Feature

SEX & VIOLENCE: Love and revenge take center stage in Opera San Jose's production of Giuseppe Verdi's 'Il Trovatore.' Pat Kirk

HAMMER THEATRE CENTER
San Jose | hammertheatre.com

GuGu Drum Group
Jan 31, 7:30pm
Chinese fables and fairytales come to life onstage when the Shanghai-based GuGu Drum Group, brings its high energy drumming ensemble to San Jose. The group captured international attention during its appearance in the 2008 Beijing Olympic opening ceremonies.

Cambrian Symphony
Feb 1, 7:30pm
The Cambrian Symphony's first performance of 2020 features the works of three masters of early 20th century classical music. The orchestra will play George Gershwin's "Cuban Overture," Sergei Prokofiev's "The Love for Three Oranges" and Igor Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring"—a work so revolutionary and controversial at the time of its debut that some reports describe a "riot" breaking out at the theater during its first performance.

Daria Rabotkina
Feb 9, 2:30pm
The Steinway Society's 25th season has featured plenty of notable players so far and this performance is no exception. The Russian-American pianist Daria Rabotkina will play works by Schubert, Beethoven, Griffes and Aurandt.

Fast Forward
Mar 28, 7pm
The New Ballet's annual Fast Forward program returns. This year, the performance will be held at the Hammer Theatre Center and will feature works choreographed by Dalia Rawson, director of New Ballet, as well as by Emmy-winning choreographer Ben Needham Wood. Also at this year's Fast Forward, George Vakoch, president of METI International, will explain why he believes dance might be the ideal form of interstellar communication.

NEW BALLET
San Jose | newballet.com

Grand Re-Opening
Feb 29, 12pm
After several years on North 1st Street, the New Ballet is moving into new digs in the Corinthian Grand Ballroom building on 196 N. 3rd St. To celebrate their new studios, the ballet company and school will host a grand re-opening ceremony and performance. Attendees will get a tour of the new space, take in dancing demonstrations and more.

OPERA SAN JOSE
San Jose | operasj.org

Il Trovatore
Feb 15 - Mar 1
Giuseppe Verdi's turbulent tale of love and revenge, Il Trovatore, comes to the California Theatre. Featuring an emotional, heart-stopping score conducted by Joseph Marcheso, Opera San Jose's Music Director and Principal Conductor, it is directed by Brad Dalton, whose resume includes San Francisco Opera, the Metropolitan Opera, Washington National Opera, and many other international companies.

SMUIN CONTEMPORARY BALLET
Mountain View | smuinballet.org

DANCE SERIES 1
Feb 27 - Mar 1
Some think of ballet as a stuffy art form. At this year's Dance Series 1, the Smuin Contemporary Ballet shatters that assumption, with a performance of "The Man in Black," a ballet danced in cowboy boots and featuring the music of Johnny Cash. Also on the bill: former Smuin artist Rex Wheeler's "Take Five" set to the jazzy beat of Dave Brubeck

SJSU CONCERT HALL
San Jose | sjchambermusic.org

San Jose Chamber Music Society
Jan 25, 7:30pm
The Gould Piano Trio with Robert Plane on clarinet perform two piano trios—one by Beethoven and another by Dvorak and a clarinet trio by Carl Fruhling at the Concert Hall of the School of Music and Dance at San Jose State University.