Classical Meetup - event letter for May

Greetings Classical Meetup Members,

This is the monthly event letter for May. This email goes out around the middle of every month and contains news that I have for the group along with a summary of upcoming events.

For our newer members, I try to make this meetup a low-email meetup because we all get so much email and I don't want to make it any worse. Other than this email, you will only hear from me when we have added an event or made a significant change to a scheduled event. This means that when you receive an event email that it may be the only one you will receive about the event. All of the events are always listed on the calendar page of the web site.

First, some news about the group.

The meetup is continuing to grow. We now have almost 370 members (about 50 more than last month), and growing on an almost daily basis. We are now the 77th largest meetup in the San Francisco area (up from 84th last month).

About Event Pricing

We continue to offer a mix of free and paid events. Even for free events, almost everyone winds up buying some food. And there's bus fare, or parking. I consider an event "Free" if there is no charge for tickets, though many such events have a requested donation.

Thanks to a tip from a member, we are taking advantage of the San Francisco Opera's group "flex" ticketing plan. With this plan, we were able to get a 15% discount to the opera this summer. Unfortunately, the Symphony does not have a similar ticketing plan. I am looking into whether other arts organizations have similar ticketing plans.

The organizers do their best to notice when one of our events shows up on Gold Star events. If you plan on coming to some of our events, signing up for Gold Star will get you on their weekly email of discounted tickets.

Events will be designated in the title as follows: FREE: no ticket purchase required. Some "FREE" events have a recommended donation. We may go out for coffee or dinner as part of a free event. Inexpensive: total cost including food estimated to be less than $20.

About Meeting Locations

For some of our events, we do not post the exact meeting location on the internet. This is for privacy/security reasons. The location given on the internet is the performance venue, but we do not necessarily meet at the venue if we are meeting beforehand for dinner or drinks. To find out the exact location, you need to RSVP for the event. The organizer will send out an email the week before with the exact location.

Now, on to the events.

You can always see the entire schedule of future events here.

Coming up later this spring/summer, here's what I have in mind. These events are not confimed until they show up on the calendar.

• June: Sandro Russo, piano
  
• July: Midsummer Mozart
  
• summer: pianist Eldred Marshall special event
  
• August: Merola Opera Program: Don Giovanni
  
• August: Hildegard von Bingen Opera Ritual of the Virtues
  
• fall: San Francisco Symphony: Beethoven's 9th Symphony
  
• fall: San Francisco Opera: l'Elisir d'Amore
  

I can be reached through the contact link with your feedback and suggestions. If you have an idea for an event, let me know.

Until May I wish everyone a great month and I hope to see you at one of our events.

Regards,
Robert

(FREE) The First Ever: Bring Your Own Music Event
URL: http://classical.meet...
Date: Saturday, May 17, 2008
Time: at 8:00 PM
Organizer: Robert
Where: a café in the Potrero Hill neighborhood, close to 101 and 280

Bring your own music?try everyone else's.
23 members have said Yes

(Inexpensive) Film: Note By Note: The Making of a Steinway
Date: Sat Jun 1
Time: 6:00 PM
Organizer: Robert
Where: Sundance Kabuki Theater San Francisco, CA

"The film follows the progress, over the course of a year, of how a single concert grand piano is created by hand at the Steinway factory . This is truly a remarkable film-in this age of computer technology,..."

Grammy Winner/ Sacred Space: Bach Cello Suites at Grace Cathedral
Date: Thursday, May 22
Time: 6:15 PM
Organizer: Sri
Where: Grace Cathedral San Francisco

In a rarefied combination of profound music, visionary artistry, and a majestic space, Grammy award winning cellist Lynn Harrell performs his acclaimed rendition of the complete Bach Cello Suites, some..."
10 Yes, 2 Maybe

(FREE) Yerba Buena Festival : Soprano Susanna Stern Meetup
Date: Thursday, Jun 19
Organizer: Robert
Time: 12:00 PM
Where: Yerba Buena Gardens San Francisco
An outdoor summer music festival in San Francisco, presents a concert by Swedish soprano Susanna Stern, the recipient of the Jenny Lind Scholarship for promising sopranos.
2 Yes, 1 Maybe


San Francisco Opera: "Lucia di Lammermoor"
Date: Friday, Jun 20
Time: 6:00 PM
Organizer: Robert
Where: War Memorial Opera House San Francisco

The highlight of the San Francisco opera season will be Lucia di Lammermoor, featuring French soprano Natalie Dessay. One of the most popular tragic operas of all time.
22 Yes, 2 Maybe