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Stanford Jazz Orchestra with Wycliffe Gordon
Acclaimed trombonist Wycliffe Gordon (who’s also an educator, composer, arranger and conductor) joins the Stanford Jazz Orchestra as a special guest for the ensemble’s spring performance. The orchestra is made up of Stanford students and community members and is directed by Michael Galisatus. For those who can’t make it to Stanford in person, the concert will also be live streamed at music.stanford.edu/sjo_live.
May 23, 7:30 p.m., Bing Concert Hall, 327 Lasuen St., Stanford; $27-$32 (free for Stanford students); jazzorchestra.groups.stanford.edu.
Fred Astaire Festival
When Fred Astaire died in 1987, the Packard Foundation rented the Stanford Theatre for two weeks to pay tribute to the actor and dancer with screenings of his films. According to the theater’s program guide, the showings were so well-received that the foundation decided to purchase and renovate the theater. Almost four decades later, the downtown Palo Alto movie palace continues to be the go-to spot for classic films. The theater hails the star who started it all with a festival of his films, kicking off with “Follow the Fleet” and “Flying Down to Rio” (May 22-23). The latter film is among seven of the 10 films Astaire made with his most famous dance partner, Ginger Rogers, that will be on the program. Those films also include “The Gay Divorcee” (May 23-24), “Swing Time” (May 31-June 1) and “Top Hat” (June 7-8).
Thursdays-Sundays through June 8 at The Stanford Theatre, 221 University Ave., Palo Alto; $7; stanfordtheatre.org.
Tessa Lark
Kentucky-raised violinist Tessa Lark earned her diploma from The Juilliard School and has performed with orchestras and at festivals around the world. In 2020, she was nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best Classical Instrumental Solo. In addition to her classical chops, she’s also an accomplished fiddler and includes Appalachian and bluegrass music in her programs. She comes to the Community School of Music and Arts to perform a concert including pieces by John Corigliano, Bela Bartok, Fritz Kreisler and Eugene Ysaye, plus original works.
May 23, 7:30 p.m., Tateuchi Hall, Community School of Music and Arts, 230 San Antonio Circle, Mountain View; free; arts4all.org.
Babak Daneshvar
Composer, musician and educator Babak Daneshvar specializes in traditional Persian music, mastering the barbat (oud) and santour. He and his trio (including Behnam Daneshvar on tonbak and Mehrpouya Daneshvar on clarinet) come to Meyhouse Palo Alto this week. Born in Tehran, Babak Daneshvar has dedicated his career to preserving traditional Persian music and composing original works, and has traveled the globe performing, teaching and collaborating with fellow artists.
May 23-24, 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. shows, Meyhouse Palo Alto, 640 Emerson St.; $70; meyhousejazz.com.
‘Otello’
Composer Giuseppe Verdi almost retired after the success of his opera “Aida” in 1871 but fortunately, many in his orbit, including his publisher and his wife, convinced him he had more to give to music. Sixteen years after “Aida,” Verdi’s “Otello” debuted, with libretto by Arrigo Boito. The opera was based on Shakespeare’s tragedy “Othello,” in which the title character is a successful military commander goaded into murdering his wife by the machinations of Iago, a jealous underling whom Othello mistakenly believes to be trustworthy. West Bay Opera stages “Otello’ with the company’s general director José Luis Moscovich conducting and John Kun Park in the title role. “This score presents the legendary opera composer at his very best, surpassing the depth and breadth of his previous works and exploring new territory,” according to West Bay Opera’s description of the opera.
May 23, 7 p.m.; May 25, 2 p.m.; May 31, 7 p.m. and June 1, 2 p.m., at the Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto; $46 to $125; wbopera.org.
Bayer Ballet’s 20th Anniversary Spring Gala
Bayer Ballet, founded in 2005 by Inna Bayer, is a dance academy offering the Vaganova method of classical ballet with rigorous and artistic instruction for all ages and levels. The company is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a gala, featuring performances by its upper division dancers and special guests and including excerpts from the ballets “Paquita” and “La Bayadère.”
May 24, 1 and 7 p.m., Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View; $37-$58; tickets.mvcpa.com
