The Bay Area is brimming with events this weekend, showcasing a range of musical performances, dance celebrations, and theatrical productions.
Alasdair Fraser, the iconic fiddler and leader in Scottish music, is set to perform in a series of concerts with the SF Scottish Fiddlers before his retirement from full-time performing at the year’s end.
Fraser, who will celebrate his 70th birthday on May 14, has gained recognition not only for his exceptional skills as a fiddler but also as a composer and educator.
He has been a central figure in organizing jamborees and camps that promote traditional Scottish and Celtic music, leading a dedicated group that comprises nearly 200 musicians.
This weekend, Fraser will perform in three spring concerts titled “Stravaig,” which translates to “stray beyond limits.”
Audiences can expect to see Fraser with around 70 musicians, including fiddlers, guitarists, percussionists, and cellists, as they showcase their passion for Scottish music.
Performance details include shows at 7 p.m. on April 25 at the Veterans Memorial Theatre in Davis, 7 p.m. on April 26 at Angelico Concert Hall in San Rafael, and 1 p.m. on April 27 at the Jackson Theater in Santa Rosa, with ticket prices ranging from $32 to $35.
Additionally, Bay Area Dance Week kicks off from April 25 to May 4, now in its 26th year and recognized as the largest celebration of dance in the country.
Offering over ten days filled with free events across the region, the festival will feature more than 100 dance schools and troupes, bringing together around 2,500 dancers and 20,000 attendees.
Event offerings will include classes, public participation experiences, and numerous performances, representing a variety of dance styles reflective of the region’s diverse community.
Special classes like “Loving the Air” from Zaccho Dance Theatre and Flyaway Productions will take place in San Francisco, while an Indian Bhangra dance class is on the schedule in Berkeley.
The event also encompasses demonstrations from N’Fungola Sino African Dance and Drum Company during sjDANCEco’s Spring Festival in San Jose, promising a rich experience for dance enthusiasts.
For more information on Dance Week, including how to register, visit dancersgroup.org/badw or www.bopsidy.com/h/badw.
Another noteworthy event is the screening of the legendary 1972 Pink Floyd concert film “Pink Floyd at Pompeii – MCMLXXII,” presented in select theaters throughout the Bay Area.
This digitally re-mastered version enhances the visual and audio quality, allowing fans to relive the iconic performance prior to the overwhelming success of “The Dark Side of the Moon.”
Screenings across California will occur from April 24 to 27, coinciding with an upcoming album release scheduled for May 2, further drawing interest from longtime fans.
For listings and showtimes, check pinkfloyd.film.
In the realm of classical music, the weekend hosts several significant performances worth attending.
The English Concert will perform Handel’s “Giulio Cesare in Egitto” at Cal Performances this weekend, under the direction of Harry Bicket.
With a cast featuring countertenor Christophe Dumaux and soprano Louise Alder, the performance promises to be a dynamic experience filled with emotional depth and riveting musicality.
The concert is set for April 27 at 3 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley, with tickets priced between $39 and $142.
Meanwhile, the San José Chamber Orchestra is set to honor American composers with a selection of works that includes pieces by Samuel Barber, Amy Beach, and George Gershwin, along with a special guest appearance by the Tangent Winds.
Conducted by Barbara Day Turner, this concert will take place on April 27 at 7 p.m. at St. Francis Episcopal Church in San Jose, with tickets ranging from $15 to $75.
The Pacific Chamber Orchestra also adds to the classical offerings with
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