Arts & Events

Special Spooky Halloween Musical Set to Haunt Berkeley's Mysterious "Monkey House"

Gar Smith
Thursday October 16, 2014 - 10:05:00 PM

Halloween is coming and that means pumpkins, goblins and this year's Monkey House Halloween Show. Tales from the Varley Mansion. A Musical Comedy for Smart Kids and Strange Adults opens October 18 at Ira Marlowe's legendary "speakeasy for the arts"—a full-service cabaret tucked into a secret location in the 1600 block of University Avenue. If you don't already know where Marlowe's hidden stage is located, the only way you can find out is to reserve a seat online. The experience is highly recommended. -more-


Why PARTENOPE? A Questionable Choice for San Francisco Opera

Reviewed by James Roy MacBean
Friday October 17, 2014 - 11:01:00 AM

I have often said that when attending a Handel opera, even for the first time, as was the case when I heard Partenope on Wednesday, October 15, one comes out of the theater feeling one has heard the opera three times. This is because Handel followed the da capo pattern of his era, structuring each and every aria in an ABA pattern in which the aria is first sung all the way through, then developed with variation, and finally repeated “from the beginning” with or without further vocal embellishment. When listening to Handel, this ABA pattern can be extremely tedious. -more-


Around & About Music: Hausmann Quartet at Berkeley Chamber Performances

Ken Bullock
Thursday October 16, 2014 - 10:03:00 PM

The Hausmann Quartet, artists-in-residence since 2004 at San Diego State University, will play Four Diversions for String Quartet (1930) by Louis Gruenberg (composer of the opera of 'The Emperor Jones'), Credo (2007) by Kevin Puts (2012 Pulitzer Prizewinner for Music) and Robert Schumann's String Quartet, Opus 41, no. 2 at 8 p. m. Tuesday, October 21 in the Ballroom at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Avenue (near Dana). The Hausmann Quartet is comprised of Isaac Allen and Guillaume Pirard, violins; Angela Choong, viola and Alex Greenbaum, cello. A complimentary wine and cheese reception to meet the artists will follow the concert. $25. High school students, free; post-high school students, $12.50. 525-5211. berkeleychamberperform.org -more-


Around & About Theater: 'Redwolf' by Ragged Wing at Oakland's New Flight Deck; 'Mahmoud' at the Thick House

Ken Bullock
Thursday October 16, 2014 - 10:00:00 PM

--Inspired by Little Red Riding Hood to follow its main character "from girlhood to wolf hood," movement theater specialists Ragged Wing Ensemble's new play--and their first full-length production in their new performance space, The Flight Deck, 1540 Broadway in downtown Oakland between the 12th and 19th Street BART stations--was co-written by Ragged Wing co-founder and artistic director Amy Sass with noted playwright Anthony Clarvoe, opening this weekend. October 17-November 8, Fridays at 8, Saturdays at 2 and 8, Sundays at 7. $25-$40 (limited number of student/senior rush tickets available at the door a half amour before curtain). http://www.enetbrite.com/e/ragged-wing-ensemble-presents-redwolf-tickets-12968207257 -more-


Garrick Ohlsson Plays Rachmaninov’s Third Piano Concerto with San Francisco Symphony

Reviewed by James Roy MacBean
Thursday October 16, 2014 - 10:24:00 PM

Veteran pianist Garrick Ohlsson joined with the San Francisco Symphony under guest conductor Juraj Valčuha in three performances, October 10-12, of Sergei Rachmaninov’s Third Piano Concerto. Ohlsson, a longtime favorite of local audiences, played brilliantly, handling with apparent ease all the technical difficulties of this most challenging of all piano concertos. Ohlsson’s viruosity was everywhere apparent, in the stirring melody of the first theme as well as in the thunderous passages of the first movement’s cadenza. -more-