Classical Californians: Ming Luke

Photo of Ming Luke by Dave Weiland

This week our Classical Californian is Bay Area conductor Ming Luke, who is the Principal Guest Conductor of San Francisco Ballet, Music Director of the Berkeley Community Chorus and Orchestra, and has conducted many ensembles including the San Francisco and Berkeley Symphonies, in addition to being the Music Director for the Nashville Ballet. He's selected some of his favorite examples of theme and variations in which composers have made surprising choices - including works for the full orchestra by Beethoven, Vincent D'Indy and Mason Bates, as well as a Bach-inspired piece for solo piano by Jennifer Higdon.

Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 3, mvt. iv - Concertgebouw Orchestra, Erich Kleiber

Vincent d'Indy: Istar, Op. 42 - Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra, Emmanuel Krivine

Jennifer Higdon: "The Gilmore Variation" from 13 Ways of Looking at the Goldberg - Lara Downes, piano

Mason Bates: Liquid Interface, mvt. iii: "Crescent City" - San Francisco Symphony, Michael Tilson Thomas