Classical Music

Classical Music in the SF Bay Area

San Francisco is home to some of the best Classical music performers in the United States, and in particular has a strong community of early music and Baroque performers.

Top performing groups/venues

• Aggregators/Organizers

  • SF Classical Voice Calendar - aggregates a bunch of classical concerts

  • SF Performances - classical music in various venues in SF, especially the Herbst Theatre

  • Huge List of Classical Organizations - put together by Stanford's KZSU student radio station

• Big Ensembles

  • SF Opera (the BRAVO! Club is for people between 21 and 40 years old; season membership costs $50-60 and it pays for itself with discounted tickets...they also host a number of events for young people who love opera)

  • SF Symphony (Symphonix is the Symphony's version of the opera's Bravo! Club)

  • SF Ballet (Encore is the Ballet's version of the opera's Bravo! Club)

• Venues with Various Classical Artists

  • Cal Performances - Berkeley's performance group often hosts top Classical and Early Music performers such as Jordi Savall

  • Stanford Live (formerly LivelyArts) - similar to Berkeley

  • SF Early Music Society - they host a concert series, and also put on the Berkeley Festival and Exhibition, a June concert series/festival featuring early music

  • Midsummer Mozart Festival - usually held in July

  • Carmel Bach Festival - down the coast in Carmel, but close enough for a day trip! Held in mid/late July.

• Baroque/Early Music Ensembles

  • Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra - perform Baroque as well as other Classical works around the Bay Area; probably the best Baroque orchestra in the U.S.

  • American Bach Soloists - Baroque music orchestra and choir, perform throughout Northern California...one of the premier Baroque choral groups in the U.S.

  • Voices of Music - baroque concerts, mostly chamber music, around the Bay Area; they have a YouTube page with very well-produced videos

  • California Bach Society - Renaissance/Baroque chamber choir; concerts in SF, Palo Alto, and Berkeley

  • Magnificant - 17th Century ensemble, performs choral & smaller-orchestral/chamber music around the Bay Area

  • Musica Pacifica - chamber group specializing in Baroque music, perform throughout Northern California

  • SF Bach Choir - vocal ensemble that specializes in Bach and the Baroque

• Choral Groups

  • Chanticleer - technically based in SF but they tour all over the world, a premier all-male, mostly a capella group

  • Clerestory - a 9-man vocal ensemble, many of whose members are Chanticleer alumni

  • Sacred and Profane - mixed ensemble that does a capella concerts in SF, Alemeda, and Berkeley

  • SF Choral Society - sings a wide range of music; free tickets for junior high/high school students

  • Bay Area Choral Guild - Palo Alto-based group of 40 singers that performs a wide repertoire of music

  • Cantare Con Vivo - a number of choral ensembles based in the East Bay

  • [also see groups under "Baroque/Early Music" above]

Places for Classical Music Lovers

• The Musical Offering - cute music shop & café in Berkeley that specializes in early music

Free/Cheap Classical Music

San Francisco offers a number of opportunities to listen to live Classical music for (almost) free:

• SF Opera

  • Opera at the Ballpark - every summer the opera does a simulcast of a production at AT&T Park, on the big screen; you have to line up very early to get a spot on the field, but upper-deck seats are plentiful

  • Opera in the Park - every summer the opera hosts a big, free concert (usually a selection of arias) in Golden Gate Park

  • Rush Tickets - available to students, seniors, and military

  • Various discounts - including $10 day-of standing-room-only tickets (although usually you can find a seat after intermission)

  • ...also see the Bravo! Club, above

• SF Symphony Free Concerts - they usually play at Stern Grove, as well as several other venues (Dolores Park, Justin Herman Plaza near the Ferry Building, and Civic Center near City Hall), they also offer discounted tickets for students, rush tickets, and for those willing to sit behind the orchestra in the Terrace...some concerts also let you bring kids for free

• Stern Grove Festival - this free summer series usually features the SF Symphony one of the weeks, and often another Classical group another week

• Morrison Chamber Music Center at SF State - hosts free concerts with big-name chamber ensembles (such as the Juliard String Quartet)

• The National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi Concerts - church in North Beach that occasionally hosts free concerts

• Old First Concerts - has $5 tickets for students for most concerts

• Old Saint Mary's Noontime Concerts - suggested $5 donation for their mostly chamber music concerts

• Calvary Presbyterian Church - various free concerts hosted throughout the year (with their Chancel Choir and Orchestra)

• SF Renaissance Voices - hosts a free Christmas concert every year

• Classical Revolution - host mostly chamber music at bars and cafés

• Opera on Tap SF - host a number of operatic concerts and full shows at bars and other low-cost venues

• SF Conservatory of Music - often hosts free concerts and master classes

• SF Civic Symphony - all their concerts are free

• SF Chamber Orchestra - free family concerts and mainstage concerts

• On the radio

  • KDFC 90.3 FM (main Classical radio station, often simulcasts local performances, can also listen online)

  • KALW 91.7 FM (public radio, also plays Classical)