Midday Music Wednesday 12/31/08

Happy New Year! January 1 at 11:00 we'll bring you New Year's from Vienna, followed by an hour of Midday Music at 1:00. See you in 2009!

11 AM

• Bartok: Rumanian Folk Dances, arr. violin and piano/lutheal. Daniel Hope, Sebastian Knauer. Warner 61329.
• Brahms: Waltz in A major, Op. 39/15, for piano four hands. Genevieve Chinn, Alan Brings. Centaur 2297.
• Brahms: Symphony No. 4. Bournemouth Sym, Alsop. Naxos 9.570233.
• Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms: "Exaudi orationem meam." Berlin Phil, Berlin Radio Choir, Rattle. EMI 07630.

12 N

• Bach/Busoni: Chorale Prelude, "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme." Murray Perahia. Sony 66511.
• Bach: Cantata No. 140, "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme." Bach Ensemble, Rifkin. L'Oiseau-Lyre 417 616.
• Mendelssohn: Song without Words, Op. 102/5. Bertrand Chamayou. Naive 5131.
• Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier, Suite. Bavarian Radio Sym, Maazel. RCA 68225.

1 PM

• Ravel: La Valse. Cincinnati Sym, Jarvi. Telarc 80601.
• Mendelssohn: Song without Words, Op. 38/2. Bertrand Chamayou. Naive 5131.
• Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings in C major. Metamorphosen Chamber Orch, Yoo. Archetype 60105.
• Traditional (Scottish)/Kessler: Auld Lang Syne. Washington Saxophone Quartet. Americus 19981007.

Midday Music Tuesday 12/30/08

Last Wednesday and Thursday (December 24-25) GPB Radio aired Christmas specials during the Midday Music time slot. Friday and Monday (December 26 & 29) our Midday Music originated in member station WSVH Savannah: those playlists here. And here's today's rundown:

11 AM

• Castelnuovo-Tedesco: Sonatina Canonica. Brasil Guitar Duo. Naxos 8.570778.
• Bach: Christmas Oratorio, Part 2, For the Second Day of Christmas). Netherlands Bach Society, Zomer, Markert, Turk, Harvey, Veldhoven. Channel 20103.
• Schumann: Kinderszenen (Scenes from Childhood), Op. 15. Martha Argerich. EMI 18333.

12 N

• Desprez: Baises Moy (Kiss Me) a 6. Clerks' Group, Wickham. Gaudeamus 361.
• Suk: Piano Trio in C minor, Mendelssohn Piano Trio. Centaur 2868.
• Mozart: Symphony No. 39 in E-flat, K. 543. English Baroque Soloists, Gardiner. Philips 426 283.
• Sarasate: Zapateado, Op. 23. James Ehnes, Eduard Laurel. CBC 1168.

1 PM

• Sibelius: Symphony No. 3 in C major. Iceland Sym, Saraki. Naxos box 8.505179.
• Grieg: Allegretto in E major for cello and piano. Harmonia Mundi 901986.
• Dornel: Suitte en Trio in A major. Musica Barocca. Naxos 8.570826.

Midday Music Tuesday 12/23/08

On Wednesday and Thursday, GPB Radio's Midday Music will be preempted by special Christmas programming. Friday and Monday's shows will be hosted out of Savannah. I'm back with you for the 30th and 31st. Merry Christmas and happy holidays! -Sarah

11 AM

• Mozart: Sancta Maria, mater Dei, K. 273; Regina Coeli, K. 127. Carolyn Sampson, King's Consort, Choir of the King's Consort, King. Hyperion 67560.
• Monteverdi: Magnificat for six parts. Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, London Oratory Junior Choir, soloists, Watson, Gardiner. Archiv 429 565.
• Robinson: Great Is the Miracle: Ozi and Oy Chanukah. Eaken Piano Trio. Naxos 8.554714.
• Bavel: Hanukkah Fantasy. Tucson Sym, Hanson. ZBPI.

12 N

• Christmas selections from the Mexican Baroque by Zespedes, Salazar and Gonzales. Rose Ensemble. Rose 00006 (Celebremos el Nino).
• Graupner: Overture in F major for Recorder and Strings. Les Idees Heureuses, Soly. Analekta 9115 (Christmas at Darmstadt).
• Salaks: On Christmas Eve; Skulte: At Christmas Time. New York Latvian Concert Choir, New Chamber Orch of Riga, Jansons. Albany 1040 (Christmas Joy in Latvia).

1 PM

• Anderson: Suite of Carols for Brass Choir. BBC Concert Orch, Slatkin. Naxos 8.559621.
• Elgar: Ave Maria. Choir of St. John's Choir Cambridge, Robinson. Naxos 8.557288.
• Bach: Christmas Oratorio: Part 1, "For the First Day of Christmas." Netherlands Bach Society, soloists, Veldhoven. Channel 20103.
• Vivaldi: Concerto in E major, "Il reposo - per il Natale" (Rest, For the Night of Christmas), RV 270. Collegium Musicum '90, Standage. Chandos 0754X.

Midday Music Monday 12/22/08

Happy Solstice! Happy Chanukah or Hanukkah or whatever spelling you prefer! And the countdown to Christmas continues.

11 AM

• Handel: Judas Maccabeus: See, the Conqu'ring Hero Comes; March; Sing unto God. Academy and Chorus of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Marriner. Philips 412 733.
• Beethoven: Twelve Variations on a Theme from Handel's Judas Maccabeus for cello and piano. Anne Gastinel, Francois-Frederic Guy. Naive 4995.
• Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker: End of Act 1. Boston Sym, Ozawa. DG 435 619.
• Tyzik: Chanukah Suite. Rochester Phil, Tyzik. RPO 2005.

12 N

• Vivaldi: Gloria. English Concert, English Concert Choir, Pinnock. Archiv 423 386.
  
• Corelli: Christmas Concerto (Concerto Grosso in G minor, Op. 6/8). Collegium Musicum 90, Standage. Chandos 0754X.
• Selections from Yo-Yo Ma and friends' Songs of Joy and Peace: The Wassail Song/All Through the Night (Edgar Meyer, Chris Thile); A Christmas Jig/Mouth of the Tobique Reel (Natalie McMaster); Improvisation on "Dona Nobis Pacem" (Paquito D'Rivera, Alon Yavnai).
  

1 PM

• Rouse: Karolju. BBC Sym Orch, Philharmonia Chorus, Zinman. RCA 11561.
• Celtic Christmas carols. O'Reilly Consort. Intersound 1803.
  
• Merenda: Darkest Days, Brightest Nights. Ungar: Lights of Chanukah. Jay Ungar, Ruth Ungar Merenda, Molly Mason and friends. Fiddle & Dance Records 104.
  

Midday Music Thursday 12/18/08

Note to Georgia music educators (members of GMEA): You can win a free pair of tickets for you and a student to attend Saturday's high-definition Metropolitan Opera broadcast - Massenet's Thais beamed live in high-def audio and video into theaters around the state. Showtime is 12:00 noon. If interested, e-mail Renee Wilson-Wicker, GMEA Choral Chair, at choral@gmea.org. (Everyone else, you can buy tickets online at metoperafamily.org.)

11 AM

• Liadov: Perelozheniya iz obikhoda: Nos. 1-2, 9. St. Petersburg Chamber Choir, Korniev. Philips 454 616.
• Brahms: Piano Trio No. 1 in B major, Op. 8. Trio Wanderer. Harmonia Mundi 901915.16.
• Humperdinck: Hansel and Gretel: End of Act 2 (Sandman, Evening Prayer, Dream Pantomime). Jennifer Larmore, Rebecca Evans, Diana Montague, New London Children's Choir, Philharmonia Orch, Mackerras. Chandos 3143(2).

12 N

• Handel: Messiah, Part 2 (which ends with the Hallelujah Chorus). Concentus Musicus Vienna, Arnold Schoenberg Chorus, Schaefer, Larsson, Schade, Finley, Harnoncourt. DHM 82876 72039.
• Montero: Improvisation on the Hallelujah Chorus. Gabriela Montero. EMI 5099 5 00234.
  

