Surround Yourself with the Music of the Night
Setting an almost impossible standard in excellence for music performance, the San Francisco Symphony has been around since 1911. After the catastrophic earthquake of 1906, the leaders at the time in the Bay Area wanted to create a permanent fixture for the gentile music lovers and the first concert was put on in December of 1911. This world-class establishment has seen its fair share of award-winning conductors and has also won quite a few prestigious awards itself. This should be reason enough to plan an upcoming evening out with the San Francisco Symphony and we’re going to tell you how to make the best of it.
Upcoming Performances
The calendar at the San Francisco Symphony is rather full this fall, so there are plenty of chances to take in a performance. From October 23rd to October 25th, the symphony is putting on a concert of Tchaikovsky and Vivaldi while featuring three incredible symphony soloists. During this performance, you’ll be treated to the sounds of Summer from Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, Bach’s Third Keyboard Concerto and Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir de Florence.
On October 29th, 30th, and November 1st, conductor Michael Tilson Thomas will lead the symphony in a performance of Mahler’s Seventh Symphony. Hailed by the Los Angeles Times as “the most exciting Mahler combination anywhere”, this is a work that has garnered them two Grammys, one for Best Classical Album and one for Best Orchestral Performance.
The break in the above dates is to allow a special Halloween showing of the 1920 silent film Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde while accompanied by a live organ played by Todd Wilson. This is definitely a unique and positively eerie way to spend this Halloween!
Fine Dining Before the Show
Lucky for you, there is an abundance of fantastic fine dining locations around the Davies Symphony Hall. However, since these restaurants tend to fill up fast on concert nights, we definitely recommend you make a reservation. From vegetarian cuisine to soul food, there is sure to be a restaurant nearby to appease your appetite.
For a quaint French Bistro, you may want to stop into the Absinthe Brasserie & Bar. Start your meal out with an appetizer of Beef Tartare or Smoky Tomato Soup before moving on to one of their delectable entrees. They offer everything from their upscale Absinthe Hamburger to the more adventurous Grilled Spanish Octopus. Top it all off with one of their custom creative cocktails before heading off to the symphony.
If you would prefer to indulge in some delicious seafood, head over to the Hayes Street Grill. With first courses that consist of selections like Grilled Monterey Calamari or Six Hog Island Cliffside Oysters on the Half Shell, it may be difficult to decide on a dish. You can also choose from grilled sustainably caught fish or tender grilled meats like the Niman Bavette Steak before ending the meal on a sweet note with one of their rich desserts. The Crème Brulee is always a smart choice!
Luxury Transportation
A night out at the symphony is the perfect excuse for reserving a luxury Bay Area car service. This isn’t a night out you want to rely on your own car for; this is the night of high class indulgence. You and your guest can dress up in your finest attire and be chauffeured to dinner and a show like the ultra-VIPs you truly are!
Make this a night to remember by surrounding yourself with the music of the night. The San Francisco Symphony has a way of instilling a deep appreciation for the classical music of the past in anyone who will listen.
Image Credit: freedigitalphotos.net/Stuart Miles
