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SoundBox programs curated by Destiny Muhammad, Claire Chase, Nico Muhly, and Jeremy Denk
New episodes of CURRENTS series, exploring Persian classical music and Klezmer musical cultures
Free chamber music performances by members of the San Francisco Symphony
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The San Francisco Symphony announces programming details and updates for digital releases on the Symphony’s video streaming platform SFSymphony+ through the end of the 2020–21 season, featuring four new SoundBox programs and two CURRENTS episodes. Upcoming SoundBox releases include Resilience, curated by Jazz harpist and vocalist Destiny Muhammad, on May 27; two programs curated by Collaborative Partners—Metamorphoses by flautist Claire Chase on July 8, and a program by composer Nico Muhly on August 12; and the final SoundBox of the season, curated by pianist Jeremy Denk, on August 26 (the curator for this program has changed from the previously announced Esa-Pekka Salonen). New CURRENTS episodes include Invisible Borders, an exploration of Persian classical music curated by composer and multi-instrumentalist Mohammad Nejad, on June 17; and a program exploring Klezmer musical culture, curated by Joshua Horowitz and Veretski Pass, on July 29. All of the upcoming digital releases are available for individual purchase or with an SFSymphony+ subscription via SFSymphonyPlus.org
SoundBox programs curated by Destiny Muhammad, Claire Chase, Nico Muhly, and Jeremy Denk
The San Francisco Symphony’s groundbreakingSoundBox series continues its seventh season in a new digital format with eclectic programs curated by Destiny Muhammad, Claire Chase, Nico Muhly, and Jeremy Denk. The video series features performances by members of the San Francisco Symphony and guest artists, unique video projections created by Adam Larsen, and lighting design by Luke Kritzeck, with programs directed by Frank Zamacona Steven Condotti, and Clyde Scott.
On May 27, harpist and jazz vocalist Destiny Muhammad curatesSoundBox: Resilience, a program exploring the many ways resilience manifests in our world and in Muhammad’s own life. Muhammad comments, “Resilience fortifies, resilience uplifts, resilience guides.” The program includes Matt Wong’s arrangements of Ambrose Akinmusire’s Confessions to My Unborn Daughter, Mary Lou Williams’ Tell Him Not to Talk Too Long, Arthur Cunningham’s Lullaby for a Jazz Baby, and Destiny Muhammad’s Hope on the Horizon; William Grant Still’s Serenade; and Destiny Muhammad’s own arrangement of the traditional Irish tune Butterfly Jig. Performances feature Destiny Muhammad, drummer Leon Joyce, Jr., bassist Ron Belcher, trumpet player Mike Olmos, pianist Matt Wong, conductor Daniel Stewart, and SF Symphony musicians.
Following are two programs curated and performed by San Francisco Symphony Collaborative Partners. On July 8, flautist, educator, and creator of new and experimental music Claire Chase curate SoundBox: Metamorphoses, which includes performances of Kaija Saariaho’s Terrestre, conducted by Vimbayi Kaziboni; Pauchi Sasaki’s Sanagi; and Excerpts from Marcos Balter’s Pan with members of the San Francisco Girls Chorus. Composer and multifaceted collaborator Nico Muhly serves as curator for the August 12 SoundBox program, which includes performances of Inti Figgis-Vizueta’s Inbhir; Meredith Monk’s Fat Stream, arranged by Muhly; Muhly’s This is the Record of John from Gibbons Suite and Motion; and the world premiere of Flux by Lukáš Janata, commissioned by the SF Symphony and featuring choreographer and dancer Emma Lanier.
The final SoundBox program of the season, curated by pianist Jeremy Denk(in place of the previously announced Esa-Pekka Salonen), will be released on August 26. Jeremy Denk’s SoundBox program features music by Johann Sebastian Bach, Robert Schumann, Marin Marais, Walter Moloney, Charles Tomlinson Griffes, Missy Mazzoli, Claudio Monteverdi, Darius Milhaud, Arnold Schoenberg, Wolfgang Amadé Mozart, Gabriel Fauré, and David Foster, with performances by Denk, SF Symphony musicians, and members of the SF Symphony Chorus, directed by Ragnar Bohlin.
Previously released digital SoundBox programs—Nostalgia and Patterns, curated by Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen, and Lineage, curated by Collaborative Partner Julia Bullock—remain available for on-demand viewing via SFSymphony+.
SoundBox was launched in 2014 as an experimental, late-night concert series for culturally curious audiences. The series is known for continuously pushing the envelope with adventurous programming, innovative design, and multimedia elements. Live SoundBox performances take place in a warehouse-like rehearsal space adjacent to Davies Symphony Hall, enhanced by a Meyer Constellation Sound System, which can alter the space’s acoustics to accommodate a variety of musical styles and ensembles, providing ultimate versatility. This season’s digital SoundBox programs continue to explore new possibilities of the concertgoing experience in the digital realm—some filmed and recorded in the same rehearsal space, utilizing the Meyer Constellation Sound System, and others on the Davies Symphony Hall stage.