1 PM

• Humperdinck: Hansel and Gretel, Overture. Philharmonia Orch, Mackerras. Chandos 3143(2).
• Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker Suite, arranged for mandolins. Modern Mandolin Quartet. RCA 82876 62821.
• Anderson: Suite of Carols for String Orchestra. BBC Concert Orch, Slatkin. Naxos 8.559621.
• Opera Chat with Renee Wilson-Wicker about Massenet's opera Thais.
  

Midday Music Wednesday 12/17/08

Thanks to our dedicated music staff in Savannah for programming and hosting Tuesday's show. (For the December 16 playlist, click on the WSVH link at left.)

11 AM

• Scarlatti, A.: Cantata Pastorale per la nascita del Nostro Signore. Susan Gritton, Collegium Musicum 90, Standage. Chandos 0754 X.
• Schumann: Violin Sonata No. 1 in A minor. Oliver Charlier, Brigitte Engerer. Harmonia Mundi 901405.
• Tallis: Why fum'th in fight? Atlanta Sym Chamber Chorus, Mackenzie. Telarc 80676.
  
• Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis. Atlanta Sym, Spano. Telarc 80676.
• Traditional/Assad: Improvisation on "Dona Nobis Pacem." Sergio & Odair Assad. Sony 24414.
  

12 N

• Bach: Magnificat, BWV 243a (original 1723 version). Collegium Vocale Gent, Herreweghe. Harmonia Mundi 901781.82. (In other Baroque sacred choral music for the season, we'll hear Part 2 of Handel's Messiah tomorrow and Vivaldi's Gloria next week.)
  
• Traditional/Clark: O Holy Night. Imani Winds. Koch 7748.
  
• Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue. Louis Lortie, Montreal Sym, Dutoir. London 425 111.
  

1 PM

• Traditional/Anderson: Angels in Our Fields. BBC Concert Orch, Slatkin. Naxos 8.559621.
  
• Dvorak: Violin Concerto in A minor. Pamela Frank, Czech Phil, Mackerras. London 460 316.
  
• Menotti: Amahl and the Night Visitors: Selections. Members of Nashville & Chicago Sym Choruses, Nashville Sym, cast (Hawkersmith, Gunlogson), Willis. Naxos 8.669019.
  

Midday Music Monday 12/15/08

11 AM

• Traditional/improv.: Dona Nobis Pacem. Edgar Meyer, Chris Thile. Sony 24414 (Yo-Yo Ma & Friends: Songs of Joy & Peace).
• Schumann: Fantasy in C major, Op. 17. Leif Ove Andsnes. EMI 56414.
• Stravinsky: The Firebird, Suite (1919 version). Cincinnati Sym, Jarvi. Telarc 80587.

12 N

• Handel: Messiah, Part 1. Academy of Ancient Music, Choir of New College Oxford, Higginbottom. Naxos 8.570131.

1 PM

• 
• Borodin: Polovetsian Dances from Prince Igor. Royal Stockholm Phil, Rozhdestvensky. Brilliant 93348.
• Bach: Concerto for Oboe, Violin and Orchestra in D minor: Adagio. Loeffler, Mai, Academy of Ancient Music Berlin. Harmonia Mundi 901876.
  
• Menotti: My Christmas (1987). Members of Nashville Sym Orch & Chorus, Mabry. Naxos 8.669019.
• Scott, R./Cohen, J. : Siberian Sleighride. Quartet San Francisco. ViolinJazz JCCD 105.
• Traditional/Scott, J.: Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella; Jingle Bells. Imani Winds. Koch 7748 (This Christmas with Imani Winds).

Midday Music Friday 12/12/08

A new tradition begins! As of this week, the GPB network will be carrying Friday's Midday Music from WSVH, GPB's member station in Savannah. Each time the WSVH staff picks a theme and strings together pieces related to it. Today, for example, it's from darkness into light. Tune in from 11:00 to 2:00 to see what pieces host Eric Nauert brings together to, ahem, elucidate that theme.

Midday Music Thursday 12/11/08

Looking for calendar listings of this week's concerts and ballets and such? That's down the page just a bit.

11 AM

• Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker: Beginning of Act I (Overture, Scene and March). Boston Sym, Ozawa. DG 435 619.
• Neusidler: Nun lob mein Seel den Herren, Psalm 103. Paul O'Dette. Harmonia Mundi 907388.
• Schubert: "Rosamunde" String Quartet (No. 13 in A minor). Takacs Quartet. Hyperion 67585.
• Manfredini: Christmas Concerto (Concerto Grosso Op. 3/12, "Pastorale per il Santissimo Natale"). Collegium Musicum 90, Standage. Chandos 0754 X.

12 N

• Celtic traditional: The Piper in the Meadow Straying/Christmas Eve. O'Reilly Consort. Intersound 1803 (A Celtic Christmas).
• Scarlatti: Messa per il Santissimo Natale (Christmas Mass). Concerto Italiano, Alessandrini. Naive 30461.
• Saint-Saens: Oboe Sonata, Op. 166. Bart Schneemann, Paolo Giacometti. Brilliant 93688.
  
• Anderson: A Christmas Festival. BBC Concert Orch, Slatkin. Naxos 8.559621.
  

1 PM

• Rimsky-Korsakov: Christmas Eve, Suite. Scottish National Orch, Jarvi. Chandos 10369(2) X.
• Fasch: Concerto in B-flat. Tempesta di Mare. Chandos 0751.
  

Midday Music Wednesday 12/10/08

11 AM

• Elgar: Romance for bassoon and orchestra, Op. 62. Preman Tilson, New Zealand Sym, Judd. Naxos 8.557577.
  
• Elgar: Violin Concerto in B minor. Gil Shaham, Chicago Sym, Zinman. Canary CC06.
  

12 N

• Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker, Act 2: Pas de deux; Final waltz and apotheosis. Boston Sym, Ozawa. DG 435 619.
  
• Beethoven: "Waldstein" Piano Sonata (No. 21 in C major, Op. 53). Paul Lewis. Harmonia Mundi 901903.05.
  
• Handel: Semele: "Where'er you walk." Ian Bostridge, Orch of the Age of Enlightenment, Bicket. EMI 82243.
• Anonymous: Sonata No. 3 from Book 1 of A Desire for the Choicest Sonatas (1672). Chatham Baroque. Dorian 90706.
  

1 PM

• Lasso: Cantiones Sacrae (1592): No. 2, Prolongati sunt dies mei. Collegium Vocale Gent, Herreweghe. Harmonia Mundi 901984.
  
• Prokofiev: Violin Sonata No. 2 in D major, Op. 94b. Mikhail Simonyan, Alexei Podkorytov. Delos 3385.
  
• Bizet: L'Arlesienne, Suite No. 2. Les Musiciens du Louvre Grenoble, Minkowski. Naive 5130.

Classical Calendar, December 9-16, 2008

This week brings mostly but not exclusively Christmas/holiday concerts.

Tuesday, December 9

• 17th Annual Peppermint Pops, with the Albany Symphony and friends. 7:30, James Gray Civic Center, Albany. Free admission with canned food donation.

December 10-14

• Nutcracker of Middle Georgia presents The Nutcracker, combining professional ballerinas with local dancers. Grand Opera House, Macon. Evenings 7:30; Sunday matinee 2:30. Tickets at (478) 301-5470.
  

December 11-13

• Christmas with the ASO. Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and chorus, Morehouse College Glee Club, Gwinnett Young Singers. Symphony Hall, Atlanta. Check for times.

Thursday, December 11 (Celtic day, apparently!)

• A Cherish the Ladies Christmas. The Celtic band Cherish the Ladies joins the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. RiverCenter, Columbus.
• Augusta Symphony's Christmas pops concert with Celtic fiddle legend Eileen Ivers. Bell Auditorium, 7:30, Augusta.

Friday, December 12

• The "exciting, youthful" La Catrina String Quartet, currently in residence in North Carolina, performs at Maxwell Theatre, Augusta State, presented by the Harry Jacobs Chamber Music Society.

December 12-14

• The Augusta Players present A Christmas Carol, the musical.

