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| Omni announces new season By Stacy Trevenon [ stacy@hmbreview.com ] Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, June 3, 2009 8:59 AM PDT Nationally recognized as a leading series for classical guitar in the United States and one of the finest series of its kind in the world, the Omni Foundation for the Performing Arts announces its 29th season in 2009-2010. Created decades ago by Miramar classical guitarist Richard Patterson, Omni began locally but now presents concerts in San Francisco venues like Herbst Theatre, the Palace of Fine Arts, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Concert Hall, Brava Theater and the Green Room. Tickets range from $24 to $42. The series is as follows: *Kazuhito Yamashita, Friday, Oct. 2, 2009, 8 p.m., San Francisco Conservatory of Music, $38. The brilliant and controversial Japanese maestro will perform the music of Bach in what Toronto’s The Globe and Mail called “a glorious display of tonal and dynamic ranges;” *Roland Dyens, Friday, Oct. 16, 2009, 8 p.m., Brava Theater, $36. The French composer/arranger/guitarist will showcase some of his latest creations with “the right combination of intelligence, passion and beauty,” said Classical Guitar Magazine; *Xuefei Yang, Friday, Nov. 13, 2009, 8 p.m., Herbst Theatre, $36/$24. “The guitar world has a new star,” says Gramophone of this guitarist; *Pepe Romero, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009, 8 p.m., Herbst Theatre, $42/$32. An Omni regular, Romero has been honored by kings and heads of state for his “orchestral power and vocal lyricism,” says the New York Times; *Pavel Steidel, Friday, Jan. 29, 2010, 8 p.m., Herbst Theatre, $36/$24. Critically described as casting a spell over listeners, he plays “with a vivid expression as if he was the music’s creator,” noted Grendai Guitar of Japan. *Tommy Emmanuel, Friday, Feb. 12, 2010 and Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010, 8 p.m., Palace of Fine Arts, $39. He is called a “Certified Guitar Player” and “the greatest fingerpicker in the world” by Chet Atkins; *The Edsen-Stell duo making their San Francisco debut, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010, 8 p.m., the Green Room, $30. Having performed in more than 20 countries, they are the only guitarists since Julian Bream to nab Gramophone Magazine’s “Editor’s Choice”; *Marcus Tardelli with Carlos Oliveira and Ricardo Peixoto, Friday, March 20, 2010, 8 p.m., Brava Theater, $34. The Brazilian duo of Oliveira and Peixoto will open for Tardelli, called “the greatest acoustic guitar player that Brazil produced in history” by Guinga. *Gabriel Blanco, making his San Francisco debut, Saturday, April 17, 2010, 8 p.m., The Green Room, $30. This young French man has performed in festivals and earned first prize in international competitions; *Manuel Barrueco, with the Beijing Duo, Thursday, April 29, 2010, 8 p.m., Herbst Theatre, $42/$32. Barrueco, “an elegant musician and aristocrat of the guitar” (Dallas Times Herald) introduces his protégés, Yameng Wang and Meng Su. For more information, visit the Omni Web site at www.omniconcerts.com or call 726-1203. |