Patrick H. Pan

Reviewsa concert diary.

A running diary of concerts, with thoughts ranging in length from a couple sentences to paragraphs to nothing at all (yet). Some pieces contain prose meticulously crafted over a glass of wine after the concert. Others are minimal repackagings of typo-ridden bullet points typed in my Notes app or transcriptions of rambling voice memos.

Written up

  • 25 Oct 2026 Payare, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Kavakos — Tchaikovsky & Shostakovich 10 Davies HallSan Francisco A gentle giant who stops time, and an incessant steamroller of a Scherzo that gave birth to silence.
    Program
    • Tchaikovsky, Violin Concerto in D major
    • Shostakovich, Symphony no. 10 in E minor, op. 93

    EncoreBach, Partita no. 3 in E Major, Gavotte

  • 02 Feb 2024 Saraste, SF Symphony — Schubert 6 & Beethoven 7 Davies HallSan Francisco Saraste justified pairing Schubert’s Sixth with Beethoven’s Seventh with a single vision of the symphony after the Eroica: vigorous yet charming, with machined strings and lyrical winds.
    Program
    • Schubert, Symphony no. 6 in C major, D. 589
    • Beethoven, Symphony no. 7 in A major, op. 92
  • 18 Jan 2023 Yunchan Lim — Dowland, Bach, and Beethoven Wigmore HallLondon Lim’s UK debut was further proof that he is, simply put, a massive talent. Some of the slower Bach lost its way, but the Eroica Variations had pearl-like clarity and held together as a whole.
    Program
    • Dowland (arr. Byrd), Pavana Lachrymae (1590s)
    • Bach, Sinfonias, BWV 787–801 (1720)
    • Beethoven, Seven Bagatelles, op. 33 (1802)
    • Beethoven, Eroica Variations, op. 35 (1802)

    EncoresBach (arr. Hess), Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring; Liszt, Liebestraum no. 3

  • 22 Oct 2017 Pappano, Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Argerich — Prokofiev 3 & Respighi Symphony HallBoston A legend performing a legendary concerto. This is not a review, but a reflection on the meaning of this concert.
    Program
    • Verdi, Sinfonia from Aida
    • Prokofiev, Piano Concerto no. 3
    • Respighi, Fountains of Rome
    • Respighi, Pines of Rome

Diary

2026

  • 25 Oct 2026 Payare, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Kavakos — Tchaikovsky & Shostakovich 10 Davies HallSan Francisco A gentle giant who stops time, and an incessant steamroller of a Scherzo that gave birth to silence.
    Program
    • Tchaikovsky, Violin Concerto in D major
    • Shostakovich, Symphony no. 10 in E minor, op. 93

