San Francisco Performances.
SFGC’s debut at Carnegie Hall also coincides with the Feb. 16 release of its next album, Final Answer, on Orange Mountain Music. While in New York, they will perform a release concert at Le Poisson Rouge on Feb. 13 featuring selected works from the album.
“The engagement represents a major milestone for SFGC,” said Sainte-Agathe. “The opportunity to continue to serve as a cultural ambassador for the Bay Area while presenting the unique, powerful sound of our young women at Carnegie Hall is something this organization has looked forward to for a long time. Being able to do this alongside Philip Glass and the Philip Glass Ensemble will be an unforgettable experience – for the organization and for our choristers.”
These performances will mark the second occasion that SFGC have performed the music of Glass as part of the nationwide activities honoring the composer’s 80th birthday celebration. Music With Changing Parts was originally composed for the Philip Glass Ensemble. This new performance, which will include SFGC and a brass section from the SF Conservatory of Music, was arranged by PGE Music Director Michael Riesman, SFGC Artistic Director Lisa Bielawa, and composer Philip Glass.
Tickets for the Carnegie Hall performance Feb. 16 range from $14.50 to $90 and can be purchased by calling 212-247-7800 or at www.carnegiehall.com. Tickets for the San Francisco performance Feb.20 range from $45 to $120 and are available through City Box Office at 415-392-4400 or at www.cityboxoffice.com.
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND. The nine-time Tony Award-winning Best Musical returns to the SHN Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco next Tuesday, Feb. 6 when The Book of Mormon arrives for a stint through Mar. 4. For tickets and information, call 888-746-1799 or visit www.shnsf.com. The touring cast of Book of Mormon will also present an evening of music, comedy and dance titled Songs off the Resume on Feb. 19 at 7:30 p.m. at the Marines’ Memorial Theater in Union Square at 609 Sutter Street, Second Floor, in San Francisco. Songs from the Book of Mormon will not be performed at this benefit cabaret event for the Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Guests, however, will be treated to cast members singing many of the songs they used to audition for their Broadway roles. Tickets range from $30 t0 $75 (VIP front orchestra seats, which include an After Party with the cast). For tickets, call 415-1620 or visit tinyurl.com/ono-bom2018.
WEEKEND SCENE: Richard Elliot Friday, Saturday, Closed Sunday, Berkeley Middle School Jazz Bands Monday at Yoshi’s Jack London Square Oakland, yoshis.com … The House Jacks Friday, Roy Rogers and The Delta Rhythm Kings with Carlos Reyes Saturday at Freight & Salvage Berkeley, www.thefreight.org … Jim Cordiss, Friday, Saturday at Zio Fraedo’s Pleasant Hill, www.ziofraedos.com … Michael Zilber, John Stowell Friday, John Calloway Jazz Quartet with Terrance Kelly Saturday at California Jazz Conservatory Berkeley, cjc.edu … HowellDivine Friday, Mardi Gras Party with Lavay Smith and Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers Saturday at Armando’s Martinez, armandosmartinez.com ... Vonda Sheppard Friday, Saturday, The Hot Sardines Sunday at Feinstein's at the Nikko San Francisco, www.feinsteinsatthenikko.com.
COMEDY SCENE: Rickey Smiley Friday, Saturday, Big Game Party Sunday at Tommy T’s Comedy Club Pleasanton, tommyts.com … JP Sears Friday, Saturday at Cobb’s Comedy Club San Francisco, www.cobbscomedy.com … Sam Morril through Saturday, Tom Rhodes opens Feb. 7 at the Punch Line San Francisco, www.punchlinecomedyclub.com.