Free concert: Mozart, Handel, Hayden, Gershwin

Before the lights go out all over the world, join us for this festive annual event (30 signed up last year), priced for the times (donations welcome)...

A CONCERT OF ~LEADING LADIES~

SAN FRANCISCO CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
BENJAMIN SIMON, CONDUCTOR

AMANDA KING, VOCALIST
ROBIN SHARP, VIOLINIST
GWEN MOK, PIANIST

Handel: Water Music Suite No. 2
Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 1 in B-flat Major, K. 207
Valerie Coleman: Concertino for Piano and Chamber Orchestra
Gershwin: Five Classic Songs
Haydn: Symphony No. 49 in F-sharp minor ("Farewell")

Rising jazz star Amanda King (whom we heard at Jazz at Pearl's before it closed), violin virtuosa Robin Sharp, and acclaimed pianist Gwen Mok are the leading ladies in this Baroque to Broadway program. Handel's exuberant Water Music, Suite, first performed for England's King George II from barges in the Thames River, opens the program, followed by Mozart's delightful first Violin Concerto. Former newscaster Valerie Coleman's Concertino for Piano and Chamber Orchestra was premiered by the SFCO in May 2007 and deserves to be heard again. "S'Wonderful" American Songbook classics by George Gershwin jazz things up, and then we bid "Farewell" to 2008 with one of Haydn's finest, and wittiest, symphonies.

For those who can come early, we'll do a supper at Arlequin Cafe 5:30 p.m., Hayes between Gough and Franklin.