    EncoreBach, Partita no. 3 in E Major, Gavotte

  • 04 Oct 2026 Santtu-Matias Rouvali, San Francisco Symphony, Renée Fleming — Strauss Davies HallSan Francisco
    Program
    • Strauss, Four Last Songs
    • Strauss, Ein Heldenleben
  • 28 May 2026 Opera Holland Park — Mozart, Così fan tutte Opera Holland ParkLondon
    Program
    • Mozart, Così fan tutte, K. 588
  • 22 May 2026 Cristian Măcelaru, San Francisco Symphony, Simon Trpčeski — Taylor, Rachmaninov, and Dvořák Davies HallSan Francisco
    Program
    • Tyler Taylor, new work (premiere)
    • Rachmaninov, Piano Concerto no. 1
    • Dvořák, Symphony no. 9, From the New World
  • 15 May 2026 Herbert Blomstedt, San Francisco Symphony — Mahler, Symphony no. 9 Davies HallSan Francisco
    Program
    • Mahler, Symphony no. 9
  • 08 May 2026 Dima Slobodeniouk, San Francisco Symphony, Yubeen Kim — Dutilleux, Ibert, and Tchaikovsky Davies HallSan Francisco
    Program
    • Dutilleux, Métaboles
    • Ibert, Flute Concerto
    • Tchaikovsky, Symphony no. 4
  • 29 Apr 2026 Víkingur Ólafsson — Bach, Beethoven, and Schubert Zellerbach HallBerkeley
    Program
    • Bach, Prelude in E major, BWV 854, from The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I
    • Beethoven, Piano Sonata no. 27 in E minor, op. 90
    • Bach, Partita no. 6 in E minor, BWV 830
    • Schubert, Piano Sonata in E minor, D. 566
    • Beethoven, Piano Sonata no. 30 in E major, op. 109
  • 17 Apr 2026 Simone Young, San Francisco Symphony, Gautier Capuçon — Macens, Saint-Saëns, and Wagner Davies HallSan Francisco
    Program
    • Macens, new work (premiere)
    • Saint-Saëns, Cello Concerto no. 1
    • Wagner, selections from The Ring of the Nibelung (ed. Simone Young)
  • 11 Apr 2026 Bernard Labadie, San Francisco Symphony — Bach, Easter Oratorio Davies HallSan Francisco
    Program
    • Bach, Sinfonia from Wir danken dir, Gott, BWV 29
    • Bach, Easter Oratorio, BWV 249
    • Bach, Magnificat in D major, BWV 243
  • 27 Mar 2026 Philippe Jordan, San Francisco Symphony, Jean-Yves Thibaudet — Debussy, Saint-Saëns, and Berlioz Davies HallSan Francisco
    Program
    • Debussy, Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune
    • Saint-Saëns, Piano Concerto no. 5, Egyptian
    • Berlioz, Symphonie fantastique

    EncoreRavel, from Ma mère l’Oye, four hands (Thibaudet and Jordan)

  • 20 Mar 2026 Andrés Orozco-Estrada, San Francisco Symphony, Jan Lisiecki — Weber, Mozart, and Dvořák Davies HallSan Francisco
    Program
    • Weber, Overture to Euryanthe
    • Mozart, Piano Concerto no. 9 in E-flat major, K. 271
    • Dvořák, Symphony no. 7 in D minor, op. 70
  • 15 Mar 2026 Pinchas Zukerman and Shai Wosner — Brahms Davies HallSan Francisco
    Program
    • Brahms, Violin Sonatas nos. 1–3
  • 01 Mar 2026 Joshua Bell, Academy of St Martin in the Fields — Brahms and Schumann Davies HallSan Francisco
    Program
    • Brahms, Violin Concerto in D major, op. 77
    • Schumann, Symphony no. 1 in B-flat major, op. 38, Spring
  • 27 Feb 2026 Chris Thile — mandolin and vocals Zellerbach HallBerkeley
    Program
    • Songs from Laysongs
    • Bach, from the Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin
  • 19 Feb 2026 Jaap van Zweden, San Francisco Symphony — Beethoven Davies HallSan Francisco
    Program
    • Beethoven, Symphony no. 2 in D major, op. 36
    • Beethoven, Symphony no. 7 in A major, op. 92
  • 05 Feb 2026 Harry Bicket, San Francisco Symphony, Golda Schultz — Mozart Davies HallSan Francisco
    Program
    • Mozart, Serenade no. 6, Serenata notturna, K. 239
    • Mozart, Symphony no. 34 in C major, K. 338
    • Mozart, arias from The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, and Così fan tutte
  • 29 & 30 Jan 2026 Jaap van Zweden, San Francisco Symphony, Emanuel Ax — Mozart and Bruckner Davies HallSan Francisco
    Program
    • Mozart, Piano Concerto no. 25 in C major, K. 503
    • Bruckner, Symphony no. 7 in E major
  • 23 Jan 2026 John Storgårds, San Francisco Symphony, Seong-Jin Cho — Tarkiainen, Shostakovich, and Beethoven Davies HallSan Francisco
    Program
    • Tarkiainen, The Rapids of Life
    • Shostakovich, Piano Concerto no. 1 (Mark Inouye, trumpet)
    • Beethoven, Symphony no. 5
  • 16 Jan 2026 Edward Gardner, San Francisco Symphony, Randall Goosby — Vaughan Williams, Bruch, and Holst Davies HallSan Francisco
    Program
    • Vaughan Williams, Overture to The Wasps
    • Bruch, Violin Concerto no. 1
    • Holst, The Planets

