Lobby decorations By Kara Brodgesell
THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY ANNOUNCES ITS ANNUAL HOLIDAY CONCERT SEASON, NOVEMBER 27—DECEMBER 31, 2018
Special guest performers include Pink Martini, Vanessa Williams, Mariachi Sol de México® de José Hernández, and Midtown Men
The SFS performs live accompaniment to three iconic holiday films including Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas; Love Actually; and Home Alone
Family-friendly performances include the Symphony’s annual Deck the Hall celebrations, Cirque de la Symphonie, Peter and the Wolf performed by the SFS Youth Orchestra with guest narrator Richard Dreyfuss, and ’Twas the Night: A Festival of Carols
Enjoy traditional Christmas music performed by the Orchestra and SFS Chorus with Handel’s Messiah, and Holiday Brass
Edwin Outwater conducts the San Francisco Symphony in New Year’s Gaiety featuring drag sensation Peaches Christ, December 31
Peaches Christ and Edwin Outwater By Mario Elias
SAN FRANCISCO—The San Francisco Symphony’s (SFS) 2018 holiday season at Davies Symphony Hall offers a festive array of concerts for all ages, from traditional Christmas classical concerts including Handel’s Messiah and Holiday Brass to family-friendly events including the Orchestra’s annual Deck the Hall concerts; the circus feats of Cirque de la Symphonie; the SFS Youth Orchestra’s annual performance of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf; and a chance to sing along to favorite Christmas tunes with ’Twas the Night: A Festival of Carols. Featured guest artists this holiday season include Pink Martini; acclaimed entertainer Vanessa Williams and the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir; Mariachi Sol de México® de José Hernández; and stars from the original cast of Broadway’s Jersey Boys, The Midtown Men. Holiday film presentations, featuring the SFS performing the score live, include Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, Universal Pictures’ Love Actually, and holiday classic Home Alone. Closing out the holiday season, Edwin Outwater leads the SFS in New Year’s Gaiety, featuring San Francisco’s premiere drag sensation Peaches Christ and other guest stars in a program full of fabulous surprises and dazzling performances.
Internationally-flavored ensemble Pink Martini and the San Francisco Symphony kick off the holiday season on November 27–28 with Christopher Bell conducting. Featuring vocalist China Forbes and bandleader-pianist Thomas Lauderdale, Pink Martini performs their unique blend of cabaret, samba, retro pop, and jazz. On December 7–8 William Eddins conducts the SFS, the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, and featured vocalist Vanessa Williams in Holiday Soul—an electrifying program of soul, jazz, and Christmas favorites; and Mariachi Sol de México® de José Hernández returns for a festive musical tribute to Mexico’s Christmas traditions, performing Mexican and American holiday favorites in a A Merry-Achi Christmas, December 9. On December 22, The Midtown Men bring their one-of-a-kind concert experience to Davies Symphony Hall, singing holiday hits and favorite tunes from The Beatles, The Rascals, The Turtles, Motown, The Four Seasons, and more. This sensational production reunites four stars from the original Broadway cast of Jersey Boys—Tony Award winner Christian Hoff, Michael Longoria, Daniel Reichard, and Tony Award nominee J. Robert Spencer—as they celebrate the music that defined the ’60s.
Mariachi Sol de Mexico By Camille Tarazon
The Symphony’s holiday line-up includes programs well-suited for children and families, starting with two Deck the Hall concerts on December 2. This festive children’s concert and celebration features a lively array of musical vignettes from Symphony musicians and special guests, including members of Beach Blanket Babylon, the San Francisco Boys Chorus, Young Women’s Choral Projects of San Francisco, San Francisco Ballet School trainees, and Appalachian instrumental trio D’Pa Jo, with Daniel Bartholomew-Poyserconducting. On December 5, the acrobats, strongmen, and performing artists of Cirque de la Symphonie join the SF Symphony for a special holiday show, executing their jaw-dropping feats to the thrilling music of composers like Tchaikovsky, Debussy, Bizet, and others, mixed with plenty of holiday hits. The SF Symphony Youth Orchestra’s annual performance of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, narrated byRichard Dreyfuss and led by Wattis Foundation Music Director Christian Reif, takes place December 9. On December 23, Ragnar Bohlinconducts members of the SF Symphony’s brass section and the SFS Chorus, the San Francisco Girls Chorus, and organist Jonathan Dimmock in ’Twas the Night: A Festival of Carols, a program in which the audience is encouraged to sing along to favorite seasonal tunes!
