# San Francisco Symphony at Davies Symphony Hall, November 26, 2023

[San Francisco Symphony](https://www.sfsymphony.org/Buy-Tickets/2023-24/DUDAMEL-CONDUCTS-BRAHMS-2) presents guest conductor [Gustavo Dudamel](http://www.gustavodudamel.com/) and soloist [Jorge Glem](https://www.facebook.com/jorgeglemcuatro/)  
[Davies Symphony Hall](http://www.sfsymphony.org)  
[201 Van Ness, San Francisco, CA 94102 USA](http://maps.google.com/maps?q=201+Van+Ness,+San+Francisco,+CA+94102+USA&hl=en)  
2:00 PM, Sunday, November 26, 2023

[[2023-11-19|Back to the previous event!]] ☸ [[:#section2023|Up to the 2023 yearbox!]] ☸ [[:2023#November_events|Up to the 2023 event list!]] ☸ [[:2023:2023-12:2023-12-02|On to the next event!]]

## Set One

[2:00 PM] {orchestra noodling}  
[2:10 PM] {pre-recorded announcements}  
[2:11 PM] {concert tuning}  
[2:11 PM] {enter GD}

### Ortiz: Kauyumari

01. [2:12 PM] [Gabriela Ortiz](https://www.gabrielaortiz.com/) \(b. 1964): _Kauyumari_ (2021)  
[2:19 PM] {work ends}

### Grau: Odisea

[2:20 PM] {Various members of the orchestra noodle away while a bit of substitution and rearrangement takes place with help of the stage hands}  
[2:22 PM] {Greetings and speech from GG}  
[2:25 PM] {concert tuning}  
[2:26 PM] {enter GD & JG}

01. [2:27 PM] [Gonzalo Grau](http://www.gonzalograu.com/) \(b. 1972): _Odisea_, Concerto for Venezuelan Cuatro and Orchestra (2023), featuring [Jorge Glem](https://www.facebook.com/jorgeglemcuatro/)  
[2:50 PM] {work ends; applause and curtain calls}  
   
**Encore**
02. [2:53 PM] (JG solo cuatro medley)  
[3:01 PM] {applause at work end}  
[3:02 PM] {set ends}

## Set Two: Brahms: Symphony No. 2

[3:19 PM] {orchestral noodling}  
[3:21 PM] {concert tuning}  
[3:22 PM] {enter GD}

Johannes Brahms (1833–1897): Symphony No. 2 in D major, Opus 73 (1877)

01. [3:23 PM] Allegro non troppo
02. [3:39 PM] Adagio non troppo
03. [3:49 PM] Allegretto grazioso (quasi andantino)
04. [4:55 PM] Allegro con spirito  
[4:03 PM] {applause at end of set goes on for a long time...}  
[4:08 PM] {show ends}

## Performers

### San Francisco Symphony

[San Francisco Symphony](http://www.sfsymphony.org)

* [Esa-Pekka Salonen](http://www.esapekkasalonen.com/): music director;
* symphony members vary by program;
 see [the current list](https://sfsymphony.encoreplus.app/posts/111500/the-orchestra4).


### Special Guests

* [Gustavo Dudamel](http://www.gustavodudamel.com/): conductor;
* [Jorge Glem](https://www.facebook.com/jorgeglemcuatro/): cuatro.

## Notes

I'll start by admitting that I still don't like Brahms all that much, but I was intrigued enough by the first half of the program to put up with a strong dose of him for the event's conclusion.

I liked the opening work by Gabriela Ortiz: I wouldn't mind listening to it again, maybe I'll go poking around on Youtube next week.

About half of the world premier of Gonzalo Grau's _Odisea_ is on [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EOV6R2vzsM). My guess is that a full recording will be available reasonably soon. I liked it, but like my recent experience with Silk Road Ensemble, I would have enjoyed it more if the event came with a sort of 'map' to tell us what was happening when ... without it, I felt like a kid in the back seat. Are we there yet?

I was also put off just a little by the distraction of the nearly constant percussive tap of Glem's finger picks. In the YouTube recording, that element seems to have been greatly mitigated by creative engineering/mixing. I'm willing to chalk that complaint up to one of the obvious pitfalls of sitting close up front...a niggle, but one worth the bonus of being that close to the action.

[Program Notes](https://sfsymphony.encoreplus.app/c/11-2426-dudamel-conducts-brahms2) or {{:2023:2023-11:20231126pn.pdf|program notes}}

Andrew Gilbert posted a nice [promo article](https://www.sfcv.org/articles/feature/four-strings-and-symphony-cuatro-player-jorge-glem) with SFCV that included bits of interview with Jorge Glem about _Odisea_.

David Bratman posted a lukewarm [review](https://www.sfcv.org/articles/review/gustavo-dudamel-helms-sf-symphony-concerto-venezuelan-cuatro) of Friday's show with SFCV.

Joshua Kosman posted an enthusiastic [review](https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/classical/review-sf-symphony-dudamel-cuatro-18491920) -- also of Friday's show -- with the SF Chronicle Datebook. A few minor details changed this afternoon (Glem wore a blue hat today; I missed the violin bump ... if it happened again), but I think his observations fit today's show to a 'T'!

{{tag>music San_Francisco_Symphony Gustavo_Dudamel Jorge_Glem Davies_Symphony_Hall}}

[[2023-11-19|Back to the previous event!]] ☸ [[:#section2023|Up to the 2023 yearbox!]] ☸ [[:2023#November_events|Up to the 2023 event list!]] ☸ [[:2023:2023-12:2023-12-02|On to the next event!]]