Planning is well underway for San Francisco Symphony’s Sept. 5 Season Opening Night Gala featuring celebrated violinist Itzhak Perlman. Checking out Gala signage in front of Davies Symphony Hall is (left) Opening Night Gala Symphony Supper Co-Chair Andrea Palmer of Menlo Park and (right) Opening Night Gala Patrons’ Dinner Committee Member Iris S. Chan of Hillsborough.
SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY OPENS 2018-19 SEASON WITH SEPT. 5 GALA FEATURING VIOLINIST ITZHAK PERLMAN. Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas (MTT) and the San Francisco Symphony (SFS) launch their 2018-19 season with the Opening Night Gala on Sept. 5, joined by legendary violinist Itzhak Perlman. Perlman performs music from Hollywood film scores including John Williams’ theme from “Schindler’s List,” Ennio Morricone’s love theme from “Cinema Paradiso,” Barry’s main title from “Out of Africa,” and Gardel’s tango from “Scent of a Woman.” The renowned violinist is then joined by students of his Perlman Music Program for a performance of J.S. Bach’s Concerto No. 3 in D minor for Two Violins, Strings and Continuo, BWV 1043. Rounding out the concert program, MTT conducts the SFS in three orchestra showpieces — Gershwin’s Cuban Overture and An American in Paris, and Liszt’s Mephisto Waltz No. 1 for Orchestra. The gala concert will be broadcast live on Classical KDFC 90.3/89.9/104.9 FM and streamed online at kdfc.com. Proceeds from the Opening Night Gala benefit the San Francisco Symphony’s myriad artistic, education and community programs.
CELEBRATIONS BEFORE AND AFTER THE CONCERT. Opening Night celebrations begin prior to the concert with a wine reception at 7 p.m. in the Davies Symphony Hall lobby, free to all ticket holders. The evening’s celebrations continue following the concert with an indoor-outdoor after-party in the Tented Pavilion and on Grove Street, featuring two stages of live music entertainment. Preceding the Opening Night Gala concert, the S.F. Symphony hosts four separate formal dinners, all beginning at 6 p.m., with cocktail receptions beginning at 5 p.m. The Patrons’ Dinner takes place in the Tented Pavilion next to Davies Symphony Hall; The Wattis Room Dinner offers an elegant and intimate experience that shares the 5 p.m. cocktail reception with the Patrons’ Dinner. Both the Symphony Supper and Symphonix Dinner take place at San Francisco City Hall: The Symphony Supper occupies City Hall’s spectacular Rotunda and The Symphonix Dinner Party, hosted by the Symphony’s young philanthropists group, will be in the North Light Court.
TICKET INFORMATION. Concert tickets are $180 and $300 and include a complimentary pre-concert wine reception as well as access to the after-party in the Tented Pavilion. Concert tickets are for sale at sfsymphony.org, by phone at 415-864-6000, and at the Davies Symphony Hall box office on Grove Street between Franklin Street and Van Ness Avenue. Formal dinner packages begin at $495 and include a 5 p.m. cocktail reception, 6 p.m. dinner, the after-party in the Tented Pavilion and on Grove Street, and premium seating for the concert. Dinner packages are available by contacting the Volunteer Council at (415) 503-5500 or www.sfsymphony.org/gala.
WANT TO GET INVOLVED WITH THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY? CONSIDER JOINING THE UPPER PENINSULA LEAGUE. The Upper Peninsula League of the San Francisco Symphony was founded by Peninsula residents who support and enjoy the San Francisco Symphony. The League’s mission is to encourage community service, support the symphony in audience development, and raise funds for the symphony’s community and education programs. Upper Peninsula League members support the Symphony’s Concerts for Kids Program, which introduces school children to classical music. For 24 years, in cooperation with the San Mateo/Foster City School District, the League has provided volunteer docents, ticket assistance and transportation for students. Last year, Upper Peninsula League docents visited over 1,000 elementary school students in 15 schools in San Mateo County. The Upper Peninsula League’s Seniors to the Symphony program provides chartered transportation each year for nearly 100 seniors from Peninsula senior centers to Davies Symphony Hall for a performance by the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra. League members prepare box lunches for the seniors, making this a special and much appreciated outing. League meetings are held the third Monday of the month, with a business meeting followed by either a musical performance or educational speaker. For more information call the Volunteer Council at (415) 503-5500 or email volunteercouncil@sfsymphony.org.
Susan Cohn is a member of the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle and the American Theatre Critics Association. She may be reached at susan@smdailyjournal.com.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
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Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
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