December 13-14

• The Spivey Hall Children's & Tour Choirs joyously evoke the spirit of Christmas. Martha Shaw, director. Spivey Hall, Morrow, 3:00.

Sunday, December 14

• Augusta Symphony's Family Christmas Concert, with youth a cappella group Creative Impressions. Seasonal selections. Bring canned food items for the Golden Harvest Food Bank. Maxwell Theatre, Augusta State, 3:00; pre-concert activities at 2:15.
• The Atlanta Singers. Spivey Hall, Morrow, 7:30.

Tuesday, December 16

• Christmas with the LSO. The LaGrange Symphony joins forces the LaGrange Civic Chorale and Bel Canto LaGrange for a mix of secular and spiritual selections. Callaway Auditorium, LaGrange College, 7:30.
• The Choral Society of Middle Georgia performs "Christmas with the Chorale," featuring Handel's Messiah. 7:30, St. Joseph Catholic Church, Macon. (Repeats Thursday, December 18 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Warner Robins.)
  

Now through December 28

• Atlanta Ballet's lavish Nutcracker is on stage at the Fox Theater, Atlanta. Times vary.

Midday Music Tuesday 12/09/08

11 AM

• Bach: Trumpet Concerto in D after Vivaldi, BWV 972. Alison Balsom, Colm Carey. EMI 58047.
• Ashewell: Missa "Ave Maria." Huelgas Ensemble, Nevel. Harmonia Mundi 901022.
• Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker, Act 1: Little gallop of the children and entrance of the parents; Dance scene. Boston Sym, Ozawa. DG 435 619.
• Milhaud: Scaramouch: Brazileira. Sergio & Odair Assad. Nonesuch 278140.
• Handel/Stokowski: Messiah: Pastoral Sinfonia. Bournemouth Sym, Serebrier. Naxos 8.557883.

12 N

• Handel: Concerto Grosso in B-flat, Op. 6/7. Boston Baroque, Pearlman. Telarc 80688.
• O'Regan: Tal vez tenemos tiempo. Conspirare, Johnson, Company of Voices. Harmonia Mundi 807490.
• Bennett: Reflections on a Sixteenth-Century Tune. Philharmonia a Vent Wind Orch, Boyd. Klavier 11166.
• Neusidler: Wie moechtet ich froelich werden; Fantasia 21. Paul O'Dette. Harmonia Mundi 907388.
• Porpora: Christmas motet "Stelle Lucide." Ruth Ziesak, L'Arte del Mondo, Ehrhardt. Phoenix Edition 149.

1 PM

• Haydn: Piano Concerto in D major, Hob, XVIII:11. Sebastian Knauer, Cologne Chamber Orch, Muller-Bruhl. Naxos 8.570485.
• Brahms: Horn Trio in E-flat, Op. 40. Teunis van der Zwart, Isabelle Faust, Alexander Melnikov. Harmonia Mundi 901981.

Midday Music Monday 12/08/08

11 AM

• Handel: Messiah: Comfort ye...Ev'ry valley. Ian Bostridge, Orch of Age of Enlightenment, Bicket. EMI 82243.
• Bizet: L'Arlesienne, Suite No. 1. Musiciens du Louvre, Minkowski. Naive 5130.
• Praetorius, M.: Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming. Atlanta Sym Orch & Chorus, Shaw. Alto 1051.
• Albeniz: La Vega. Marc-Andre Hamelin. Hyperion 67476/7.
• Melani: Sonata a 5 for trumpets, violins and continuo. L'Arte del Mondo, Ehrhardt. Phoenix Edition 149.
  

12 N

• Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker: Waltz of the Flowers. Cincinnati Pops, Kunzel. Telarc 80625.
• Boismortier: Concerto for Five Flutes in D major. Stephen Schultz (playing all five flute parts). Dorian 90803.
• Praetorius, H.: Ab oriente venerunt Magi. Weser-Renaissance Bremen, Cordes. CPO 777 245.
• Mendelssohn: Piano Trio No. 2 in C minor. Trio Wanderer. CPO 777 245.
• Corea: La Fiesta, arr. cellos, percussion and strings. Hecker, Kharadze, Pushkarev, Baltica.

1 PM

• Rautavaara: Christmas Hymn. YL Male Voice Choir, Hyokki. Ondine 1125.
• Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat. Evgeny Kissin, London Sym, Davis. EMI 06311.
• Telemann: In dulci jubilo (Christmas cantata). Collegium Musicum 90, Standage. Chandos 0754.

Midday Music Thursday 12/04/08

For novelty value, the highlight of today's Midday Music occurs in the noon hour. Mark Kuss calls his ten little pieces for cello and piano Ten American Folksongs but what they're really based on is ad jingles. In this season of buying, we'll hear the whole set: Roto-Rooter, Winston Cigarettes, Intel (that one's pretty short), State Farm Insurance, Bumble Bee Tuna, Union Label, Nestle's Chocolate, Old Spice, Oscar Mayer and Delta Airlines. Other highlights of the show include Antonin Dvorak's Cello Concerto with soloist Pieter Wispelwey and Niels Gade's First Symphony.

Please note: I've learned that Friday, December 5, will be the final edition of Midday Music Requests with Alan Cooke.

After that Fridays will become Theme Days, hosted by our staff in Savannah, and I'll be open to working your requests into regular shows Monday through Thursday; e-mail middaymusic@gpb.org with suggestions. For now, please tune in to GPB Radio or gpb.org this Friday from 11 to 2 with your last requests and thanks for Alan.

11 AM

• Surinach: Piano Quartet (1944): Allegro deciso. Ames Piano Quartet. Albany 1052.
• Popper: Serenade for cello and piano, Op. 54/2. Mark Kosower, Jee-Won Oh. Naxos 8.570570.
• Dvorak: Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104. Pieter Wispelwey, Budapest Festival Orch, Fischer. Channel 25807.

12 N

• Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet: Dance of the Five Couples; Romeo at the Fountain. Berlin Phil, Abbado. DG 289 453 439.
  
• Schubert: Impromptu in G-flat, Op. 90/3, D. 899. Vladimir Ashkenazy. London 466 462.
  
• Hovhaness: Prayer of St. Gregory. I Fiamminghi, Werthen. Telarc 80392.
  
• Kuss: Ten American Folksongs. Fred Raimi, Mark Kuss. Gasparo 359.
  
• Bizet: L'Arlesienne: Incidental Music. Les Musiciens du Louvre, Minkowksi. Naive 5130.
  

1 PM

• Gade: Symphony No. 1 in C minor, "On the Fair Plains of Zealand." Danish National Radio Sym, Kitajenko. Chandos 9422.
  
• Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, K. 467: Mvts 2-3. Jonathan Biss, Orpheus Chamber Orch. EMI 17270.
  

Midday Music Wednesday 12/3/08

Today's Midday Music is hosted by Eric Nauert from GPB's member station in Savannah, WSVH. (I expected to have jury duty, though in the end my group wasn't called in. Thanks, Eric!) Here's the playlist from WSVH's website.

11:00 am

RACHMANINOFF, S: Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op .36
Kern, O, piano. Harmonia Mundi 907399

STRAVINSKY, I: Pulcinella: Suite
Royal Phil, Temirkanov, Y. RCA 60394

BORODIN, A: Prince Igor: Polovtsian Dances
Empire Brass Smedvig, R, trumpet. Telarc 80550

12:00 noon

PROKOFIEV, S: Sonata for Violin & Piano No. 2 in D, Op. 94a
Heifetz, G, violin Kaplan, A, piano. Connoisseur Society 4204

KHACHATURIAN, A: Spartacus: Suite No 1
Scottish National Orch, Järvi, N. Chandos 8927

1:00 pm

GLINKA, M: String Quartet No. 2 in F
Gostelradio String Quartet. Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab 914

RUBINSTEIN, A: Concertstück for Piano & Orch in A-flat, Op. 113
Czecho-Slovak Radio Sym, Dohnanyi, O Banowetz, J, piano. Marco Polo 8.223190

Classical Calendar, December 4-9, 2008

'Tis the season to hear music! Here are some classical and holiday concerts coming up this week in Valdosta, Augusta, Rome, Albany, Morrow, Atlanta and elsewhere.

