concert review: San Francisco Symphony

[calimac]

An early music concert, appealing to me for some great repertoire. Bach (Brandenburg 4), Handel (the G-major Water Music suite and the Ariodante Overture), and Purcell (Chaconne), interwoven with two of Respighi's suites of Ancient Airs and Dances. A bit of an uncomfortable mix, I thought, since Respighi's early-20C orchestrations sound uncomfortably lush next to the original Baroque music. But it was all nicely played. The guest conductor was Harry Christophers, an early-music specialist better known for his work with choral rather than orchestral music, and he led like a choral conductor too, shaping the music with his hands, and occasionally churning butter or scooping ice cream as well.