The SFS continues the tradition of presenting classical music associated with the Christmas season with performances of Handel’s Messiah on December 14–15. Jane Glover conducts the San Francisco Symphony and Chorus in Handel’s glorious masterpiece, featuring soprano Ying Fang, mezzo-soprano Elizabeth DeShong, tenor Nicholas Phan, and baritone Joshua Hopkins. Then, on December 16, members of the SF Symphony brass, percussion, and timpani sections, conducted by Edwin Outwater, present a mix of classical and popular holiday favorites in Holiday Brass.
The holiday season includes screenings of Christmas-themed films with the SFS performing the score live to picture. On November 30, December 1 & 6, Ted Sperling leads the SFS in performances of Tim Burton’s fantastical tale The Nightmare Before Christmas, featuring Danny Elfman’s delightfully quirky score. December 11–12 concerts present another holiday favorite—Universal Pictures’ romantic comedyLove Actually with a score by Craig Armstrong, conducted by Erik Ochsner. Then, on December 19–21, Randall Craig Fleischer leads the San Francisco Symphony and Chorus, joined by the Ragazzi Boys Chorus and Young Women’s Choral Projects of San Francisco, in Chris Columbus’ beloved holiday comedy Home Alone, featuring music by John Williams.
Home Alone
On December 31, conductor Edwin Outwater leads the San Francisco Symphony in New Year’s Gaiety, a fabulously festive evening featuring famed drag sensation Peaches Christ, comedian/vocalist Jane Lynch, vocalist Cheyenne Jackson, actor/singer Varla Jean Merman, violinist Thorgy Thor, vocalist Breanna Sinclairé, the HomoPhonics (an affiliate of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus), and members of Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.
Throughout the month of December, the lobbies of Davies Symphony Hall are transformed into a holiday wonderland, complete with towering trees decorated with handmade ornaments made by children and volunteers from local schools and community groups.
Tickets are available at sfsymphony.org, 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
Pre-Order Food and Drinks: Concertgoers may pre-order food and beverages by calling 415-252-1937 or emailing Global Gourmet Catering staff at davieshallpreorder@ggcatering.com before the performance to place an order.
SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY’S 2018 HOLIDAY CONCERTS
PINK MARTINI with the SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY
Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at 7:30 pm
Wednesday, November 28, 2018 at 7:30 pm
Christopher Bell conductor
Thomas M. Lauderdale piano
China Forbes vocalist
San Francisco Symphony
Program to be announced.
Tickets: $65–175
THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS with the SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY
Ø Film Series
Ted Sperling conductor
San Francisco Symphony
Danny ELFMAN The Nightmare Before Christmas
Henry SELICK director
Tickets: $55–185
DECK THE HALL
Sunday, December 2, 2018 at 11 am and 3 pm
Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser conductor
San Francisco Ballet Training Program, Patrick Armand director
Young Women’s Choral Projects of San Francisco, Susan McMane director
San Francisco Boys Chorus, Ian Robertson director
D’Pa Jo Appalachian instrumental trio
Members of Beach Blanket Babylon
Members of the San Francisco Symphony
ANDERSON Sleigh Ride
HOLIDAY Christmas on Broadway
TCHAIKOVSKY Spanish Chocolate from The Nutcracker, Opus 71
VARIOUS Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas/Holly Jolly Christmas
POLA “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”
R.A. ANDERSON “Mele Kalikimaka”
TCHAIKOVSKY Russian Dance from Nutcracker Suite, Opus 71a
HOLIDAY “Go Tell It on the Mountain”
HOLIDAY Beach Blanket Babylon Holiday Medley 2018
MARKS “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer”
NELSON/ROLLINS “Frosty the Snowman”
TRADITIONAL “Deck the Hall”
Tickets: $46–66
VIP Packages: One of the best ways to experience Deck the Hall is by purchasing a VIP ticket package. This includes premium concert seating, access to a pre-concert party with food, games, special crafts and a photo with Santa! Call the San Francisco Symphony Volunteer Council for details at (415) 503-5500 or click here. This event is expected to sell out.
