Casablanca
Casablanca

The San Francisco Symphony’s Summer & the Symphony concert line-up includes a summer classical concert series, Orchestra performances with Johnny Mathis, Pink Martini, Chris Botti, and Arrival: the music of ABBA, and a screening of Casablanca with live orchestral accompaniment, as well as two evenings devoted to some of the best-loved Disney and Hollywood film music of all time.

The Symphony performs two free outdoor concerts at Stern Grove and Sharon Meadow in Golden Gate Park. On the Fourth of July, the Orchestra plays inspiring folk, pop, and classical favorites at the annual Shoreline Amphitheatre Independence Day concert and fireworks extravaganza, with beloved San Francisco Giants broadcaster Jon Miller narrating the classic “Casey at the Bat.”

The Orchestra’s summer concerts begin Monday, June 27, when vocalist Johnny Mathis performs with the Symphony. On Wednesday, June 29, SF Symphony Concertmaster Alexander Barantschik leads the Orchestra in four concerts of favorite string serenades by Tchaikovsky, Mozart, and Dvořák. Young British conductor Michael Francis is on the podium Thursday, July 7, for an all-Gershwin evening.

Broadway star vocalist Laura Benanti (Gypsy, In the Next Room (The Vibrator Play)) sings some of the Gershwins’ best-loved songs with the Orchestra, and pianist Ian Parker performs the Piano Concerto in F. Each of the other classical concerts in the Summer & the Symphony series focuses on individual composers and themes, including Beethoven, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, a night of Russian composers, and an evening of Vivaldi’s and Piazzolla’s Four Seasons, with violinist Lara St. John as soloist performing the two works with the Orchestra.

Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco
Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco

Tickets for all Summer & the Symphony and special summer concerts (except Fourth of July at Shoreline Amphitheatre) are on sale now by phone at 415-864-6000, and at the Davies Symphony Hall Box Office, on Grove Street between Van Ness Avenue and Franklin Street in San Francisco. Tickets for the San Francisco Symphony Fourth of July concert and fireworks at Shoreline Amphitheatre go on sale through Live Nation on April 29 at 10 a.m.

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY

SUMMER & THE SYMPHONY 2011

Concert Calendar

JOHNNY MATHIS with the SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY Monday, June 27 at 8 pm

Davies Symphony Hall

201 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

Johnny Mathis vocalist

John Scott Lavender conductor

San Francisco Symphony

Mathis performs an evening of his biggest hits and best-loved songs from a career spanning more than 50 years.

Tickets: $15-$110.

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY Wednesday, June 29 at 8 pm

Davies Symphony Hall Thursday, June 30 at 2 pm

201 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco Friday, July 1 at 8 pm (Flint Center)

Flint Center Saturday, July 2 at 8 pm

21250 Stevens Creek Boulevard, Cupertino

Alexander Barantschik, leader and violin

San Francisco Symphony

Mozart Eine kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525

Dvořák Serenade for Strings in E major, Opus 22

Tchaikovsky Serenade for Strings, Opus 48

Tickets: Davies Symphony Hall concerts: $15-$140. Flint Center concert: $15-$71. 415-864-6000, or the Davies Symphony Hall Box Office, on Grove Street between Van Ness Avenue and Franklin Street in San Francisco.

PINK MARTINI with the SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY Thursday, June 30 at 8 pm

Davies Symphony Hall Friday, July 1 at 8 pm

201 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco Saturday, July 2 at 8 pm (Flint Center)

Flint Center

21250 Stevens Creek Boulevard, Cupertino

Pink Martini

Donato Cabrera conductor

San Francisco Symphony

Tickets: Davies Symphony Hall concerts: $20-$115. Flint Center concert: $15-$75. 415-864-6000, or the Davies Symphony Hall Box Office, on Grove Street between Van Ness Avenue and Franklin Street in San Francisco.

