Arts & Events

Imagine a Handel opera staged in such a way that the sexual politics of today’s Me Too movement against the sexual predations of powerful men are not only evoked, they also lead us to indict predatory men like Donald Trump, Harvey Weinstein, and Jeremy Epstein. This is exactly what happens in the current Philharmonia Baroque production of George Friedric Handel’s Italian opera Aci, Galatea e Polifimo, which runs from January 24 to February 1 at San Francisco’s ODC Theatre. The idea behind this amazing production began with countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo and Brooklyn’s National Sawdust, an innovative arts institution in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn. In 2017 they approached the Bay Area’s Philharmonia Baroque and proposed a collaboration to produce a Handel opera, written in Naples in 1708, about the mythical sex-triangle of Acis, Galatea, and the monstrous, one-eyed Cyclops, Polyphemus. Their collaboration bore fruit in the 2017 production of Aci, Galatea e Polifemo in Brooklyn, which drew rave reviews from New York critics. Now they have brought this same “radical production of a Handel rarity” to Bay Area audiences; and make no mistake about it, this show, as New York’s critics noted, “wrings every bit of unsettling darkness from this curious work.” -more-

As part of the worldwide celebration of Beethoven’s 250th birthday, New Century Chamber Orchestra presents concerts January 23-5 under the rubric “Beethoven at the Presidio.” Most of the concerts will take place in the newly-renovated Presidio Theatre in San Francisco. However, on January 23 a preview concert was given in Berkeley’s First Congregational Church, and it was this performance I attended. Highlighting the program was Beethoven’s Triple Concerto in C Major, Op. 56, for Violin, Cello, and Piano. Featured soloists were Daniel Hope on violin, Lynn Harrell on cello, and Simone Dinnerstein on piano. A more high-powered group of soloists for this Triple Concerto could hardly be imagined. -more-

Worth Noting and Showing Up:

For a week that should have been quiet other than City Council on Tuesday, it is packed with workshops, speakers and interesting looking meeting agendas.

Sunday – Free Workshop – Electrify Everything, If you have a gas furnace or water heater on its last leg, the electrification workshop is a must. We must get off natural gas and now we can do it.

Monday – Check the proposed agenda items for Feb 11 City Council meeting.

Tuesday – If you can’t show up or tune into the 4 pm City Council session on the Fire Department, take a quick scan of the report – link is included below. Surveillance and Safe Overnight RV Parking are agenda items in the City Council Regular meeting agenda.

Wednesday – The Planning Commission subcommittee is presenting the Adeline Corridor Plan

Thursday – Seminar on preparing for power outages - Are You Prepared for the Next Power Outage,

Saturday – The evening event Climate Disruption, Migration and Border Walls with journalist Todd Miller is high on my show-up list after listening to a YouTube interview with Todd Miller. There is an all-day workshop on the Adeline Corridor from 9 am – 5 pm.



If you are interested in looking at the building projects that have been approved and are in the appeal period, that list with links follows the weekly list of meetings.



Sunday, January 26, 2019

Electrify Everything Albany, 11am-1 pm, free workshop at 1249 Marin Ave, Albany, Albany Community Center, on how to electrify everything including electric heat pumps and water heating

http://electrifyeverything.online/buildings

Register https://www.eventbrite.com/e/carbon-free-workshop-electrification-2020-carbon-free-albany-challenge-registration-86849520253

Monday, January 27, 2019 -more-