This week on Open Air, KALW’s radio magazine for the Bay Area performing arts, host David Latulippe talks with internationally acclaimed actor Roger Grunwald about his one-man show The Obligation, in which he explores the Holocaust through his portrayal of characters and the way their lives are affected by the atrocities of World War II.
Grunwald, who is the child of Holocaust survivors, interweaves in The Obligation the stories of a Polish Jew coming of age during World War II, a half-Jewish lieutenant in Hitler’s army, a high-ranking SS officer, and a Jewish-American comedian. Directed by Nancy Carlin, The Obligation runs through November 4 at Potrero Stage (1695 18th St.) in San Francisco.
Also stopping by is comedian Marga Gomez to talk about Latin Standards, her 12th and final work in the solo performance genre, in which she explores the loving, funny, and true story of perseverance and creative addiction passed down from immigrant father to lesbian daughter as she describes life as the child of a blustery Cuban showman. At The Marsh in Berkeley through November 18.
We talk with Spanish conductor Pablo Heras-Casado who returns to the San Francisco Symphony to conduct music from French composers, inspired by his homeland. The concert program, with performances on October 18, 19 and 20 (8pm) at Davies Symphony Hall, includes Ravel’s sultry slow-burn Boléro and Debussy’s Andalusian postcard Ibéria. Also: Spanish piano virtuoso Javier Perianes, who performs Bartók’s Third and final Piano Concerto from 1945.
Plus, we check in via phone with incoming artistic director Eric Dudley of the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players (SFCMP). Their new season starts on Saturday, October 20, at the Taube Atrium Theater (401 Van Ness Ave, SF) with a celebration of the music of Elliott Carter. Three of Carter’s works are on thr program, plus music by young American composer Asher Tobin Chodos and Canadian composer Sabrina Schroeder.
Open Air with host David Latulippe, heard live on Thursday, October 18, at 1pm. Listen now or anytime…