Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse
2020 Addison Street
Berkeley, CA, 94704
(510) 644-2020
Please call the Freight and Salvage for tickets
BEN SIMON, MUSIC DIRECTOR EMERITUS
Great chamber music, up close and personal! Join San Francisco Chamber Orchestra’s Music Director Emeritus and violist Ben Simon for your monthly fix of classical masterpieces. These friendly and accessible 75-minute programs feature SFCO All-Stars and special guests in the intimate “chamber” of Berkeley’s iconic Freight and Salvage Coffeehouse.
Our Classical at the Freight concerts are ticketed events. General admission is $9 in advance, $11 at the door; all SFCO members get two tickets for the price of one.
ROBIN SHARP, concertmaster
Sharp String Quartet
Monday, November 6, 2023 @7:30pm
The San Francisco Chamber Orchestra’s outstanding concertmaster Robin Sharp leads her eponymous ensemble in a program of string quartet masterpieces. Joined by SFCO All-Stars Natasha Makhijani (violin), Ben Simon (viola), and Eric Gaenslen (cello) this kickoff concert to our 2023-24 Classical at the Freight season will be amazing chamber music performed with poise and polish by our A-team of All Stars.
Franz Joseph Haydn: String Quartet in G minor, Op. 74 #3, “The Rider”
Felix Mendelssohn: String Quartet in Eb Major, Op. 12
Ian Scarfe and Friends
Monday, December 4, 2023 @7:30pm
Our favorite pianist returns to the Freight stage with three wonderful San Francisco Chamber Orchestra All Stars in tow. Violinist Antoine van Dongen, violist Ben Simon and cellist Samsun van Loon join Ian to perform two piano quartets, masterpieces by Mozart and Brahms.Piano versus strings: who will emerge as the victor?!?
IAN, ANTOINE, BEN AND SAMSUN
Mozart Birthday Celebration
Monday, January 08, 2024, 7:30pm
Our annual salute to the Salzburg scribbler, celebrating Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s 268th birthday with a program of chamber music masterpieces. Featuring violinists Debra Fong & Kayo Miki, violists Ezra Costanza & Ben Simon, cellist Chris Costanza and our special guest, French hornist Kate Dennis, this concert presents two outstanding quintets: his playful quintet for horn and strings followed by the dark and powerful String Quintet in G minor, considered one of his greatest works.
LIANA, EVAN, STEPHANIE, BEN AND MICHAEL
Monday Night Chamber Music Society
Monday, February 05, 2024, 7:30pm
Five friends and San Francisco Chamber Orchestra All-Stars meet for fun and chamber music one Monday each month. Violinists Liana Berubé & Evan Price, violists Stephanie Ng & Ben Simon and cellist Michael Graham are the Monday Night Chamber Music Society, teaming up for their fifth annual Classical at the Freight program. Two fantastic chamber works: Felix Mendelssohn’s fiery String Quartet in E minor, Op. 44 #2, and Johannes Brahms’ lush and romantic String Quintet in F Major, Op. 88. You won’t want to miss this.
Kay Stern and Friends
Monday, March 04, 2024, 7:30pm
Out of the opera pit and onstage at the Freight, we welcome back the SF Opera’s stellar concertmaster Kay Stern. Her annual Classical at the Freight appearance is always an audience favorite, and will feature Kay, Shaleah Feinstein (violin), Ben Simon (viola) and Michael Graham (cello). The program will include Caroline Shaw’s outstanding Blueprint and Haydn’s joyous String Quartet in D Major, Op. 71 #2. Plus some delightful short pieces from the Danish String Quartet’s recording “Woodworks”.
Kay Stern
TOD BRODY
Tod Brody and Friends
Monday, April 08, 2024, 7:30pm
The San Francisco Chamber Orchestra’s principal flautist Tod Brody returns to Classical at the Freight with a program of trios for flute, viola and harp. Claude Debussy’s colorful work for this ensemble is the centerpiece of our program, plus other trios inspired by Debussy’s unusual combination of instruments. With violist Ben Simon and a harpist soon to be named, this program promises to be a wonderful presentation of infrequently performed works.