2025

  • 27 Nov 2025 Lahav Shani, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Martha Argerich — Wagenaar, Schumann, and Brahms De DoelenRotterdam
    Program
    • Wagenaar, Overture to Cyrano de Bergerac
    • Schumann, Piano Concerto in A minor, op. 54
    • Brahms, Symphony no. 2 in D major, op. 73
  • 26 Nov 2025 Tugan Sokhiev, Munich Philharmonic, Lucas and Arthur Jussen — Mendelssohn, Poulenc, and Tchaikovsky ConcertgebouwAmsterdam
    Program
    • Mendelssohn, The Hebrides, op. 26
    • Poulenc, Concerto for Two Pianos
    • Tchaikovsky, Symphony no. 4
  • 07 Nov 2025 Karina Canellakis, San Francisco Symphony, Alexandre Kantorow — Dvořák, Prokofiev, and Sibelius Davies HallSan Francisco
    Program
    • Dvořák, Scherzo capriccioso
    • Prokofiev, Piano Concerto no. 3
    • Sibelius, Lemminkäinen Suite (Four Legends from the Kalevala)
  • 26 Oct 2025 David Afkham, San Francisco Symphony, Sergey Khachatryan — Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich Davies HallSan Francisco
    Program
    • Tchaikovsky, Violin Concerto
    • Shostakovich, Symphony no. 8
  • 18 Oct 2025 Jun Märkl, San Francisco Symphony, Leonidas Kavakos — Bartók and Ravel Davies HallSan Francisco
    Program
    • Bartók, Violin Concerto no. 2
    • Ravel, Daphnis et Chloé
  • 05 Oct 2025 Gustavo Gimeno, San Francisco Symphony, Javier Perianes — Higgins, Grieg, and Tchaikovsky Davies HallSan Francisco
    Program
    • Higgins, Market Street, 1920s (premiere)
    • Grieg, Piano Concerto
    • Tchaikovsky, Symphony no. 5
  • 12 Sept 2025 Jaap van Zweden, San Francisco Symphony, Yuja Wang — Opening Gala Davies HallSan Francisco
    Program
    • Adams, Short Ride in a Fast Machine
    • Tchaikovsky, Piano Concerto no. 1
    • Respighi, Pines of Rome
  • 12 & 14 June 2025 Esa-Pekka Salonen, San Francisco Symphony — Mahler, Symphony no. 2 Davies HallSan Francisco
    Program
    • Mahler, Symphony no. 2, Resurrection (Heidi Stober, Sasha Cooke, San Francisco Symphony Chorus)
  • 23 May 2025 Esa-Pekka Salonen, San Francisco Symphony, Isabelle Faust — Lindberg, Berg, and Stravinsky Davies HallSan Francisco
    Program
    • Lindberg, Chorale
    • Berg, Violin Concerto
    • Stravinsky, The Firebird
  • 06 Mar 2025 Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Vienna Philharmonic — Schubert and Dvořák Zellerbach HallBerkeley
    Program
    • Schubert, Symphony no. 4 in C minor, D. 417, Tragic
    • Dvořák, Symphony no. 9 in E minor, op. 95, From the New World
  • 05 Mar 2025 Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Vienna Philharmonic — Mozart and Mahler Zellerbach HallBerkeley
    Program
    • Mozart, Symphony no. 41 in C major, K. 551, Jupiter
    • Mahler, Symphony no. 1 in D major
  • 02 Mar 2025 Brentano String Quartet Hertz HallBerkeley
  • 01 Mar 2025 Robin Ticciati, San Francisco Symphony, Francesco Piemontesi — Beethoven and Rachmaninov Davies HallSan Francisco
    Program
    • Beethoven, Piano Concerto no. 4
    • Rachmaninov, Symphony no. 2
  • 22 Feb 2025 Esa-Pekka Salonen, San Francisco Symphony, Daniil Trifonov — Muzik, Prokofiev, and Stravinsky Davies HallSan Francisco
    Program
    • Muzik, Strange Beasts (premiere)
    • Prokofiev, Piano Concerto no. 2 in G minor
    • Stravinsky, The Rite of Spring
  • 09 Feb 2025 Wu Han, Arnaud Sussmann, David Finckel — Haydn, Shostakovich, and Mendelssohn Hertz HallBerkeley
    Program
    • Haydn, Piano Trio in E major, Hob. XV:28
    • Shostakovich, Piano Trio no. 2 in E minor, op. 67
    • Mendelssohn, Piano Trio no. 2 in C minor, op. 66

