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This week, Ben Simon returns to the conduct the Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra, Kaki King and Tamar Eisenman push the boundaries of the guitar at Stanford Live, author Traci Chee shares her latest book and kicks off a packed weekend at Linden Tree Books and TheatreWorks is buzzing with previews for the environmental drama “Queen.”
Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra
A familiar face returns to Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra’s (PACO) podium: Director emeritus Ben Simon, who stepped down after the 2022-23 season after 20 years with PACO, is back as guest conductor. He leads PACO’s senior orchestra through a program of Handel’s Concerto Grosso Op. 6, no. 2, Entr’acte by Caroline Shaw and Dvořák’s Serenade for Strings in E major, Op. 22. Entr’acte is the first string quartet by Shaw; it was written in 2011, two years before the young American composer would become, at age 30, the youngest-ever recipient of the Pulitzer Prize in Music. And in the program notes, Simon describes the Handel work as an “all-time favorite. … It’s challenging for our young players in different ways than the Shaw or Dvořák … . It’s a piece that can be read through with relative ease, but to perform it well takes work.” The concert also features three chamber groups performing works by Ravel, Beethoven and Dvořák.
March 2, 7:30 p.m. at Cubberley Theatre, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, free (donations encouraged). pacomusic.org.
Kaki King and Tamar Eisenman
Composer/virtuoso musician King is renowned for her technical prowess and boundary-pushing guitarwork. In the performance piece “SEI” (named for the Italian word for six, a la a guitar’s six strings), music and movement come together in innovative, physical ways, with the artists using their whole bodies, exploring choreography and utilizing multiple guitars strategically spaced across the stage. King is joined by acclaimed musician Tamar Eisenman for the performance.
March 1-2, 8 p.m., Bing Studio, 327 Lasuen St., Stanford, $50, live.stanford.edu.
Traci Chee
In the world of Traci Chee’s “Kindling,” seven magic-wielding teen warriors – the titular kindlings – whose skills and powers have been outlawed must come together for one last battle. Chee will present the new YA fantasy, recommended for ages 14 and up, at an event alongside fellow local YA authors Randy Ribay, Parker Peevyhouse and Emily Skrutskie. Along with conversation there will be trivia games and snacks. Chee is also the author of “The Reader Trilogy,” “We Are Not Free” and “A Thousand Steps into Night.” Readers who pre-order “Kindling” through Linden Tree will also receive a signed bookmark. Chee’s appearance kicks off a bustling weekend at Linden Tree, which also sees visits from author Misa Sugiura in conversation with Joanna Ho on March 2 about her new book, “Momo Arashima Breaks the Mirror of the Sun,” and author-illustrator Joy Steuerwald comes by March 3 for storytime, reading from her latest, “The Cutest Brave Little Bunny.”
March 1, 6 p.m., Linden Tree Books, 265 State St., Los Altos, RSVP requested. bit.ly/TraciCheeLindenTree.
‘Queen’
In San Jose-born Madhuri Shekar’s environmental drama “Queen,” the latest main stage production by TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, two best friends and doctoral candidates Sanam and Ariel dream of breaking the glass ceiling in academia as well as helping protect the planet through their scientific findings. The two face a tough decision on how to proceed when a flaw appears in their research on honeybee colony collapse. The show is directed by Miriam A. Laube, stars Uma Paranjpe and Kjerstine Anderson, and is presented in collaboration with South Bay theater company EnActe Arts. A discussion before the March 7 performance will feature a conversation with Laube, TheatreWorks Artistic Director Giovanna Sardelli and EnActe Arts Founder/Artistic Director Vinita Sud Belani.
March 6-31, Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, $27-$100, theatreworks.org.
