Events Around the Bay – Week of January 5, 2018
Our Great Tchaikovsky Shines in Mountain View January 10 to February 11 Don’t miss the Bay Area premiere of the stunning musical tribute to Our Great Tchaikovsky, written and performed by the brilliant actor and astoundingly talented writer, pianist, director, composer, conductor, and producer Hershey Felder who shattered box office records with his acclaimed portrayals of George Gershwin, Frederic Chopin, Ludwig van […]
Our Great Tchaikovsky Shines in Mountain View
January 10 to February 11
Don’t miss the Bay Area premiere of the stunning musical tribute to Our Great Tchaikovsky, written and performed by the brilliant actor and astoundingly talented writer, pianist, director, composer, conductor, and producer Hershey Felder who shattered box office records with his acclaimed portrayals of George Gershwin, Frederic Chopin, Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Liszt, Leonard Bernstein, and Irving Berlin. Presented by TheatreWorks Silicon Valley to the music by Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, the show explores both current Russian politics and historical context. The piano virtuoso Felder brings to life the music and story of composer Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in a time-bending tale. From the iconic ballets Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, and The Nutcracker, to the outrageous 1812 Overture and brilliant symphonic works, this powerful music journey travels from Czarist times to today, showcasing the vivid life of a haunted genius. This is a magnificent way for you to start 2018 with an exciting and thrilling experience at the theater. Bravo ThatreWorks for enriching our cultural life in the heart of Silicon Valley.
Tickets and Information
Prices range from $45 to $105
650-463-1960
www.theatreworks.org
Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts
500 Castro Street in Mountain View
Photo courtesy of Hershey Felder
Pruning Workshops for Your Blooming Garden
January 20 or January 27, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
It’s never too early to stop and smell the aromatic roses which will be greatly enhanced by attending a demonstration and hands-on day of rose pruning with “Jan the Rose Lady” at the beautiful garden oasis of the Russian River Rose Company in Sonoma County. Start indoors, with a thorough demonstration of pruning techniques on all types of roses – climbers, bushes, shrubs, and miniatures. You will even learn how to sharpen your shears! Then, you will actually practice, not just watch, by pruning roses in their garden. No test given upon graduation! Everyone will go home smiling, and with a great deal more confidence in their ability to wield the pruning shears and prepare their gardens for a beautiful spring bloom! A continuous supply of warm comfort beverages and muffins will be served (no need to pick up a Starbucks coffee before arriving).
DRESS: Cozily-hooded jackets, boots, and warm socks. BRING: Work gloves, pruning shears, clipboard and a joyful heart. HANDOUTS: Handouts summarizing the techniques being demonstrated will be available. Make it a weekend getaway to the beautiful Sonoma County.
Tickets and Information
Cost: $35 per person
Limited to 25 participants
707-433-7455
www.russian-river-rose.com
Russian River Rose Company
1685 Magnolia Drive in Healdsburg
Photo courtesy of Mikala Kennan
Arrangiarsi: Pizza… & the Art of Living
January 14 at 2:30 p.m.
The Museo Italo Americano is proud to present the San Francisco premiere of Arrangiarsi: Pizza… & the Art of Living following the sold-out screening at the recent Mill Valley Film Festival. And now it is your turn to follow Matteo’s life when all fails and he is forced to drive a 1985 van in order to trace his roots in Naples, the birthplace of pizza (and you thought it was New York, right?) How Matteo masters the art of making something out of nothing – is the theme of this extremely entertaining and delicious movie. You will have a chance to meet the filmmaker Matteo Troncone who will be present at the screening and will take questions after the screening. This event is sponsored by the Istituto Italiano di Cultura San Francisco and the Leonardo Da Vinci Society of San Francisco. Buon Anno!
Tickets and Information
Price of admission is $15 ($20 at the door)
415-345-7557
www.fortmason.org
Cowell Theatre at Fort Mason Center
2 Marina Blvd. in San Francisco
Photo courtesy of Italian Cultural Institute
Ahh… The Soothing Sounds of Chris Botti
January 9-14
Chris Botti, the world-renowned trumpet player, will dazzle Bay Area audiences with his performances at the San Francisco Jazz Center. The Grammy-winning musician whose four albums reached the top spot of the Billboard Jazz Albums chart, attributes his career success to playing, touring and collaborating with Sting, Frank Sinatra, Buddy Rich, Aretha Franklin, Bette Midler, Yo Yo Ma, Herbie Hancock, Paul Simon, and Joni Mitchell. The trumpet superstar plays everything from the 2nd movement of Rodrigo’s “Concerto de Aranjuez” to Al Green’s grooving “Let’s Stay Together.” Jazz up your cultural life with these amazing concerts.
Tickets and Information
Prices range from $55 to $145
866-920-5299
www.sfjazz.com
SF Jazz Center
201 Franklin Street in San Francisco
Photo courtesy of SF Jazz
Lina Broydo immigrated from Russia, then the Soviet Union, to Israel where she was educated and got married. After working at the University in Birmingham, England, she and her husband immigrated to the United States. She lives in Los Altos Hills, CA and writes about travel, art, style, entertainment, and sports. She hardly cooks or bakes, with no borsch or piroshky on her home cooking menu. Therefore, she makes reservations and enjoys dining out, mostly sushi.