CIRQUE DE LA SYMPHONIE
Wednesday, December 5, 2018 at 7:30 pm
Edwin Outwater conductor
Cirque de la Symphonie performers
San Francisco Symphony
ANDERSON A Christmas Festival
SCHUBERT Ave Maria
ANDERSON Sleigh Ride
TCHAIKOVSKY (arr. ELLINGTON/STRAYHORN) Peanut Butter Brigade (March) from The Nutcracker Suite
Kristen ANDERSON-LOPEZ/Robert LOPEZ Music from Frozen
TCHAIKOVSKY Waltz from The Sleeping Beauty, Opus 66
John WILLIAMS Flight to Neverland from Hook
TRADITIONAL Deck the Halls
BIZET Farandole from L’Arlésienne Suite No. 2
Alan SILVESTRI Main Title from The Polar Express
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Dance of the Tumblers from The Snow Maiden
TCHAIKOVSKY Waltz of the Flowers from Nutcracker Suite, Opus 71a
ANDERSON Bugler’s Holiday
DAVIS/ONORATI/SIMEONE “Little Bolero Boy”
TRADITIONAL “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”
Tickets: $29–115
Friday, December 7, 2018 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, December 8, 2018 at 7:30pm
William Eddins conductor
Vanessa Williams vocalist
Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir
Program to be announced.
Tickets: $25–130
ANNUAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA HOLIDAY CONCERT
Sunday, December 9, 2018 at 2 pm
Christian Reif conductor
Richard Dreyfuss narrator
San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra
PROKOFIEV Peter and the Wolf
Tickets: $25–110
A MERRY-ACHI CHRISTMAS
Sunday, December 9, 2018 at 7:30 pm
Mariachi Sol de Mexico® de José Hernández
Program to be announced.
Note: The San Francisco Symphony does not appear in this performance.
Tickets: $15–95
LOVE ACTUALLY with the SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY
Tuesday, December 11, 2018 at 7:30 pm
Wednesday, December 12, 2018 at 7:30 pm
Erik Ochsner conductor
San Francisco Symphony
Craig ARMSTRONG Love Actually
Richard CURTIS director
Tickets: $90–185
MESSIAH, JANE GLOVER CONDUCTING
Friday, December 14, 2018 at 8 pm
Saturday, December 15, 2018 at 8 pm
Jane Glover conductor
Ying Fang soprano
Elizabeth DeShong mezzo-soprano
Nicholas Phan tenor
Joshua Hopkins baritone
San Francisco Symphony Chorus, Ragnar Bohlin director
San Francisco Symphony
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Tickets: $34–170
HOLIDAY BRASS
Sunday, December 16, 2018 at 7:30 pm
Edwin Outwater conductor
Members of the San Francisco Symphony
Tickets: $15–79
HOME ALONE with the SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY
Ø Film Series
Wednesday, December 19, 2018 at 7:30 pm
Thursday, December 20, 2018 at 7:30 pm
Friday, December 21, 2018 at 7:30 pm
Randall Craig Fleischer conductor
Young Women’s Choral Projects of San Francisco, Susan McMane director
The Ragazzi Boys Chorus, Joyce Keil artistic director
San Francisco Symphony Chorus, Ragnar Bohlin director
San Francisco Symphony
John WILLIAMS Home Alone
Chris COLUMBUS director
Tickets: $50–165
HOLIDAY HITS with MIDTOWN MEN
Saturday, December 22, 2018 at 7:30 pm
The Midtown Men (original cast of Jersey Boys)
Program to be announced.
Note: The San Francisco Symphony does not appear in this presentation.
Tickets: $20–79
’TWAS THE NIGHT: A FESTIVAL OF CAROLS
Sunday, December 23, 2018 at 7:30 pm
Ragnar Bohlin conductor
Jonathan Dimmock organ
Members of San Francisco Symphony’s brass section
Program to be announced.
Tickets: $25–90
NEW YEAR’S GAIETY: PEACHES CHRIST and the SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY
Sunday, December 31, 2018 at 8 pm
Edwin Outwater conductor, co-emcee
Peaches Christ co–emcee
Jane Lynch comedian, vocalist
Cheyenne Jackson vocalist
Varla Jean Merman vocalist
Thorgy Thor violinist
Breanna Sinclairé vocalist
Lior Rosner composer
HomoPhonics affiliate ensemble of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus
Members of Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence
San Francisco Symphony
Program to be announced.
Tickets: $55–175
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