Calendar

This is a pragmatic workshop packed with useful information.   Charles Kraus demonstrates easily leaned techniques for improving memory. The methods are great for students, midlife adults, and seniors who want to recalibrate their skills. Many of the techniques can be mastered instantly. 

Everyone who attends improves his or her ability to recall names, facts, numbers, daily schedules, shopping lists, where they left the cell phone, where they parked the car, and other details that seem to zip by in these busy days.
                                                                                                           
A complimentary tip sheet and bibliography are provided to each participant.

Les Contes d'Hoffmann (The Tales of Hoffman), by Jacques Offenbach

'A Tale of Three Women'

E.T.A. Hoffman (author of 'The Nutcracker') recalls his three tragic loves: Olympia the mechanical doll; Guilietta the greedy courtesan; and the genuinely good Antonia, who dies despite being treated by 'Dr. Miracle'.  When the drunk Hoffman's current flame Stella appears, he sees her as the embodiment of 'The Three'.  And he rejects her! 

SF Opera is performing The Tales of Hoffmann from June 5 through July 6.  Go see the opera with your newfound knowledge!

"Opera for the People" is a lecture series run by Larry Oppenheim.  He is President of the Kensington Symphony Orchestra in the East Bay, where he is co-principal oboe and solo English horn.  He also writes the program notes.  Larry's goal is to make classical music more enjoyable and accessible to "all the people".

Join us for a lively morning of music from around the world, including new and traditional songs. Clap, dance, and sing to the music!

Groups, please call for reservations.

New York- based duo Barbara Siesel and Keith Torgan will introduce children to the magic of classical music through a lighthearted, comical embellishment of the traditional Rapunzel. For ages 5 and up. Space is limited, please call for a reservation.

Join Tammy from Destiny Art Center and learn a new skill! Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian martial-art that incorporates dance, agility, grace, music, instrumentation and play. Participants will learn the fundamentals of capoeira movements, philosophy, instruments and call and response songs. For ages 5-up, space limited to 30 participants arriving day of class.

Teen DJ workshop with KMEL & Project Level

Program for Tweens and Teens, ages 11-18

Come learn how to spin and scratch records with KMEL and Project Level

No musical experience needed.

For more information please contact Eric Hannan

Orpheus in the Underworld, by Jacques offenbach

'The Gods Do the Can-Can'

Classical mythology is turned upside down.  Orpheus, the greatest of all musicians, takes the red eye to Hades to rescue his beloved Eurydice.  But he becomes bored with her, and his violin playing drives her crazy!  Only the gods and goddesses can save the day, by dancing the can-can.  Once unleashed upon the world, the can-can becomes popular with performers of - ahem - a more worldly nature.

"Opera for the People" is a lecture series run by Larry Oppenheim. He is  President of the Kensington Symphony Orchestra in the East Bay where he is co-principal oboe and solo English horn.  He also writes the program notes.  Larry's goal is to make classical music more enjoyable and accessible to "all the people".

The Bernal Jazz Quartet explores familiar standards and fresh new compositions, from bop to blues to ballads and more. An unusual front-line pairing of vibraphone (Jim Zimmerman) and sax (Michael Gold) combines with a creative supportive rhythm section of bass (Ken Lenga) and drums (Curt Moore).

Legos for all ages!  It's summertime,  there is no school tomorrow,  maybe work but what the heck -- come to Bernal Branch and build some wild and crazy creations.  Family participation is encouraged.  

Breakdancing combines flexibility, acrobatics and a culture of positive challenge that encourages each dancer to develop their own style.
In this workshop, students will learn the fundamentals of breaking and hip hop dance and participate in a  freestyle circle.
Ages 12-19
For more information, contact Lisa Fagundes at lfagundes@sfpl.org or 415 355 2822

Orlando, by George Frideric Handel

'The Battle Between Love and Reason'

The great soldier Orlando loves the queen Angelica who loves the prince Medoro, also loved in vain by the shepherdess Dorinda.  Orlando cannot accept this and goes completely mad, threatening to fight everything in sight.  Orlando's psychedelic hallucinations are ultimately cured - by the wise magician Zoroastro.

"Opera for the People" is a lecture series run by Larry Oppenheim.  Larry is currently President of the Kensington Symphony Orchestra in the East Bay, where he is co-principal oboe and solo English horn.  He also writes the program notes.  Larry's goal is to make classical music more enjoyable and accessible to "all the people".

Don Giovanni, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

'Psycho with a Seinfeldian Twist'

A master seducer - at least in his own mind - fails to seduce anybody.  And when he invites a statue to dinner, things simply get worse - he is dragged down by demons to hell.  And the remaining characters, self-absorbed as always, barely notice.

"Opera for the People" is a lecture series run by Larry Oppenheim.  He is President of the Kensington Symphony Orchestra in the East Bay, where he is co-principal oboe and solo English horn, and writes the program notes.  Larry's goal is to make classical music more enjoyable and accessible to "all the people".

The Bernal Jazz Quartet explores familiar standards and fresh new compositions, from bop to blues to ballads and more. An unusual front-line pairing of vibraphone (Jim Zimmerman) and sax (Michael Gold) combines with a creative supportive rhythm section of bass (Ken Lenga) and drums (Curt Moore).

The Bernal Jazz Quartet explores familiar standards and fresh new compositions, from bop to blues to ballads and more. An unusual front-line pairing of vibraphone (Jim Zimmerman) and sax (Michael Gold) combines with a creative supportive rhythm section of bass (Ken Lenga) and drums (Curt Moore).

Afro-Futurism:  Envisioning the Year 2070 and Beyond uses art to create a future for us to aspire to.  It comes from an African American perspective.  Runaway slave and heroine Harriet Tubman once said, "I freed a thousand slaves; I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves."  

Over 100 years later, writer James Baldwin praised Black revolutionaries for daring to break down barriers.  He wrote in a 1970 letter to activist Angela Davis:  "The enormous revolution in black consciousness which has occurred in your generation, my dear sister, means the beginning or the end of America. Some of us, white and Black, know how great a price has been paid to bring into existence a new consciousness, a new people, an unprecedented nation." 

What will be the Black consciousness in the year 2070, one hundred years after James Baldwin's letter?  

Curated by  Kheven LaGrone

Contributing Artist:

James Phillip Anderson

Nyame O. Brown

James M. Kennedy

Ajuan Mance

Karen Oyekanmi

Sara Marie Prada

Michael Ross

Malik Senefru

Safety First ©

Tomyé

Related Event: In commemoration of Juneteenth, an artists reception/talk will take place on Sunday, June 16, 2013

Main Library, Lower Level, Koret Auditorium, 2 PM