Joshua Kossman's Classical Music Top 10 for 1996
1. ``La Boheme'' -- The San Francisco Opera's ``Broadway- style'' production was the most exciting musical event of 1996.
2. American Music Marathon -- The four-hour afternoon concert that crowned the Symphony's
American music festival was a close second.
3. Victoria de los Angeles -- At 73, the legendary Spanish soprano ravished the senses in a glorious Davies Hall recital.
4. ``The Tales of Hoffmann'' -- A lively, engaging production, splendid sets and a large, wonderful cast all contributed to the zenith (so far) of the San Francisco Opera's season.
5. MTT conducts Mahler's Fifth -- Michael Tilson Thomas led the Symphony in an incendiary account of this great score.
6. Shostakovich's ``Babi Yar'' -- Yuri Temirkanov led the first San Francisco Symphony performance -- at last! -- of Shostakovich's powerful Symphony No. 13.
7. ``L'Aldimiro'' -- In its first performance in 300 years, Scarlatti's 1683 opera proved a melodious gem in Berkeley.
8. ``The Barber of Seville'' -- An all-star cast on one night, phenomenal conducting the next, and a low but funny production kept Rossini's opera afloat.
9. Bryn Terfel -- The Welsh bass-baritone's larger-than-life recital debut in Berkeley promised even greater things to come.
10. Ignat Solzhenitsyn -- The pianist, 23, made a brilliant recital debut playing Bach's ``Goldberg Variations.''
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