Thursday & Saturday, December 4 & 6

• The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Chorus, led by Norman Mackenzie, present their annual performance of Handel's Messiah. 8:00, Atlanta's Symphony Hall.

Friday, December 5

• Cecylia Arzewski, recently retired concertmaster of the Atlanta Symphony, plays solo violin works by Bach. Noon, Carlos Museum, Emory University, Atlanta. Free.
  

Friday-Saturday, December 5-6

• The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Gospel Choir, led by Chelsea Tipton II, present an ASO Gospel Christmas. Atlanta's Symphony Hall. 8:00 Friday, 2:00 Saturday.
  

Saturday, December 6

• Under the baton of another potential new music director, Jonathan Pasternack, the Valdosta Symphony performs Beethoven's Fifth and music from Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet, plus the Hummel Trumpet Concerto featuring Kenneth Kirk. Whitehead Auditorium, Valdosta State University.
• Richard Prior directs the Rome Symphony, Shorter College Chorale and Shorter Chorus in a Feaste of Caroles, featuring John Rutter's Gloria. Rome City Auditorium.
• The Ocmulgee Symphony Orchestra, with Chuck Quinn, performs at Middle Georgia Technical College.
• The Cobb Symphony Orchestra and Chorus's Holiday Pops Concert includes Tchaikovsky, Poulenc, Tyzik, Anderson and a Messiah singalong. Two performances: Murray Arts Center, Kennesaw, 3:00, and Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, Marietta, 7 p.m.
• Columbus State University presents the Empire Brass in concert with CSU vocalists. RiverCenter, Columbus, 2:00.
• Irish fiddle superstar Eileen Ivers presents An Nollaig, An Irish Christmas at Atlanta's Ferst Center for the Arts.

Saturday-Sunday, December 6-7

• Georgia State University's annual gala holiday family concert features over 200 student and faculty musicians. This year's theme is A Night in Old Vienna. Think masked ball. Strauss, Vivaldi, Tchaikovsky, Handel and more, from grand opera to cool jazz. Saturday 8:00, Sunday 3:00. Rialto Center, Atlanta.

Sunday, December 7

• The Augusta Opera at St. Paul's. This annual pre-Christmas Augusta tradition continues, with four of the opera company's talented young singers. 3:30 and 6:00, St. Paul's, Augusta.
  
• Christmas with the Empire Brass (including Rolf Smedvig, first trumpet). A celebration of Christmas music from the Renaissance to now. 3:00, Spivey Hall, Morrow.
• The Atlanta Symphony, Atlanta Youth Symphony and Lee Harper & Dancers present A Kid's Christmas. Repeats the 14th. Symphony Hall, Atlanta.

Monday, December 8

• The Albany Chorale presents A-Caroling We Go. 8:00, First Presbyterian Church, Albany.

Tuesday, December 9

• 17th Annual Peppermint Pops with the Albany Symphony Orchestra. Admission is by canned food donation for area food banks and soup kitchens. 7:30, James Gray Civic Center, Albany.
  
• Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, another Augusta tradition, featres the Augusta Collegium Musicum. 7:30, Sacred Heart Cultural Center, Augusta.

Midday Music Tuesday 12/2/08

11 AM

• Dornel: Suitte en Trio in E minor. Musica Barocca. Naxos 8.570826.
• Hummel: Piano Concerto in B minor, Op. 89. Stephen Hough, English Chamber Orch, Thomson. Chandos 8507.
• Saint-Saens: Le lever de la lune. Bart Schneemann, Paolo Giacometti. Brilliant 93688.

12 N

• Bach: Chaconne from Solo Violin Partita No. 2, arr. Helga Thoene with Bach chorale lines. Christoph Poppen, Hilliard Ensemble. ECM 1765 (Morimur).
• Bach: Solo Violin Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004. Gidon Kremer. ECM 1926/1927.
• Liadov: The Enchanted Lake. Cincinnati Pops, Kunzel. Telarc 60657.
  
• Poulenc: Gloria: Gloria in Excelsis Deo. Santa Cecilia National Acad Orch & Chorus, Chung. DG 289 459 146.

1 PM

• Roussel: Symphony No. 2: mvt 2. Royal Scottish National Orch, Deneve. Naxos 8.570529.
• Szymanowski: Symphony No. 2 in B-flat. Warsaw Phil Orch, Wit. Naxos 8.570721.
• Mussorgsky: Polonaise from Boris Gudonov. Cincinnati Pops, Kunzel. Telarc 60657.

Midday Music Monday 12/01/08

11 AM

• Svendsen: Ifjol gjaett' e gjeitinn, Op. 31. Latvian National Sym, Mikkelsen. CPO 777 372.
• Dornell: Suite en Trio in G major. Musica Barocca. Naxos 8.570826.
• Godard: Scenes Poetiques. Slovak State Phil, Trevor. Naxos 8.570554.
• Brahms: Tragic Overture. London Sym, Haitink. LSO 0045.
• Bazzini: Dance of the Goblins. Chloe Hanslip, Caspar Frantz. Naxos 8.570800.

12 N

• Bach: Cantata No. 24: first sinfonia. Camerata Academica Salzburg, Norrington. Decca 466 570.
• Granados: Valses Poeticos. Xuefei Yang. EMI 06322.
• Neruda: Trumpet Concerto in E-flat. Alison Balsom, German Chamber Phil. EMI 16213.
• Wagner: Prelude and Isolde's Lovedeath, from Tristan and Isolde. Cincinnati Sym, Lopez Cobos. Telarc 80379.

1 PM

• Godowsky: Passacaglia on the opening of Schubert's "Unfinished" Symphony. Marc-Andre Hamelin. Hyperion 67300.
• Schubert: Symphony No. 8, "Unfinished." San Francisco Sym, Blomstedt. London 433 072.

Midday Music Wednesday 11/26/08

Please tune in to GPB Thursday at 11:00 for the cooking-oriented special program Turkey Confidential, followed at 1:00 by Giving Thanks. Friday brings the usual requests edition of Midday Music with Alan Cooke. Happy Thanksgiving!

11 AM

• Mozart: "Paris" Symphony (No. 31 in D major, K. 297). Frieburg Baroque Orch, von der Goltz. Harmonia Mundi 901897.
• Dvorak: Piano Quintet in A major, Op. 81. Ensemble Explorations, Braley. Harmonia Mundi 901880.

12 N

• Ungar: Ashokan Farewell. Jay Ungar, Molly Mason. Angel EMI 56720.
• Bernstein: Divertimento for orchestra. Bournemouth Sym, Alsop. Naxos 8.559245.
• Villa-Lobos: Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5. Donna Brown, Antonio Meneses, cellists of the Sao Paolo Sym, Minczuk. BIS 1410.
• Handel: Music for the Royal Fireworks. Boston Baroque, Pearlman. Telarc 80594.
• Tchaikovsky: Seasons: November, Troika. Wu Han. Artist Led 10701.

1 PM

• Kreisler/Rachmaninoff: Liebesfreud. Wu Han. Artist Led 10701.
• Beethoven: "Emperor" Piano Concerto (No. 5 in E-flat). Evgeny Kissin, London Sym, Davis. EMI 06311.

Midday Music Tuesday 11/25/08

New releases again, this time heavier on beloved warhorses, to speed you on your way over the river and through the woods.

11 AM

• Wagenseil: Symphony in A, WV 421. Stuttgart Chamber Orch, Goritzki. CPO 777 112.
• Franck: Violin Sonata in A major. Sergey Khachatryan, Lusine Khachatryan. Naive 5122.
• Hummel: Trumpet Concerto in E-flat. Alison Balsom, German Chamber Phil Bremen. EMI 16213.

12 N

• Grieg: Cello Sonata in A minor: Andante molto tranquillo. Emmanuelle Bertrand, Pascal Amoyel. Harmonia Mundi 901986.
• Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major. Evgeny Kissin, London Sym, Davis. EMI 06311 (set of all five concertos).
• Liszt: Die Zelle in Nonnenwerth, arr. cello and piano. Mark Kosower, Jee-Won Oh. Naxos 8.570570.
• Bazzini: Calabrese, Op. 34/6. Chloe Hanslip, Caspar Frantz. Naxos 8.570800.

