On Wednesday, the San Francisco Symphony gave the local *premiere* of
Schumann's 1843 "Paradise and the Peri," a dazzling oratorio, in a great
performance.  Tonight, Nicholas McGegan's Philharmonia Baroque upped the
ante by giving the first performance of a new edition of Handel's 1742
"Samson."

This contemporary of "Messiah" has some of the best - and least-known -
of Handel's music, performed by a brilliant cast, including Mark Padmore
in the title role, Lisa Saffer, Marietta Simpson and Sanford Sylvan.
If you can, catch one of the upcoming performances - 2/18 in Palo Alto,
2/19 and 2/20 in Berkeley.  See http://www.philharmonia.org/.  (Only
the top of Walpole's verdict at the London premiere applied to tonight's
Herbst Theater performance, assuredly not the end: "Handel has set up
an Oratorio against the Operas, and succeeds.  He has hired all the
goddesses from farces and the singers of Roast Beef from between the
acts at both theatres, with a man with one note in his voice, and a girl
without ever an one.")

"Novelties" from 162 and 253 years ago pale in comparison with some
hitherto unseen 14th Century treasures going on exhibit this weekend in
the city's Asian Art Museum (http://www.asianart.org/).  "The Kingdom
of Siam: the Art of Central Thailand 1350-1800" is an extraordinary show,
both in its beauty and historic significance: there has never been a
complete collection like this, not in Thailand itself, not anywhere.

Janos Gereben
www.sfcv.org
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