2024

  • 23 Nov 2024 Maxim Vengerov and Polina Osetinskaya Zellerbach HallBerkeley
    Program
    • Clara Schumann, Three Romances, op. 22
    • Brahms, Scherzo from the F-A-E Sonata
    • Robert Schumann, Violin Sonata no. 3 in A minor
    • Prokofiev, Five Melodies, op. 35bis
  • 19 Nov 2024 Igor Levit — Bach, Brahms, and Beethoven Zellerbach HallBerkeley
    Program
    • Bach, Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue, BWV 903
    • Brahms, Four Ballades, op. 10
    • Beethoven, Symphony no. 7 (arr. Liszt)
  • 10 Nov 2024 Behzod Abduraimov — Franck, Prokofiev, and Mussorgsky Hertz HallBerkeley
    Program
    • Franck, Prélude, Fugue et Variation, op. 18 (arr. Bauer)
    • Price, Fantasie nègre no. 1
    • Saidaminova, a work of 1973
    • Prokofiev, music from Romeo and Juliet
    • Mussorgsky, Pictures at an Exhibition

    EncoreLiszt, La campanella

  • 09 Nov 2024 Nicholas Collon, San Francisco Symphony, Conrad Tao — Adès, Tchaikovsky, and Elgar Davies HallSan Francisco
    Program
    • Adès, Three-piece Suite from Powder Her Face
    • Tchaikovsky, Piano Concerto no. 1
    • Elgar, Enigma Variations
  • 27 Oct 2024 Eric Lu — Handel, Schubert, and Chopin Hertz HallBerkeley
    Program
    • Handel, Suite in E major, HWV 430
    • Schubert, Impromptus, op. 142
    • Chopin, Waltz in C-sharp minor, op. 64, no. 2
    • Chopin, Barcarolle in F-sharp major, op. 60
    • Chopin, Piano Sonata no. 2 in B-flat minor, op. 35

    EncoresChopin, Prelude in D-flat major, op. 28, no. 15, Raindrop; Chopin, Waltz in A-flat major, op. 42

  • 27 Oct 2024 Emanuel Ax — Beethoven, Schoenberg, and Schumann Davies HallSan Francisco
    Program
    • Beethoven, Piano Sonata no. 13 in E-flat major, op. 27, no. 1
    • Schoenberg, Three Piano Pieces, op. 11
    • Beethoven, Piano Sonata no. 14 in C-sharp minor, op. 27, no. 2, Moonlight
    • Schoenberg, Six Little Piano Pieces, op. 19
    • Schumann, Fantasy in C major, op. 17
  • 01 Sept 2024 Jonathan Khuner, Series 20c — Schoenberg, Three Piano Pieces, op. 11 The Hillside ClubBerkeley
    Program
    • A lecture on Schoenberg’s piano music
    • Schoenberg, Three Piano Pieces, op. 11
  • 21 June 2024 St John’s Voices, Cambridge Baroque Camerata — Handel, Messiah St John’s College ChapelCambridge
    Program
    • Handel, Messiah, HWV 56
  • 25 Apr 2024 Gustavo Gimeno, San Francisco Symphony, Jonathan Vinocour — Shostakovich, Walton, and Prokofiev Davies HallSan Francisco
    Program
    • Shostakovich, Funeral March from The Great Citizen
    • Walton, Viola Concerto
    • Prokofiev, Symphony no. 3
  • 19 Apr 2024 Karina Canellakis, San Francisco Symphony, Cédric Tiberghien — Strauss and Ravel Davies HallSan Francisco
    Program
    • Strauss, Don Juan
    • Ravel, Piano Concerto for the Left Hand
    • Strauss, Death and Transfiguration
    • Ravel, La valse
  • 16 Apr 2024 Quatuor Ébène — Mozart, Schnittke, and Grieg First Congregational ChurchBerkeley
    Program
    • Mozart, String Quartet no. 21 in D major, K. 575, Prussian
    • Schnittke, String Quartet no. 3
    • Grieg, String Quartet no. 1 in G minor, op. 27