1 PM

• Brahms: Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68. Revolutionary and Romantic Orch, Gardiner. SDG 702.
• Turina: Piano Quartet in A minor, Op. 67: Vivo. Ames Piano Quartet. Albany 1052.

Midday Music Monday 11/24/08

All of today's music comes from new (2008) releases. Giving music as gifts? Please consider ordering CDs through PB-1 (Public Broadcasting One); its Music Service kicks back a bit of each purchase to GPB. The toll-free number is 1-877-448-4719. And if physical discs are too 20th century for you, many of these recordings are available as downloads as well.

11 AM

• Castelnuovo-Tedesco: Sonata Canonica for two guitars. Brasil Guitar Duo. Naxos 8.570778.
• Veracini: Violin Sonata in B minor, Op. 1/3. Enrico Casazza, La Magnifica Comunita. Brillant 93809.
• Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 22 in E-flat, K. 482. Jonathan Biss, Orpheus Chamber Orch. EMI 17270.

12 N

• Brahms: Piano Quartet No. 3 in C minor: 3rd mvt. Capucon, Capucon, Causse, Angelich. Virgin 519310.
• Alwyn: Suite of Scottish Dances. Royal Liverpool Phil, Lloyd-Jones. Naxos 8.570704.
• Saint-Saens: Tristesse, arr. oboe and piano. Bart Schneemann, Paolo Giacometti. Brilliant 93688.
• Stanford: Clarinet Concerto, Op. 80. Robert Plane, Bournemouth Sym, Lloyd-Jones. Naxos 8.570356.
• Wagenseil: Symphony in D, WV 374. Stuttgart Chamber Orch, Goritzki. CPO 777 112.

1 PM

• Glinka: Grand Sextet in E-flat for piano, violins, viola, cello and bass. Alexader Mogilevsky et al. EMI 18333.
• Schumann: Violin Concerto in D minor. Ilya Kaler, Bournemouth Sym, Inkinen. Naxos 8.570321.

Midday Music Thursday 11/20/08

In today's Opera Chat, I speak with Renee Wilson-Wicker, chair of the Georgia Music Educators Association's choral division, about The Damnation of Faust by Hector Berlioz. The Metropolitan Opera will be broadcasting its matinee of that work in high definition to theaters across the country this Saturday, November 22 at 1:00.

GPB and GMEA have teamed up with the Met to allow young Georgians to experience opera performance at the highest level. If you are a music teacher and a member of the Georgia Music Educators Association, you are eligible for free tickets to take one of your students to attend The Damnation of Faust at the theater nearest you. There are participating cinemas in Alpharetta, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Chamblee, Fayetteville, Gainesville, Kennesaw, Lawrenceville, Lithonia, Marietta, Morrow, Savannah, Valdosta and Warner Robins. For a teacher-student pair of tickets, e-mail Renee Wilson-Wicker at choral@gmea.org. If you are not a GMEA member and would like to buy tickets to attend Saturday's high-definition live theater broadcast, click here.


11 AM

• Borodin: String Quartet No. 2. Borodin Quartet. Onyx 4002.
• Beethoven: Symphony No. 8. Tafelmusik Orch, Weill. Analekta 9947.

12 N

• Rodrigo: Adagio from Concierto de Aranjuez. Goran Sollscher, Orpheus Chamber Orch. DG 429 232.
  
• Piazzolla: Tango Suite: Tango No. 2. Patrick Gallois, Goran Sollscher. DG 449 185.
  
• Pugh: Trombone Concerto. James Pugh, Colorado Sym, Tyzik. Albany 926.
  
• Glazunov: Five Novelettes: Alla Spagnuola. Fine Arts Quartet. Naxos 8.570256.
  
• Berlioz: The Damnation of Faust: selections. Orch of Paris, Pretre. EMI 81493.
• Opera Chat with Renee Wilson-Wicker
  

1 PM

• Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor. Sa Chen, Gulbenkian Orch, Foster. PentaTone 5186 341.
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Midday Music Wednesday 11/19/08

11 AM

• Grenet: Drume negrita. Lauro: Venezuelan Waltz No. 3. Manuel Barrueco. EMI 56578.
• Serra: Rural Impressions. El Valles Sym, Brotons. Naxos 8.555871.
• Grieg: String Quartet No. 1 in G minor. Emerson Quartet. DG 6344.

12 N

• Svendsen: Symphony No. 1. Latvian National Sym, Mikkelsen. CPO 777 372.
• Mozart: Bassoon Concerto in B-flat, K. 191. Gustavo Nunes, Concertgebouw Chamber Orch. PentaTone 5186 079.

1 PM

• Mussorgsky: Khovashchina: Prelude (Dawn on the Moscow River); Dance of the Persian Slave Girls. Russian National Orch, Ponti. PentaTone 5186 332.
• Mendelssohn: String Quintet No. 1 in A major, Op. 18. Fine Arts Quartet, Rossi. Naxos 8.570488.
• Barber: Commando March. Royal Scottish National Orch, Alsop. Naxos 8.559133.
  

Classical Calendar, November 18-23, 2008

Tuesday, November 18

• The LaGrange Symphony presents "Music: The Invisible Art," featuring pieces by Lee Johnson and Richard Wagner plus the Korean folksong Arirang. Callaway Auditorium, LaGrange College, 7:30.
• Mercer University presents a free guest artist recital by pianist Dianne Reed. Fickling Hall, Macon, 7:30 p.m.
  
• Guitarist Manuel Barrueco performs as part of CSU's Legacy Live series. RiverCenter, Columbus.

Thursday, November 20

• The Borealis String Quartet plays Schubert, Mendelssohn and Grieg, presented by the Auburn Chamber Music Society. Goodwin Recital Hall, Auburn University, 7:30.
  
• Guitarist Manuel Barrueco performs at 7:30 at Callaway Auditorium, LaGrange College, part of the music department's Callaway Concert Series.

Friday & Sunday, November 21 & 23

• Robert Spano conducts the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and a cast led by Gerald Finley (as scientist Robert Oppenheimer) in a semistaged performance of John Adams' opera Doctor Atomic, about the final hours leading up to the first test of an atomic bomb in 1945. Atlanta's Symphony Hall, Friday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 3 p.m.

Friday, November 21

• The Fine Arts Quartet is presented by the Harry Jacobs Chamber Music Society. Maxwell Theatre, Augusta State University, 8 p.m.
  

Saturday, November 22

• The Ocmulgee Symphony offers a Pulaski Bicentennial Concert, celebrating the county's 200th anniversary with patriotic American music and Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture. Hawkinsville Opera House, 7:30.
• Swedish guitarist Goran Sollscher plays Bach, Dowland and Lennon/McCartney. Spivey Hall, Morrow, 8:15 p.m.
  
• The Augusta Choral Society and friends present a semistaged concert version of Menotti's Christmas classic, Amahl and the Night Visitors, with chorus, soloists, dancers and orchestra. Sacred Heart Cultural Center, Augusta, 7:30 p.m.
  
• The professional male vocal ensemble Cantus, in collaboration with Theatre Latte Da, presents Peter Rothstein's All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914, which recreates an unusual Christmas Day event during World War I when thousands of German and Allied soldiers put down their guns and left their trneches to meet their enemies, exchange gifts, play soccer and sing carols - before resuming the war. In the style of a radio musical drama. UGA Performing Arts Center, Athens, 8 p.m.
  

Sunday, November 23

• Columbus State University's Trombone Ensembles offer a fall concert including Gordon Jacob's Octet for Trombones and larger-scale music by Schubert, Crespo, Wagner and Lauridsen. The CSU Trombone Choir has been invited to perform at the 2009 Eastern Trombone Workshop in Washington, D.C., and proceeds from the modest ticket charge for this conert will help cover travel costs. RiverCenter, Columbus, 4 p.m.
  
• The Davidson Fine Arts School Chorale, St. John Choir, soloists and Custer's Last Band present A Thanksgiving Feast of Song, featuring "Gloria" from The World Beloved, A Bluegrass Mass, by Carol Barnett. Free admission; an offering will be taken for the Golden Harvest Food Bank. Part of the "Concerts with a Cause" series. St. John United Methodist Church, Augusta, 3 p.m.
  

