The Bay Area is a hub of artistic expression, attracting artists, writers and musicians from around the globe to live, work and create. We highlight some of the offerings here
• For your ears only: The fabulous, Montreal-born, Grammy-winning pianist Marc-André HamelinMarc-André Hamelin, a great favorite with San Francisco Performances, was supposed to have been here April 23 for a recital of music by Scriabin, Prokofiev and Schubert. We all now know that’s not going to happen. But SFP, starting April 9, is launching a “Front Row” weekly series of audio concerts for free on its website, putting Hamelin in the very first seat. You can hear — or rehear — a recital Hamelin performed for SFP in 2006, playing music by Vladigerov, Schubert and some works of Wagner, Bellini and Verdi as reimagined by Franz Liszt. Here is a Chopinesque sample of Hamelin’s dazzling technique: https://youtu.be/9XLbOw6WLS0. Log in to www.sfperformances.org to access the recital.
• Adlers in action: A major blow the coronavirus has dealt to the current crop of Adler Fellows, San Francisco Opera’s stars-of-the-future in training, was the cancellation of two Schwabacher Recitals, which would have introduced us to five of them this month. But the young singers are bouncing back in the Opera is ON program, which is currently mounting an “Ode to Joy” series that presents a different pair of Adlers performing an aria of their choosing each day through the sfopera.com site, Instagram and YouTube. The videos will remain live indefinitely after each posting, so you should be able to see and hear young soprano Esther Tonea sing Richard Strauss’ uplifting “Morgen,” first presented on April 8, whenever you need its message of hope. Check it out at https://sfopera.com/opera-is-on.
• Streaming Jane Austen: TheatreWorks Silicon Valley recently wrapped up streaming its production of “They Promised Her the Moon,” but returns to the game with a new look at an old classic: “Pride and Prejudice.” This would be the same “Pride and Prejudice” — a musical adaptation of Austen’s novel by Tony-nominated composer Paul Gordon — that got its world premiere last December by TheatreWorks. The production gets a free “virtual opening” at 3:30 and 7 p.m. April 10, with special interviews with TheatreWorks founding artistic director Robert Kelley and others. After that, the production is available for $4.99 to rent and $19.99 to buy — visit www.prideandprejudicepremiere.com or www.streamingmusicals.com.
• Music in the park: Golden Gate Park just turned 150 years old, but the kind of celebration the beloved landmark deserves didn’t happen, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. But the milestone hasn’t gone completely without observation. A special website established for the birthday is hosting videos of iconic concerts that happened at Golden Gate Park. Up already is Boz Scagg’s 2016 performance at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival. Going up April 13 is Metallica’s 2017 headlining stint at the Outside Lands Festival (the posting is in conjunction with Metallica’s own new concert streaming series at www.metallica.com). All the Golden Gate concert videos are free; go to www.goldengatepark150.com.
• Fridays with SFJazz: Weekends in the COVID-19 era don’t mean what they used to, but here’s a way to get a Friday routine going. Pour yourself a cocktail and log on to www.sfjazz.org at 5 p.m. for the new “Fridays at Five” streaming concert series. SFJazz will post a new concert each week at this time. This week features the jazz/pop/classical stylings (and considerable personality) of the popular band Pink Martini. The concerts are free to SFJazz members, non-members can buy a monthly pass for $5.