    EncoreSchumann (arr. Quatuor Ébène), Stücklein from Bunte Blätter, op. 99

  • 17 Mar 2024 Mark Padmore and Mitsuko Uchida — Schubert, Winterreise Hertz HallBerkeley
    Program
    • Schubert, Winterreise, D. 911
  • 03 Mar 2024 Conrad Tao — Brahms, Ravel, and new works Hertz HallBerkeley
    Program
    • Brahms, Klavierstücke, op. 118, interleaved with the others
    • Fulmer, I have loved a stream and a shadow
    • Saunders, Mirror, mirror on the wall
    • Moellenberg, Leg of Lamb (after Bernadette Mayer)
    • Ravel, Gaspard de la nuit
  • 02 Feb 2024 Saraste, SF Symphony — Schubert 6 & Beethoven 7 Davies HallSan Francisco Saraste justified pairing Schubert’s Sixth with Beethoven’s Seventh with a single vision of the symphony after the Eroica: vigorous yet charming, with machined strings and lyrical winds.
    Program
    • Schubert, Symphony no. 6 in C major, D. 589
    • Beethoven, Symphony no. 7 in A major, op. 92

2023

  • 25 July 2023 Prom 14: Elim Chan, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Jan Lisiecki — Koide, Beethoven, and Elgar Royal Albert HallLondon
    Program
    • Koide, Swaddling Silk and Gossamer Rain
    • Beethoven, Piano Concerto no. 3
    • Elgar, Enigma Variations

    EncoreChopin, Nocturne in E-flat major, op. 9, no. 2

  • 23 July 2023 Opera Holland Park — Puccini, La bohème Opera Holland ParkLondon
    Program
    • Puccini, La bohème
  • 18 July 2023 Prom 6: Mark Wigglesworth, BBC Philharmonic, Stephen Hough — Mason, Rachmaninov, and Mahler Royal Albert HallLondon
    Program
    • Grace-Evangeline Mason, Ablaze the Moon (premiere)
    • Rachmaninov, Piano Concerto no. 1
    • Mahler, Symphony no. 1
  • 16 July 2023 Prom 4: Pekka Kuusisto, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen — Tarrodi, Beethoven, and Vivaldi Royal Albert HallLondon
    Program
    • Tarrodi, Birds of Paradise II
    • Beethoven, Symphony no. 1
    • Vivaldi, The Four Seasons, with folk improvisations
  • 16 July 2023 Prom 3: Benjamin Grosvenor — Debussy, Liszt, and Ravel Royal Albert HallLondon
    Program
    • Debussy, Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune
    • Liszt, Réminiscences de Norma
    • Ravel, Le tombeau de Couperin
    • Ravel, La valse
  • 14 July 2023 Prom 1: Dalia Stasevska, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Paul Lewis — Sibelius, Frolyak, Grieg, and Britten Royal Albert HallLondon
    Program
    • Sibelius, Finlandia
    • Frolyak, Let There Be Light (premiere)
    • Grieg, Piano Concerto in A minor
    • Sibelius, Snöfrid (Lesley Manville, narrator)
    • Britten, The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra
  • 10 July 2023 Royal Opera — Verdi, La traviata Royal Opera HouseLondon
    Program
    • Verdi, La traviata
  • 10 Mar 2023 Samuel Hasselhorn and Helmut Deutsch — Schubert, Die schöne Müllerin Peterhouse TheatreCambridge
    Program
    • Schubert, Die schöne Müllerin, D. 795
  • 24 Feb 2023 Cambridge University Opera Society — Mozart, The Magic Flute West Road Concert HallCambridge
    Program
    • Mozart, The Magic Flute, K. 620
  • 18 Jan 2023 Yunchan Lim — Dowland, Bach, and Beethoven Wigmore HallLondon Lim’s UK debut was further proof that he is, simply put, a massive talent. Some of the slower Bach lost its way, but the Eroica Variations had pearl-like clarity and held together as a whole.
    Program
    • Dowland (arr. Byrd), Pavana Lachrymae (1590s)
    • Bach, Sinfonias, BWV 787–801 (1720)
    • Beethoven, Seven Bagatelles, op. 33 (1802)
    • Beethoven, Eroica Variations, op. 35 (1802)