Midday Music Tuesday 11/18/08

Concert list to follow in a separate post.

11 AM

• Bach/Sitkovetsky: Goldberg Variations, arr. string trio. Crow, McNabney, Haimovitz. Oxingale 2014.
  

12 N

• Scriabin: Piano Sonata No. 3 in F-sharp minor. Ruth Laredo. Nonesuch 73035.
  
• Albinoni: Oboe Concerto in D minor, Op. 9/2. Anthony Robson, Collegium Musicum 90, Standage. Chandos 0579.
  
• Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture. Orch & Chorus of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Pappano. EMI 70065.
  
• Lennon/McCartney: songs arr. guitar. Goran Sollscher. DG 447 104.
  

1 PM

• Mendelssohn: String Quartet in F minor, Op. 80. Eroica Quartet. Harmonia Mundi 907288.
  
• Johnson, Lee: Every Matter under Heaven, An Oratorio for Humanity: Conclusion (A Time for Peace, Circle, A Time to Finish). Russian National Orch, Spiritual Renaissance Concert Choir, Yanovsky, Beasley, Johnson. CCn'C 03062.
  
• Barrios: Cueca; Danza paraguaya; Una limosna por el amor de Dios. Manuel Barrueco. EMI 56578.
  

Midday Music Monday 11/17/08

Cinderella meets opera in Rossini's La Cenerentola. And in Atlanta this month, mezzo-soprano star and Marietta native Jennifer Larmore returns home to star in this opera.

On GPB in the 1 o'clock hour I speak with Canadian baritone Hugh Russell. He is in town to play Dandini, the prince's valet who dresses up as the prince to check out the girls in Cinderella's household. He walks us through much of the comedy's plot. (Spoiler alert: no glass slippers.) And we hear Jennifer Larmore herself sing selections from a Covent Garden recording on Teldec.

The Atlanta Opera's production of La Cenerentola continues November 18, 21 and 23 at the Cobb Energy Centre, Atlanta.

11 AM

• Haydn: Violin Concerto No. 2 in G major. Augustin Hadelich, Cologne Chamber Orch, Muller-Bruhl. Naxos 8.570483.
  
• Giuliani: Menuetto, Op. 73/9. David Starobin. Bridge 9272.
  
• Arensky: Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor. Claremont Trio. Tria Records 3860.
  

12 N

• Mussorgsky: Sorochintsy Fair: Introduction. Russian National Orch, Ponti. PentaTone 5186 332.
  
• Telemann: Concerto in A major for four violins. Musica Antiqua Cologne, Goebbel. Archiv 289 471 492.
  
• Schumann: String Quartet No. 3 in F major, Op. 51/3. Fine Arts Quartet. Naxos 8.570151.
  
• Wagner: Prelude to Act I of Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg. Berlin Phil, Tennstedt. EMI 86248.
  

1 PM

• Rossini: La Cenerentola, excerpts. Jennifer Larmore et al., Orch & Chorus of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Rizzo. Teldec 4909-94553.
• Interview with baritone Hugh Russell.
  
• Regondi: Etude No. 6. David Starobin. Bridge 9272.
  

Midday Music Thursday 11/13/08

Are you near Columbus, Macon, Eatonton, Morrow, Atlanta, Lookout Mountain, LaGrange, Auburn or Athens? There's high-caliber musicmaking close by, and soon. See details and support live classical music in your community.

The highlight of today's Midday Music is a novelty - it's Margaret Brouwer's percussion concerto Aurolucent Circles from 2002, written for and performed by Evelyn Glennie.

Friday's Midday Music will be a requests day with Alan Cooke in Augusta. See you Monday.

11 AM

• Liszt: Years of Pilgrimage: First Year, "Switzerland": selections. Stephen Hough. Hyperion 67424.
• Stamitz: Flute Concerto in G major. Barthold Kuijken, Tafelmusik, Lamon. Sony 48045.
• Farrenc: Nonette for strings and winds, Op. 38. Barnold, Leleux, Guyot et al. Naive 5033.

12 N

• Dvorak: Largo from Symphony No. 9, "From the New World." Cincinnati Sym, Jarvi. Telarc 80616.
• Brouwer: Aurolucent Circles, Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra: Floating in Dark Space, Stardance, Cycles & Currents (2002). Evelyn Glennie, Royal Liverpool Phil, Schwarz. Naxos 8.559250.
• Lecuona: Cuban Dances: Danza Lucumi. Manuel Barrueco. EMI 56757.
  Ibert: Two Interludes for flute, viola and harp. Aureole. Koch 7102.
  

1 PM

• Mendelssohn: String Quintet No. 2 in B-flat. Fine Arts Quartet, Rossi. Naxoso 8.570488.
  
• Wagner: Prelude to Act 3 of Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg. Met Orch, Levine. DG 447 764.
  
• Schumann: Liebesbotschaft. Christian Gerhaher, Gerold Huber. RCA 88697168172.
  

Midday Music Wednesday 11/12/08

These musical selections tie in to concerts by the Macon Symphony (in Macon and Eatonton), guitarist Manuel Barrueco (in Columbus and LaGrange) and pianist Stephen Hough and baritone Christian Gerhaher (each in Morrow's Spivey Hall), as well as stagings of Gilbert and Sullivan's operetta The Pirates of Penzance in Columbus and Athens and Rossini's opera Cinderella in Atlanta. And that's not all that's going on! See this week's Classical Calendar for details, and then go, Go, GO!

11 AM

• Bach/Webern: Ricercare No. 2 from A Musical Offering. Munich Chamber Orch, Poppen. ECM 1774.
• Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat. Marc-Andre Hamelin, Dallas Sym, Litton. Hyperion 67550.

12 N

• Bach: Sonata No. 3 in C major, BWV 1005. Manuel Barrueco. EMI 56416.
• Saint-Saens: Piano Concerto No. 5. Stephen Hough, City of Birmingham Sym, Oramo. Hyperion 67331/2.
• Schumann: Liederkreis after Eichendorff, Op. 39: Nos. 1-2, 12. Christian Gerhaher, Gerold Huber. RCA 88697168172.

1 PM

• Mozart: Sinfonia Concertante for oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon in E-flat, K. 297b. Freiburg Baroque Orch, Kaiser, Bruggemann, Zafra, Wieringa, Goltz. Harmonia Mundi 901897.
  
• Paganini: Variations on a Theme from Rossini's La Cenerentola. Salvatore Accardo, London Phil, Dutoit. DG 423 717.
  
• Sullivan: The Pirates of Penzance, Overture. Nimbus 5066. Scottish Chamber Orch, Faris.
  

Midday Music Tuesday 11/11/08

Best Veterans' Day wishes to you.

11 AM

• McKinley: Patriotic Variations. Slovak Radio Sym, Stankovsky MMC 2032.
• Granados: Goyescas: The Young Men in Love: Conversation through the Bars. Eric Parkin. Chandos 9412.
• Beach: Piano Quintet in F-sharp minor. Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (Anne-Marie McDermott, Escher String Quartet). CMS Studio 82524.
• Copland: Letter from Home. Buffalo Phil, Falletta. Naxos 8.559240.

12 N

• Chopin: "Heroic" Polonaise in A-flat, Op. 53. Olga Kern. Harmonia Mundi 907402.
• Daugherty: UFO for solo percussion and wind symphony: Mvt 2. Evelyn Glennie, North Texas Wind Sym, Corporon. Klavier 11121.
• O'Connor: Double Violin Concerto (Swingin', Midnight on the Dance Room Floor, Dixieland). Mark O'Connor and Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, Colorado Sym Orch, Alsop. OMAC-8.
• O'Connor: Appalachia Waltz. Mark O'Connor and Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg. OMAC-8.
• Traditional (American revival song): I'm on My Journey Home. Anonymous 4. Harmonia Mundi 907400.

1 PM

• Beethoven: "Pastorale" Symphony (No. 6 in F major). BBC Scottish Sym, Vanska. BBC Music Mag Vol. 8, No. 3.