CURRENTS episodes exploring Persian and Klezmer musical cultures
The San Francisco Symphony’s CURRENTS video series, launched in July 2020, explores the intersections of classical music with varied musical cultures and illuminates the connections and ways that cultures influence each other and evolve together. Each of the video episodes is curated by a guest artist bringing their unique expertise and knowledge of a particular musical culture, featuring performances by those guest artists alongside members of the San Francisco Symphony.
On June 17, composer and multi-instrumentalist Mohammad NejadcuratesCURRENTS: Invisible Borders, a program exploring Persian classical music, featuring performances of Morteza Neidavoud’s Pishdaramad Mahur and Pishdaramad Esfahan, and Mohammad Nejad’s Rain Dance, all arranged by George Khouri. The final instalment of this season’s CURRENTS video series—CURRENTS: Klezmer, to be released on July 29—is curated by Veretski Pass and explores Klezmer musical culture. The Veretski Pass trio—comprised of director and violinist Cookie Segelstein, bassist Stuart Brotman, and chromatic button accordion, cimbalom, and piano player Joshua Horowitz—perform their own compositions and arrangements of music in the Klezmer tradition.
Previously released CURRENTS episodes—Rhythm Spirits, curated by Indian tabla player and composer Zakir Hussain; Thunder Song, curated by American Indian composer and pianist Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate; and Mavambo Ngoma, Rooted in Music, an exploration of Zimbabwean music and dance curated by the Chinyakare Ensemble—remain available for on-demand viewing via SFSymphony+.
About SFSymphony+
Priced at $120 for the entire season (February 4–August 31, 2021), SFSymphony+ memberships provide exclusive access to premium original San Francisco Symphony digital content, including seven new SoundBox programs, five new CURRENTS episodes, and other special projects to be announced. Access to individual SoundBox and CURRENTS episodes can also be purchased for $15 per episode. Premium episodes range 30 to 55 minutes in duration and remain available for on-demand streaming indefinitely after purchase. SF Symphony donors who have contributed $250 or more this season and all 2020–21 Season subscribers automatically receive a complimentary membership for SFSymphony+ (February–August 2021). Memberships are available for sale now at sfsymphonyplus.org.
SFSymphony+ also features content available for all to enjoy free of charge, without requiring a log-in. Free content includes newly-recorded chamber music performances by SF Symphony musicians, as well as previously-released programs including Throughline: San Francisco Symphony—From Hall to Home; the Día de Los Muertos, Deck the Hall, and 2021 Chinese New Year: Year of the Ox virtual celebrations; first four episodes of CURRENTS; and Playing Changes, presented in partnership with Post: ballet. Chamber music performances featuring San Francisco Symphony musicians will be released on SFSymphony+ free of charge. These performance videos will be added to the platform on a rolling basis, with videos available free of charge for a limited time and cycled out as new ones are added.
In addition to browser-based streaming worldwide on sfsymphonyplus.org, SFSymphony+ is now available via TV services including Apple TV, Amazon FireTV, Chromecast, Roku, and smart TVs, as well as smartphones and tablets; it can be downloaded as an app via Apple App Store, Amazon Firestick, Google Play – Android, and Google Play – TV.
Video Capture at Davies Symphony Hall
Helping to make these intricate video productions possible is a new Panasonic 4K Robotic Camera System, featuring 12 cameras, two telescoping camera stands, and a Tecnopoint robotic slider. With the Green Room at Davies Symphony Hall converted into a state-of-the-art video suite, the Panasonic Camera System gives the ability to capture high-quality video in three spaces simultaneously—the Davies Symphony Hall stage, SoundBox, and additional small studio space in the building.
CALENDAR EDITORS:
All SoundBox and CURRENTS episodes launch Thursdays at 10 AM PST / 1 PM EST and remain available for on-demand streaming indefinitely.
