October will Conclude with some Unconventional Offerings

The second concert in the San Francisco Performances (SFP) Chamber Series will feature the SFP debut of the Dover Quartet, whose members are violinists Joel Link and Bryan Lee, violist Milena Pajaro-Van de Stadt, and cellist Camden Shaw. However, in a departure from the usual string quartet repertoire, the ensemble will be joined by composer and bassist Edgar Meyer, who will be appearing as an SFP artist for the ninth time, in addition to having performed three times in the Family Matinee Series. Meyer has a long-standing reputation for the eclectic, usually seasoned with the unusual. Thus, as part of the program, he will join Shaw in a performance of Gioachino Rossini’s D major duo for cello and bass. He will also join the entire ensemble to present the quintet he composed for string quartet with added bass part. The more conventional selections that Dover will present will be Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s K. 136 divertimento in D major and Antonín Dvořák’s Opus 96 (“American”) quartet in F major.

This recital will take place on Sunday, October 30; and, like most Sunday evening SFP concerts, it will begin at 7 p.m. The venue will be Herbst Theatre, located at 401 Van Ness Avenue, on the southwest corner of McAllister Street. Tickets for premium seating at $65, and tickets are also being sold for $55 and $40. Tickets may be purchased online in advance through a City Box Office event page, which provides a chart showing which sections of the hall are covered by which prices. Additional information may be obtained by calling SFP at 415-392-2545.

Those who wish to venture further from the beaten path may consider heading over to a nearby neighborhood at the same time of the evening. SF Opera Lab has been experimenting with bringing opera performances to unconventional venues through a series of pop-up events, the first two of which sold out very quickly. The third such event will celebrate Halloween at Oasis, a vast cabaret and gay nightclub located in the South of Market (SoMa) district. The club will host a night of opera, drag, and debauchery hosted by legendary drag artist Heklina. Participating vocalists will be soprano Julie Adams, mezzo Renée Rapier, tenor Brenton Ryan, and bass-baritone Brad Walker, joined by pianist Jennifer Szeto. Those who do not attend in costume will be able to visit a costume booth provided by the SFO Costume Shop, and the event will include chances to wing SF Opera Lab swag and tickets.

Oasis is located at 298 11th Street in SoMa. Doors open at 7 p.m., the performance will begin at 8 p.m., and it will be followed by a live DJ, who will keep going until 11:30 p.m. Tickets are $25; and, on the basis of past SF Opera Lab activities, advance purchase is highly recommended. Tickets may be purchased online through and Eventbrite event page. Admission is restricted only to those 21 and older; and there is a two-drink minimum.