Classical Calendar, November 11-20

Concerts around Georgia over the next week or so, featuring artists from the homegrown to the globetrotting.

November 13-14 and 16

• Percussion star Evelyn Glennie (right) joins the Atlanta Symphony in Atlanta for John Corigliano's Percussion Concerto. Donald Runnicles also conducts Gershwin's Cuban Overture and Dvorak's "New World" Symphony.

Friday, November 14

• The New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players bring their concert production of one of G&S's best comic operettas to Columbus's RiverCenter: The Pirates of Penzance.(To be repeated on the 16th in Athens.)
  
• Grammy-nominated mezzo-soprano D'Anna Fortunato, with Peter Bloom, flute, and Mary Jane Rupert, piano, perform music of Handel, Rossini, Britten, Delibes, Pinkham, Gershwin and Vercoe at Covenant College, Lookout Mountain.

Saturday, November 15

• Acclaimed pianist Stephen Hough (right) performs at Spivey Hall, Clayton State, Morrow. Bach, Faure, Franck, Copland and Chopin.
• The Macon Symphony Orchestra, with conductor Adrian Gnam and pianist David Gross, offer "the three B's" - Beethoven ("Pastorale" Symphony), Brahms (Second Piano Concerto) and Bach (the Fugue/Ricercare from A Musical Offering, orchestrated by Webern) - at Macon's Grand Opera House.
• Soprano, string quartet and interactive audio and video combine in the world premiere of Ophelia's Gaze, a new chamber opera by Emory University composer Steven Everett, based on poetry by Pulitzer-winning Emory poet Natasha Trethewey, at Atlanta's Schwartz Center.

November 15, 18, 21 and 23

• Marietta-born star soprano Jennifer Larmore (right) returns home for her debut with the Atlanta Opera as Cinderella in Rossini's opera La Cenerentola. At the Cobb Energy Center, Atlanta.

Sunday, November 16

• The Macon Symphony performs at the Plaza Arts Center in Eatonton.
• German baritone Christian Gerhaher and pianist Gerold Hubert offer an afternoon recital of art songs by Schumann at Spivey Hall, Morrow.
• The New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players bring their concert version of The Pirates of Penzance to UGA's Performing Arts Center, Athens.
  

Tuesday, November 18

• The LaGrange Symphony presents "Music: The Invisible Art," with German, Korean and American pieces (the last by LaGrange's own Lee Johnson). Patricio Cobos conducts at Callaway Auditorium, LaGrange College.
• Famed guitarist Manuel Barrueco performs on Columbus State's Legacy Live series at RiverCenter, Columbus. (He also plays in LaGrange Thursday.)
  

Thursday, November 20

• Manuel Barrueco, guitarist, plays on LaGrange College's new Callaway Concert Series.
• The Borealis String Quartet, an acclaimed Canadian foursome, appears in concert at Goodwin Recial Hall, Auburn University, Auburn, Ala., presented by the Auburn Chamber Music Society.

Midday Music Monday 11/10/08

Why isn't the Piano Quartet by American composer Arthur Foote (1853-1937) better known? It's got great tunes, a gorgeous slow movement and a thrilling finale. In the first hour of Midday Music, we hear a performance by the Atlanta Chamber Players. Also oddly unfamous is Britain's Sir Charles Stanford (1854-1924), and possibly for similar reasons: both Foote and Stanford crafted lovely Romantic music past Romantic's prime. But a century on, our ears don't care if these guys were cutting edge or simply good. We'll hear Stanford's Sixth Symphony ("In honour of the life-work of a great artist: Goergia Frederick Watts") in the one o'clock hour on GPB.

11 AM

• Mozart, L.: Sinfonia in A major. Toronto Chamber Orch, Mallon. Naxos 8.570499.
• Vaughan Williams: The Lark Ascending. Pinchas Zukerman, English Chamber Orch, Barenboim. DG 289 453 909.
• Foote: Piano Quartet in C major. Atlanta Chamber Players. ACA Digital 20082.
  

12 N

• Svendsen: Norwegian Rhapsody No. 2. Latvian National Sym, Mikkelsen. CPO 777 372.
• Regondi: Etude No. 10 in A major. David Starobin. Bridge 9272.
• Telemann: Oboe d'Amore Concerto in G major. Thomas Stacy, Toronto Chamber Orch, Mallon. Naxos 8.570735.
• Schumann: Waldszenen. Claudio Arrau. Philips 420 871.

1 PM

• Stanford: Symphony No. 6, "In honour of the life-work of a great artist: George Frederick Watts." Bournemouth Sym, Lloyd-Jones. Naxos 8.570355.
• Vivaldi: Cello Concerto in B-flat, RV 408. Christophe Coin, Il Giardino Armonico, Antonini. Naive 30457.

Midday Music Thursday 11/06/08

Many tie-ins to Georgia concerts lurk among the pieces and players on today's Midday Music playlist. So much going on! This weekend our state boasts performances by the Columbus, Albany, Augusta and Atlanta symphonies - as well as by violinist Joshua Bell, pianist Claude Frank, the Tetzlaff Quartet, the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra, and Antoni Wit with the Warsaw Philharmonic.

In the noon hour I speak with conductors George Del Gobbo of the Columbus Symphony and Claire Fox Hillard of the Albany Symphony. Intrigued about the other concerts too? Then hie thee unto the weekly Classical Concerts posting below and forsooth, there shalt thou find links.

11 AM

• Vivaldi: Concerto in B minor for Four Violins, Op. 3/10. Cologne Chamber Orch, Muller-Bruhl. Naxos 8.554606.
• Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major. Martha Argerich, Royal Concertgebouw, wallberg. EMI 56974.
• Dvorak: Romance in F minor for violin and orchestra. Pamela Frank, Czech Phil, Mackerras. London 289 460 316.

12 N

• Piazzolla: Four Seasons in Buenos Aires: Autumn (Otono Porteno). Katona Twins. Channel 19804.
• Ravel: Bolero. Cincinnati Pops, Kunzel. Telarc 80703.
• Adams: Nixon in China: The Chairman Dances. Baltimore Sym, Zinman. Argo 444 454.
• Szymanowski: Nocturne and Tarantella. Warsaw Phil, Wit. Naxos 8.557981.
• Ewazen: Trombone Concerto. Doug Farwell, Albany (Ga.) Sym, Hillard. Concert, October 2005.

1 PM

• Brahms: Violin Concerto in D major. Joshua Bell, Cleveland Orch, Dohnanyi. London 444 811.
• Dvorak: Violin Concerto in A major: Finale. Christian Tetzlaff, Czech Phil, Pesek. Virgin 391346.

Midday Music Wednesday 11/05/08

According to his public Facebook page, Barack Obama's favorite music includes "Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Johann Sebastian Bach (cello suites) and The Fugees." We'll home in on the Bach part of the president-elect's list right after the noon news on GPB.

11 AM

• Mozart: Cosi fan tutte, Overture. Lausanne Chamber Orch, Menuhin. Virgin 363284.
  
• Copland: Third Symphony. New York Phil, Bernstein. Sony 63155.
  
• Thomson: Three Portraits. Philippe Quint, William Wolfram. Naxos 8.559364.
  

12 N

• Bach: Suite in G major for Solo Cello, BWV 1007. Steven Isserlis. Hyperion 67541/2.
  
• Stravinsky: The Firebird, Suite. Royal Concertgebouw Orch, Chailly. London 289 458 142.
  
• Franck: Psyche and Eros, from Psyche. Berlin Phil, Giulini. DG 419 605.
  

1 PM

• Dvorak: "American" Quintet. Vlach Quartet, Kyselak. Naxos 8.553376.
  
• Falla: The Three-Cornered Hat: Dances. Orch of the Suisse Romande, Ansermet. London 414 039/10.
  

Midday Music Tuesday 11/04/08

It's an all-American lineup on Midday Music, to escort you to your polling place. (For details on concerts mentioned on air please check out this week's Classical Calendar posting below.) Happy election day!

