Main Stage Concert: La Bella Musica (Berkeley) April 1, 2012

Benjamin Simon, conductor
Avi Avital, mandolin
Brian Thorsett, tenor

Gioachino Rossini: L'italiana in Algeri Overture
Giovanni Paisiello: Concerto for Mandolin & Strings in E-flat major
Gioachino Rossini: String Sonata No. 2 in A major
Felix Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op. 90 ("Italian")

Come with us to bella Italia, where we'll be celebrating the leap-year birthday of Gioachino Rossini. The most famous musician of his day, Rossini once boasted that he could "set a laundry list to music". On this program we perform a string sonata written at the age of 12, the stirring overture to one of his most popular operas, and a bon bon with noted Bay Area tenor Brian Thorsett.

Our concert also features the much-anticipated return of mandolin virtuoso Avi Avital, performing Paisiello's delightful Mandolin Concerto. Avital recently became the first mandolinist signed by the prestigious Deustche-Gramophon label.

Felix Mendelssohn's final symphony, musical homage to his beloved Italy, will close our program and our 2011-2012 Main Stage Concert series.

Admission is free, but tickets are required for non-members! Reserve online, or call 415.692.5258 to make your reservation by phone. Doors open to the public 45 minutes before concert time. SFCO supporting members receive priority seating and do not need tickets. Please bring membership card to concert, and please arrive no later than 15 minutes before concert time to guarantee yourself a seat. Doors open to SFCO supporting members 60 minutes before concert time.

Official Website: http://www.sfchamberorchestra.org/events/mainstage/