Arts & Events

To learn what's happening on Berkeley's arts scene, you can now reach the Berkeley Arts Festival Calendar directly from the Planet. You can then click on an individual date for a full description of every event on that day.

To reach the calendar, click here. -more-

A tireless researcher of early music from many countries and cultures, Jordi Savall is the true ambassador to world music that Yo-Yo Ma arrogantly thinks is his rightful position. Sorry, Yo-Yo, you take a back seat to Jordi Savall, and for that matter to many others, all of whom bring far more passion and dedication to their music than you do. You, Yo-Yo Ma, are only the ambassador to music’s wealthy patrons; whereas Jordi Savall is without doubt the people’s ambassador to world music, especially early music from around the globe.

On Thursday evening, May 3, San Francisco Performances brought Jordi Savall to Herbst Theatre for a concert of Celtic music. Featured alongside Jordi Savall was Carlos Núñez, one of the world’s top performers on bagpipes from his native Galicia in Northwestern Spain. A charismatic performer, Carlos Núñez opened this concert by marching slowly down the aisles of Herbst Theatre playing an air on his bagpipes. When he reached the stage, Carlos Núñez launched into an extended improvisation on bagpipes that, to me, sounded for all the world like John Coltrane’s famous improvisations on soprano saxophone on “My Favorite Things.” Believe me, that’s no small tribute! Likening Carlos Núñez on bagpipes to John Coltrane on soprano saxophone may be a surprising rapprochement, but if you have recordings of each musician, play them back to back and you’ll hear what I mean. -more-

Worth Noting:

• Monday - Police Review Commission (PRC) to complete the review and revision of the PRC Reform Subcommittee proposed Charter amendment,
• Tuesday - Urban Shield City Council Subcommittee 1:00 pm, City Council Special Session 6:00 pm
• Wednesday - Police Equity Report at the Police Review Commission, report showing Berkeley policing bias/racial profiling to be reviewed, Community forum – panel on Access and Disability Rights
• Thursday – jam packed with 4 worth noting meetings at the same time, CEAC, Homeless Commission, ZAB, and event on Displacement and Gentrification

When notices of meetings are found that are posted after Friday 5:00 pm they are added to the website schedule https://www.sustainableberkeleycoalition.com/whats-ahead.html and preceded by LATE ENTRY



June 5 Primary vote by mail ballots start arriving this week. You can still register to vote and/or request vote by mail ballot, but don’t delay http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail/ -more-