4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR WITH THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY

Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View Monday, July 4 at 8 pm

Donato Cabrera conductor

Jon Miller narrator

San Francisco Symphony

Joseph Meyer/Bud DeSylva “California, Here I Come”

Foster; arr. Dragon “Oh! Susanna”

Jerome Moross Theme from the film The Big Country

Augustin Lara; arr. Dragon “Granada”

Albert Von Tilzer; lyrics Jack Norworth “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”

Thayer/”Casey at the Bat” – Jon Miller, narrator

Brian Wilson, Mike Love; arr. Custer Beach Boys Medley including “Good Vibrations,” “I Get Around,”

“California Girls”

John Williams Flying Theme from Adventures on Earth from E.T. Orchestral Suite

Richard A. Whiting; arr. Holcombe “Hooray for Hollywood”

Traditional; arr. Dragon Sailor’s Hornpipe

Grieg March of the Dwarfs from Lyric Suite, Book 5, Opus 54, no.4

Mussorgsky; arr. Rimsky-Korsakov A Night on Bald Mountain

Danny Elfman; arr. Bankey Music from The Simpsons

Tickets: $24 (lawn)-$35 (reserved). A limited number of $25 reserved seats inclusive of all fees available for Shoreline’s 25th anniversary. $77 for four packs of reserved seats, $67 for four packs of lawn tickets. $14 for children 12 and under. Tickets on sale through Live Nation on April 29 at livenation.com.

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY Thursday, July 7 at 8 pm

Davies Symphony Hall

201 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

Michael Francis conductor

Laura Benanti vocalist

Ian Parker piano

San Francisco Symphony

Gershwin Overture to Girl Crazy

Gershwin Piano Concerto in F

Gershwin Selected songs for voice and orchestra

Gershwin Music from An American in Paris

Tickets: $15-$70. 415-864-6000, or the Davies Symphony Hall Box Office on Grove Street between Van Ness Avenue and Franklin Street in San Francisco. Half price for ages 17 and under.

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY Friday, July 8 at 8 pm

Davies Symphony Hall

201 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

Michael Francis conductor

Valentina Lisitsa piano

San Francisco Symphony

Mussorgsky (arr. Rimsky-Korsakov) A Night on Bald Mountain

Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Opus 18

Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade, Opus 35

Tickets: $15-$70. 415-864-6000, or the Davies Symphony Hall Box Office on Grove Street between Van Ness Avenue and Franklin Street in San Francisco. Half price for ages 17 and under.

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY Saturday, July 9 at 8 pm

Davies Symphony Hall

201 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

Michael Francis conductor

Sara Davis Buechner piano

San Francisco Symphony

Beethoven Overture to The Creatures of Prometheus, Opus 43

Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Emperor, Opus 73

Beethoven Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Opus 67

Tickets: $15-$70. 415-864-6000, or the Davies Symphony Hall Box Office on Grove Street between Van Ness Avenue and Franklin Street in San Francisco. Half price for ages 17 and under.

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY in Golden Gate Park Sunday, July 10 at 2 pm

Sharon Meadow at Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

Michael Francis conductor

Valentina Lisitsa piano

San Francisco Symphony

Mussorgsky (arr. Rimsky-Korsakov) A Night on Bald Mountain

Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Opus 18

Beethoven Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Opus 67

Free, no tickets required.

CHRIS BOTTI with the SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY Thursday, July 14 at 8 pm

Davies Symphony Hall Friday, July 15 at 8 pm

201 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

Chris Botti trumpet

Sarah Hicks conductor

San Francisco Symphony

Jazz trumpet star Chris Botti performs some of his best-loved jazz and pop material with the Orchestra.

Tickets: $15-$80. 415-864-6000, or the Davies Symphony Hall Box Office on Grove Street between Van Ness Avenue and Franklin Street in San Francisco.

THE MUSIC OF ABBA: ARRIVAL Saturday, July 16 at 8 pm

Davies Symphony Hall

201 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

Arrival

Sarah Hicks conductor

San Francisco Symphony

Andersson/Ulvaeus – Songs by ABBA including Ring Ring, Knowing Me, Knowing You, Intermezzo No. 1, Fernando, Money, Money, Money, SOS, Mamma Mia, Waterloo, So Long, Voulez-Vous, Does Your Mother Know, Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight), As Good as New, One Man, One Woman, The Winner Takes It All, Chiquitita, Take A Chance On Me, Summer Night City

Tickets: $15-$75. 415-864-6000, or the Davies Symphony Hall Box Office on Grove Street between Van Ness Avenue and Franklin Street in San Francisco.