    EncoresBach (arr. Hess), Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring; Liszt, Liebestraum no. 3

2022

  • 11 Nov 2022 Emerson String Quartet — farewell West Road Concert HallCambridge
    Program
    • Shostakovich, String Quartet no. 10, among others
  • 19 July 2022 Festival Academy Budapest — Bach and Schubert Hold utcai Református templomBudapest
    Program
    • Bach, from the Violin Concertos, BWV 1041–1043
    • Schubert, Piano Quintet in A major, D. 667, Trout

2021

  • 07 Oct 2021 Stephen Hough — Rawsthorne, Hough, Schumann, and Chopin West Road Concert HallCambridge
    Program
    • Rawsthorne, Bagatelles
    • Hough, Partita
    • Schumann, Kreisleriana, op. 16
    • Chopin, Ballade no. 3 in A-flat major, op. 47
    • Chopin, Scherzo no. 2 in B-flat minor, op. 31

2020

  • 26 Jan 2020 Metropolitan Opera — Verdi, La traviata Metropolitan Opera HouseNew York
    Program
    • Verdi, La traviata

2019

  • 11 Dec 2019 Vladimir Jurowski, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Peter Donohoe — Foulds and Shostakovich Royal Festival HallLondon
    Program
    • Foulds, Dynamic Triptych
    • Shostakovich, Symphony no. 11 in G minor, op. 103, The Year 1905

2018

  • 09 Jan 2018 François-Xavier Roth, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Benjamin Grosvenor — Méhul, Mozart, and Beethoven Symphony HallBoston
    Program
    • Méhul, Overture to Les Amazones
    • Mozart, Piano Concerto no. 21 in C major, K. 467
    • Beethoven, Symphony no. 5

2017

  • 22 Oct 2017 Pappano, Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Argerich — Prokofiev 3 & Respighi Symphony HallBoston A legend performing a legendary concerto. This is not a review, but a reflection on the meaning of this concert.
    Program
    • Verdi, Sinfonia from Aida
    • Prokofiev, Piano Concerto no. 3
    • Respighi, Fountains of Rome
    • Respighi, Pines of Rome
  • 07 Oct 2017 Andris Nelsons, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Gil Shaham — Sierra, Tchaikovsky, and Rachmaninov Symphony HallBoston
    Program
    • Sierra, Moler
    • Tchaikovsky, Violin Concerto
    • Rachmaninov, Symphony no. 2
  • 03 Oct 2017 Andris Nelsons, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Paul Lewis — Beethoven and Shostakovich Symphony HallBoston
    Program
    • Beethoven, Piano Concerto no. 4
    • Shostakovich, Symphony no. 11, The Year 1905
  • 13 Apr 2017 Andris Nelsons, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Mitsuko Uchida — Mozart and Bruckner Symphony HallBoston
    Program
    • Mozart, Piano Concerto no. 20 in D minor, K. 466
    • Bruckner, Symphony no. 6

2014

  • 07 Nov 2014 Riccardo Chailly, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Nikolaj Znaider — Mendelssohn and Beethoven Symphony HallBoston
    Program
    • Mendelssohn, The Hebrides
    • Beethoven, Violin Concerto
    • Mendelssohn, Symphony no. 5