Page 67 - 2017 Travel Guide to California

KENT G BECKER/CREATIVE COMMONS/FLICKR; SF OPERA. OPPOSITE: JOSEPH SOHM/SHUTTERSTOCK; CHARLES ERICKSON/SHUTTERSTOCK
Across the Bay Bridge, Berkeley Reper-
tory Theatre continues its tradition of
inspired experimentation. And don’t
overlook “Cal Shakes”—the California
Shakespeare Company—with its gorgeous
open-air venue in the Orinda hills. Other
excellent California theaters include the
South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa, San
Jose Repertory and the Sacramento Theater
Company. Finally, the state hosts no less
than five cutting-edge Fringe Festivals.
Symphonies, Opera & Ballet
Frank Owen Gehry designed the Walt
Disney Concert Hall, home of the renowned
Los Angeles Philharmonic, to be one of the
most acoustically perfect performance
spaces on earth. California’s other preemi-
nent orchestra is the San Francisco
Symphony, directed by the legendary
Michael Tilson Thomas, at home in the
Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall. San
Diego, Sacramento, Oakland, Santa Cruz
and Santa Barbara all support superb
orchestras as well.
Opera still maintains a huge following in
California, with nearly thirty companies
across the state. The San Francisco Opera
and Los Angeles Opera are two of the largest
THE SAN FRANCISCO OPERA
stages Tosca, opposite bottom;
Maria Kochetkova and Vitor Luiz
in Symphonic Dances, San
Francisco Ballet, left; Jackie
Greene performs at The Catalyst
in Santa Cruz, below.
in North America, with global reputations
for set production and excellence. Kudos as
well to the renowned Long Beach Opera,
now in its fourth decade.
Ballet in the Golden State has an equally
impressive pedigree. The San Francisco
Ballet, founded in 1933, was the first profes-
sional ballet company in the country. The
California Ballet Company in San Diego,
largest in the region, has a stellar interna-
tional reputation. The Los Angeles Ballet is
a relative newcomer to the scene, while the
reinvigorated Oakland Ballet recently
marked its 50th anniversary.
Jazz & Blues
Here’s a quick sampler of the state’s best
jazz and blues clubs. Oakland is a hotbed of
jazz with Yoshi’s in Jack London Square,
Geoffrey’s Inner Circle and quirky Birdland.
In San Francisco, don’t miss the SF Jazz
Center, and visit The Saloon and Club
Deluxe for blues. In Santa Cruz, it’s the
Kuumbwa Jazz Center; in Fullerton,
Steamers; the Baked Potato and Catalina in
Hollywood; Charlie O’s in Van Nuys; and
The Torch Club (for blues) in Sacramento.
In LA, find the hottest new offerings at the
Jazz Bakery.
Rock ’n’ Roll ’n’ More
From the Doors to the Dead, California has
long been Ground Zero for great live music.
In San Francisco, check out what’s on at the
Fillmore, the Warfield, the Independent
and Great American Music Hall. Some of
the best venues in the East Bay include the
Fox and glorious Paramount Theater in
Oakland, as well as Berkeley’s Greek The-
atre—known simply as “the Greek.” In
Marin County, Sweetwater Music Hall often
hosts well-known artists.
Looking to rock it in LA? Check out the
Troubadour, the Roxy and Whisky a Go Go,
an LA institution since 1964. Some other
legendary California venues include the
Catalyst in Santa Cruz, the Casbah and “the
Brick” (Brick by Brick) in San Diego.
2017 T R AV E L G U I D E TO C A L I F O R N I A 65