SoundBox — Resilience: Destiny Muhammad
Released May 27, 2021, on SFSymphony+
Destiny Muhammad curator and harp
Daniel Stewart conductor
Leon Joyce, Jr. drums
Ron Belcher bass
Mike Olmos trumpet
Matt Wong piano
Frank Zamacona director
Taylor Joshua Rankin editor
Luke Kritzeck director of lighting
Adam Larsen projection designer
Members of the San Francisco Symphony
AMBROSE AKINMUSIRE (arr. Matt Wong) Confessions to my Unborn Daughter
TRADITIONAL (arr. Destiny Muhammad) Butterfly Jig
MARY LOU WILLIAMS (arr. Matt Wong) Tell Him Not to Talk Too Long
WILLIAM GRANT STILL Serenade
ARTHUR CUNNINGHAM (arr. Matt Wong) Lullaby for a Jazz Baby
DESTINY MUHAMMAD (arr. Matt Wong) Hope on the Horizon
CURRENTS — Invisible Borders: Persian Musical Culture
Released June 17, 2021 on SFSymphony+
Mohammad Nejad curator, ney flute, santur
Jennifer N. Brown director
Kara Lancaster editor
Luke Kritzeck lighting/set designer
Members of the San Francisco Symphony
MORTEZA NEIDAVOUD (arr. George Khouri) Pishdaramad Mahur
MORTEZA NEIDAVOUD (arr. George Khouri) Pishdaramad Esfahan
MOHAMMAD NEJAD (arr. George Khouri) Rain Dance
SoundBox — Metamorphoses: Claire Chase
Released July 8, 2021 on SFSymphony+
Claire Chase curator and flute
Vimbayi Kaziboni conductor
Steven Condiotti director
Taylor Joshua Rankin editor
Luke Kritzeck director of lighting
Adam Larsen projection designer
San Francisco Girls Chorus, Valérie Sainte-Agathe, artistic director
Members of the San Francisco Symphony
KAIJA SAARIAHO Terrestre
PAUCHI SASAKI Sanagi
MARCOS BALTER Excerpts from Pan
CURRENTS — Klezmer Musical Culture
Released July 29, 2021 on SFSymphony+
Veretski Pass curator
Cookie Segelstein director and violin
Stuart Brotman bass
Joshua Horowitz chromatic button accordion and cimbalom
Frank Zamacona director
Kara Lancaster editor
Luke Kritzeck lighting/set designer
Members of the San Francisco Symphony
JOSHUA HOROWITZ A Doina far di Kale (A Song for the Bride)
TRADITIONAL Tango Under the Influence
GEREVITSH (trans. Beregovsky) Gurevitsh’s Dobriden (Greeting Piece)
TRADITIONAL Tatarisher Longa (Tatar Dance)
COOKIE SEGELSTEIN So the Sparrows May Come
COOKIE SEGELSTEIN Drushpén (Lullaby)
TRADITIONAL Song of the Wanderer
JOSHUA HOROWITZ Birkot Hashakar (Morning Blessings)
COOKIE SEGELSTEIN Orphan Runaway
STUART BROTMAN Awe and Thanksgiving
JOSHUA HOROWITZ Druze-Tants (Druze Dance)
SoundBox — Nico Muhly
Released August 12, 2021 on SFSymphony+
Nico Muhly curator and conductor
Emma Lanier choreographer and dancer
Clyde Scott director
Luke Kritzeck director of lighting
Adam Larsen projection designer
Members of the San Francisco Symphony
INTI FIGGIS-VIZUETA Inbhir
NICO MUHLY This is the Record of John from Gibbons Suite
NICO MUHLY Motion
LUKÁŠ JANATA Flux [World Premiere, San Francisco Symphony Commission]
MEREDITH MONK (arr. Nico Muhly) Fat Stream
SoundBox — Jeremy Denk
Released August 26, 2021 on SFSymphony+
Jeremy Denk curator and piano*
Clyde Scott director
Taylor Joshua Rankin editor
Luke Kritzeck director of lighting
Adam Larsen projection designer
Members of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus, Ragnar Bohlin director
Members of the San Francisco Symphony
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH Mach’s mit mir, Gott, nach deiner Güt’, BWV 377
ROBERT SCHUMANN Intermezzo from Violin Sonata, F-A-E, WoO 22
MARIN MARAIS Le Tableau de l’Opération de la Taille (Urinary Bladder Operation)
WALTER MOLONEY The Influenza Blues (A Syncopated One Step)
ROBERT SCHUMANN Lieb’ Liebchen, from Liederkreis, Opus 24
CHARLES TOMLINSON GRIFFES De Profundis
MISSY MAZZOLI “The Shield of the Heart Is the Heart”
CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI Tu se’ morta, from L’Orfeo
DARIUS MILHAUD IV. Douloureux from Sonata for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, and Piano, Opus 47
ARNOLD SCHOENBERG Part 1 from String Trio, Opus 45
WOLFGANG AMADÉ MOZART Presto from Piano Sonata in A minor, K.310(300d)
GABRIEL FAURÉ Adagio from Piano Quartet No. 1 in C minor, Opus 15
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden, from Saint Matthew Passion, BWV 244
DAVID FOSTER “Hard Times Come Again No More”
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