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY Sunday, July 17 at 2 pm

Davies Symphony Hall

201 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

Michael Francis conductor

Gilles Vonsattel piano

San Francisco Symphony

Mozart Overture to Don Giovanni, K.527

Mozart Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K.466

Mozart Symphony No. 41 in C major, Jupiter, K.551

Tickets: $15-$70. 415-864-6000, or the Davies Symphony Hall Box Office on Grove Street between Van Ness Avenue and Franklin Street in San Francisco. Half price for ages 17 and under.

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY Thursday, July 21 at 8 pm

Davies Symphony Hall

201 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

Michael Francis conductor

Daniel Müller-Schott cello

San Francisco Symphony

Tchaikovsky Romeo and Juliet, Fantasy-Overture

Tchaikovsky Variations on a Rococo Theme for Cello and Orchestra, Opus 33

Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Opus 36

Tickets: $15-$70. 415-864-6000, or the Davies Symphony Hall Box Office on Grove Street between Van Ness Avenue and Franklin Street in San Francisco. Half price for ages 17 and under.

CASABLANCA WITH THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY Friday, July 22 at 8 pm

Davies Symphony Hall

201 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

Michael Francis conductor

San Francisco Symphony

Casablanca Screening of film with live orchestral accompaniment (score by Max Steiner)

Tickets: $30-$70. 415-864-6000, or the Davies Symphony Hall Box Office on Grove Street between Van Ness Avenue and Franklin Street in San Francisco.

DISNEY IN CONCERT: Magical Music from the Movies Saturday, July 23 at 8 pm

Davies Symphony Hall

201 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

Steven Reineke conductor

San Francisco Symphony

Songs, film clips, and storyboard art from Disney films The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Lion King, and more.

Tickets: $30-$90. 415-864-6000, or the Davies Symphony Hall Box Office on Grove Street between Van Ness Avenue and Franklin Street in San Francisco. Half price for ages 17 and under.

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY at Stern Grove Festival Sunday, July 24 at 2 pm

Stern Grove

19th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard, San Francisco

Michael Francis conductor

Sara Davis Buechner piano

San Francisco Symphony

Beethoven Overture to The Creatures of Prometheus, Opus 43

Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Emperor, Opus 73

Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Opus 36

Free, no tickets required.

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY Thursday, July 28 at 8 pm

Davies Symphony Hall

201 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

Michael Francis conductor

Lara St. John violin

San Francisco Symphony

Handel Music for the Royal Fireworks

Vivaldi The Four Seasons, Opus 8

Piazzolla The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires

Tickets: $15-$70. 415-864-6000, or the Davies Symphony Hall Box Office on Grove Street between Van Ness Avenue and Franklin Street in San Francisco. Half price for ages 17 and under.

AT THE MOVIES WITH THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY Friday, July 29 at 8 pm

Davies Symphony Hall

201 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

Michael Francis conductor

San Francisco Symphony

John Williams Music from Jurassic Park, Jaws, Catch Me If You Can, Schindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan, E.T.

Newman 20th Century Fox Fanfare

Korngold Music from The Sea Hawk

Herrmann Theme from North By Northwest

Jarre Overture from Lawrence of Arabia

Monty Norman Theme from Diamonds Are Forever

Barry/orch. Raine Music from Out of Africa

Kamen Overture from Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves

Danny Elfman Music from Spiderman

Tickets: $15-$90. 415-864-6000, or the Davies Symphony Hall Box Office on Grove Street between Van Ness Avenue and Franklin Street in San Francisco. Half price for ages 17 and under.

Monica Turner
Contributor to Stark Insider for tech, the arts and All Things West Coast for over 10 years.