The California Theatre was the right elegant setting for Symphony San Jose’s opening night “Masquerade” gala last Saturday.
Symphony supporters glammed it up for a pre-concert reception that had a touch of added mystery as most of the VIP crowd wore masks for the occasion. There were Venetian masks, Mardi Gras masks, and a few black lace masks — with feathers, beads, colors and the occasional beak adding to the fun.
Mask-wearing guests mingled during a pre-concert gala reception at Symphony San Jose’s opening night, “Masquerade,” at the California Theatre in downtown San Jose on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. (Sal Pizarro/Bay Area News Group)
But the one person who would have been recognizable even if he’d covered his face was star piano soloist Jon Nakamatsu, who was welcomed by the Symphony San Jose audience like the national treasure that he is. Under the direction of conductor Nathan Aspinall, the San Jose native and Van Cliburn award winner played Rachmaninoff’s “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini,” and sat down at the bench again, after several rounds of ovations, for an encore of that piece’s most well-known section.
Robert Massey, Symphony San Jose’s executive and artistic director, wasn’t sure if this was Nakamatsu’s 15th or 16th appearance with the orchestra. When it comes to Nakamatsu, it doesn’t matter — just keep him coming back.
The program also included the appropriately titled “Masquerade,” a 2013 piece with a lot of pomp from English composer Anna Clyne, and Berlioz’s “Symphonie Fantastique.” Massey said he loves to program the Berlioz piece in October because of its haunting themes, especially in its final movement, “Dream of a Witches’ Sabbath.”
Symphony San Jose Executive and Artist Director Robert Massey, left, poses with pianist Jon Nakamatsu, center, and conductor Nathan Aspinall at the post-concert reception for Symphony San Jose’s opening night program, “Masquerade,” at the California Theatre in downtown San Jose on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. (Sal Pizarro/Bay Area News Group)
Sounds like it would have fit well with the symphony program ending this month, “Symphony Spooktacular,” on Oct. 25-26, which will mark the return of fan favorite maestro Peter Jaffe.
PROHIBITION TALES: A speakeasy taproom like Clandestine Brewing in San Jose is the perfect spot for the San Jose Public Library Foundation to cap off its Banned Books Week activities. On Saturday, the foundation will be taking over the taproom at 980 S. First St. from noon to 6 p.m.
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“Banned Books & Brews” is an all-ages event that will include storytimes, an art show, trivia on banned books and tours of the brewery. There also will be a book fair of banned books, and while you could guess the usual suspects like George Orwell’s “1984,” you might be surprised at some of the reading material that’s also been taken off shelves. How about “Charlotte’s Web” or “To Kill a Mockingbird”? Even Khaled Husseini’s award winning “The Kite Runner” has been banned.
It’s enough to drive a guy to drink. Fortunately, there’ll be some good beer around Saturday.
By the way, if you want to find out more about Banned Books Week and the San Jose Public Library’s other events surrounding it, you can head to www.sjpl.org/banned-books-week.
FALL FEAST: More than 230 people packed in the San Jose Police Officers Association hall for Shop With A Cop Foundation Silicon Valley’s Badges and BBQ fundraiser, which raised more than $65,000 to support this year’s holiday shopping spree for underserved youth.
I’d love to say they all were there because of Shop With a Cop Executive Director Darrell Cortez’s charm, but it may have had more to do with the dinner grilled up by Bay Area barbecue chef Chuck Matto, who appeared on season four of Food Network’s BBQ Brawl.
Matto’s food, including a 16-hour smoked brisket, was so popular that his featured auction item — a 40-person barbecue party — ended up selling twice. With 80 potential spots out there, I’ll be checking my mailbox for an invitation.
