Classical picks: Yuja Wang, Schwabacher series

This week’s classical music calendar offers high-octane thrills, including the always-daring pianist Yuja Wang at the San Francisco Symphony; opera artists showing their stuff at the Schwabacher Recital Series; and West Bay Opera’s “La Sonnambula.”

Wang is back: The phenomenal Yuja Wang returns to Davies Symphony Hall for four performances, joining music director Esa-Pekka Salonen and the orchestra in two works: Ravel’s Piano Concerto for the Left Hand, and Einojuhani Rautavaara’s Piano Concerto No. 1. A selection of works by Debussy completes the program. Details: 7:30 p.m. today through Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday; Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco; $99-$399; sfsymphony.org.

Opera in recital: It’s always exciting to see young singers on the brink of great careers, and the Schwabacher Recital Series, presented by the Merola Opera Program and San Francisco Opera Center, will bring some of program’s finest vocalists to the stage beginning this weekend. Three events are on the calendar, with artists set to sing in intimate concert programs curated by Nicholas Phan. Details: 7:30 today at Taube Atrium Theater at War Memorial Veterans Building, San Francisco; 7:30 March 6 at Osher Recital Hall, San Francisco; and 7:30 April 10 at Taube Atrium Theater; each event $30, $75 for three-recital series; sfopera.com.

Opera onstage: As part of its 69th season in Palo Alto, West Bay Opera opens a new production of Bellini’s “La Sonnambula” (The Sleepwalker) this weekend in the first of four performances led by conductor and stage director José Luis Moscovich. Details: 7 p.m. Friday and Feb. 22; 2 p.m. Sunday and Feb. 23; Lucie Stern Theatre, Palo Alto; $46-$125; wbopera.org.

— Georgia Rowe, Correspondent

‘There is love everywhere’ with Air Supply

How else would you want to spend Valentine’s Day than with “the most romantic band in the world”?

No, we’re not talking about Slipknot. We’re actually talking about the equally awesome Air Supply, the duo that Time magazine reportedly once referred as “the most romantic band in the world.”

“We’ve been accused of that,” Air Supply lead vocalist Russell Hitchcock said to this newspaper in a previous interview. “And I accept that accusation wonderfully. We are romantic people. I think love is the most elusive emotion that has ever existed. That is why people continually fall in love, fall out love. They love their dogs. They love their cats. There is love everywhere.”

And there certainly should be plenty love in the air when Hitchcock and longtime collaborator Graham Russell revisit their hit-filled Air Supply catalog on Friday (yes, Valentine’s Day) at the San Jose Civic.

It’s a chance to hear such world-class beauties as “The One That You Love,” “Every Woman in the World,” “Lost in Love,” “Here I Am” and, best of all, the staggeringly brilliant “Making Love Out of Nothing at All.”

Details: 8 p.m.; tickets start $81 (subject to change); ticketmaster.com.

— Jim Harrington, Staff

The ABCs of MSG

It’s a poorly kept secret that many chefs in the highest ends of the restaurant industry keep a secret ingredient in their cabinet: MSG. The umami-loaded sodium salt, once blamed for making you puffy and gross-feeling, is back in fashion — and why shouldn’t it be?

As David Chang asked: “Why was MSG villainized in Chinese restaurants, but fine when it occurred naturally in Parmesan?”

Monosodium glutamate is at the center of a new show at the San Francisco Playhouse, “Exotic Deadly: Or the MSG Play.” Written by Keiko Green and directed by Jesca Prudencio, the plot follows a Japanese American high school girl whose parents helped create the supposedly dangerous and addictive flavor ennhancer. She vows to save the world from MSG, embarking on a time-traveling crusade through the 1990s that touches on pop culture, anime, teen crushes, fight sequences and instant ramen. In other words, it’s quite a flavorful experience, and one that BroadwayWorld has praised as “frenetic and fantastical.”

The 100-minute show (no intermission) has settled in at San Francisco Playhouse, 450 Post St., for a run through March 8.

Details: Performed Tuesdays through Sundays; $35-$135; sfplayhouse.org.

— John Metcalfe, Staff

Homecoming with a twist

Given the disheartening rash of recent setbacks hitting the transgender community, and the constant spate of anti-trains rhetoric, what a comfort and joy it is to behold “Clean Slate,” the late Norman Lear’s big-hearted Prime series about a trans daughter (Laverne Cox) moving back home to Alabama to be with her dad (George Wallace). He hasn’t seen her in decades, in fact not since she was a he. Lear’s show is first and foremost a sitcom, but you’ll be bowled over by its spirit, optimism and tenderness.

As Desiree, Cox radiates charisma, a quality that pairs perfectly with her dad Wallace, a teddy bear who fumbles with the right pronouns but has swelling love and pride for his daughter. You can just sense the hurt he feels when he sees (and hears) the ignorance and prejudice that Desiree encounters.

Throughout the heartfelt series, created by Cox and Wallace, father and daughter learn a lot about each other. They also learn to stick up for each other, particularly when a pastor is less than welcoming to see Desiree join his congregation. In its own small yet important way, “Clean Slate” offers hope through a relatable story in which a father and daughter get to know, accept and understand each other better than they thought they ever could. A romantic interest (Jay Wilkison) for Desiree instills hope in our hearts that there will be a season 2 .

Details: All eight 30-minutes episodes are available now on Amazon Prime.

— Randy Myers, Correspondent

Hoop themes at MoAD

In a fete of scheduling that seems perfectly timed to the NBA All-Star Game in San Francisco this weekend, the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) has opened a new basketball-themed exhibit by Houston-based artist Ann Johnson.

“Love + Basketball: My Freedom Got a Rim On It,” offers a collection of Johnson’s wide range of interdisciplinary works, including everything from videos to sculptures to her acclaimed “BlingCatchers” series, which feature regulation-sized basketball rims and backboards adorned with everything from beads to jewelry to sneakers (Air Jordans, of course) to crosses and more.

“Basketball is a story intrinsic to Black America, and offers countless lessons of our excellence, resistance, and economic mobility. Ann Johnson’s work, in particular, poignantly covers so much of this experience through her art.”

The exhibit is also part of MoAD’s Black History Month programming and kicks off a celebration of its 20th anniversary.

Details: Through March 2; Mission and 3rd streets, San Francisco; open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays (closed Mondays and Tuesdays); admission $7-$15; www.moadsf.org.

— Randy McMullen, Staff