11 AM

• Ives: Variations on "America." Columbus State Univ Wind Ensemble, Rumbelow. Summit 374.
• Barber: Violin Concerto. James Ehnes, Vancouver Sym, Tovey. CBC 5241.
• Joplin: Scott Joplin's New Rag. Benjamin Loeb. Naxos 8.559277.
• Zohn: Variations on Three Appalachian Tunes. Andrew Zohn.
  

12 N

• Summer: Julie-O. Mark Summer, David Ying. Telarc 80630.
• Boyer: Celebration Overture. Moravian Phil, Golan. Albany 1027.
• Corigliano: The Red Violin Caprices. Philippe Quint. Naxos 8.559364.
• Copland: Appalachian Spring. Nashville Chamber Orch, Gambill. Naxos 8.559069.
• Perkinson: Quartet No. 1 based on "Calvary": Allegro. New Black Music Repertory Ensemble Quartet. Cedille 087.

1 PM

• O'Connor: Trio No. 1, "Poets and Prophets," inspired by Johnny Cash. Eroica Trio. EMI 07351.
• Nelson: Savannah River Holiday. Boston Pops, Lockhart. BMG RCA 68786.
• Perkinson: Louisiana Blues Strut. Ashley Horne. Cedille 087.
• Bernstein: Candide: Make Our Garden Grow. Joshua Bell, Philharmonia Orch, Zinman. Sony 89358.

Classical Calendar, November 3-9

Violinists Joshua Bell, Philippe Quint and Christian Tetzlaff. Pianists Valentina Lisitsa and Jeremy Denk. Concerts in Columbus, Augusta, Morrow, Athens, Atlanta, Kennesaw and Albany. Take your pick and fill a seat!

Monday, November 3

• Columbus State University faculty and students perform Brahms' German Requiem at Columbus's RiverCenter.
  

Tuesday, November 4

• Also in Columbus, Columbus State's Schwob School of Music presents pianist Jeremy Denk performing Beethoven's "Hammerklavier" Sonata and more. The concert begins at 7:30, and they say you'll be out by 9:00 - in plenty of time to catch election returns on GPB Radio.

Thursday-Friday, November 6-7

• In Atlanta, violinist Joshua Bell and the Atlanta Symphony perform Samuel Barber's Violin Concerto. Also on the program, Robert Spano conducts Copland's Appalachian Spring and Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra.

Friday, November 7

• In Athens, piano legend Claude Frank plays Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert at the UGA Performing Arts Center.
• Pianist Valentina Lisitsa and the Warsaw Philharmonic perform Liszt's First Piano Concerto at Emory University in Atlanta. Antoni Wit also conducts Brahms' Second Symphony.

Saturday, November 8

• The Augusta Symphony welcomes to Augusta another potential new music director, Benjamin Loeb, for a concert at First Baptist of Augusta including Beethoven's First Piano Concerto (with soloist Andrew Armstrong), Ron Nelson's Savannah River Holiday, Debussy's Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun and Stravinsky's Firebird Suite.
• And in Albany's Municipal Auditorium, Claire Fox Hillard leads the Albany Symphony in a fascinating program of music connected to myth. The Tantalus Quartet stars in "The Feast" (a concerto for four guitarists and orchestra) by Paraskevas. There are the Greeks myths of Orpheus (Gluck, Offenbach) and Psyche (Franck). And the orchestra plays a piece by its own member Steven Landis, "Through the Gate of Horn."
• And in Columbus, violinist Philippe Quint joins the Columbus Symphony and music director George Del Gobbo for Piazzolla's Four Seasons of Buenos Aires. The program at RiverCenter, "A Passion for the Tango," also features Ginastera's Estancia Dances, Falla's Three-Cornered Hat and Ravel's Bolero.

Saturday-Sunday, November 8-9

• At the Murray Arts Center in Kennesaw, the Cobb Symphony Orchestra, with the Cobb Symphony Chorus and cellist Matthew Allen offer Prokofiev's Cello Concerto and Borodin's Polovetsian Dances, as well as selections from The Sound of Music, Candide and Phantom of the Opera. Michael Alexander conducts.
  

Sunday, November 9

• The Atlanta Baroque Orchestra (plus singers) perform Vivaldi's Gloria, plus Bach's transcription of a Vivaldi concerto at Atlanta's Peachtree Road United Methodist Church.
• The Tetzlaff Quartet performs Mozart, Berg and Sibelius at Spivey Hall in Morrow. Christian Tetzlaff is the quartet's lead violinist; his sister Tanja is its cellist.
• It's Darton Guitar Day in Albany. Darton College's second annual guitar workshop includes an afternoon recital, master class and lecture, all free and open to the public.

Midday Music Monday 11/03/08

11 AM

• Beethoven: "Hammerklavier" Sonata (No. 29 in B-flat, Op. 106). Rudolf Serkin. Sony 47666.
  
• Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem: Part 1 (Selig Sind). Atlanta Sym Orch & Chorus, Spano. Telarc 80701.
  

12 N

• Joplin: Rag-Time Dance. Benjamin Loeb. Naxos 8.559277.
  
• Debussy: Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun. Netherlands Phil, Kreizberg. PentaTone 5186 058.
  
• Beriot: Violin Concerto No. 3 in E minor. Philippe Quint, Slovak Radio Sym, Trevor. Naxos 8.570360.
  
• Gluck: Orpheus and Euridice: Dance of the Furies; Dance of the Blessed Spirits. Orpheus Chamber Orch. DG 437 782.
  

1 PM

• Schubert/Liszt: Die Taubenpost. Valentina Lisitsa. ACA 20102.
  
• Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 1. Lise de la Salle, Lisbon Gulbenkian Foundation Orch, Foster. Naive 5053.
• Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis. New Zealand Sym, Judd. Naxos 8.555867.
  
• Mozart: Rondo in C major. Christian Tetzlaff, Northern Sinfonia, Schiff. Virgin 91489.
  

Midday Music Thursday 10/30/08

(Note: Friday brings the return of Midday Music Requests day with Alan Cooke. Bring on those Halloween requests, and I'll see you Monday.)

11 AM

• Stravinsky: Scherzo a la Russe. Russian National Orch, Pletnev. DG 453 434.
• Svendsen: String Octet in A major. Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble. Chandos 9258.
• Barber: Piano Sonata, Op. 26: Finale. Garrick Ohlsson. Arabesque 6724.
• Barber: Adagio for Strings. Saint Louis Sym, Slatkin. Telarc 80503.

12 N

• Schubert: Rosamunde, Incidental Music. Orpheus Chamber Orch. DG 437 782.
• Brahms: Viola Sonata No. 2 in E-flat, Op. 120/2. Nobuko Imai, Roger Vignoles. Chandos 8550.
• Nielsen: Flute Concerto: Finale. Emmanuel Pahud, Berlin Phil, Rattle. EMI 94421.
• Kapustin: Preludes in Jazz Style, Op. 53: Nos. 11-12. John Salmon. Naxos 8.570582.
  

1 PM

• Bach: Cantata No. 11, "Lobet Gott in seinen Reichen." Concentus Musicus, Vienna Boys Choir, Chorus Viennensis, soloists, Harnoncourt. Teldec 8.35029.
• Khatchaturian: Trio for Clarinet, Violin and Piano. Walter Boeykens Ensemble. Harmonia Mundi 901419.
• Kapustin: Preludes in Jazz Style, Op. 53: No. 18. John Salmon. Naxos 8.570582.

Midday Music Wednesday 10/29/08

For details on concerts mentioned during Midday Music, see this week's Classical Calendar posting below. Go forth and attend!

11 AM

• Francaix: Dance of the Three Harlequins. Nicole Narboni. RoeDeo Productions.
• Zelenka: Capriccio No. 5 in G major. Neu-Eroffnete Orch, Sonnentheil. CPO 999 629.
• Schubert: Arpeggione Sonata for cello and piano. David Finckel, Wu Han. ArtistLed 10401.
• Hanson: "Romantic" Symphony (No. 2): Allegro con brio. Saint Louis Sym, Slatkin. EMI 47850.

12 N

• Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnol. London Phil, Jansons. EMI 50824.
• Brahms: String Sextet No. 1 in B-flat, Op. 18. The Lindsays, Williams, Watkins. ASV 4016.

1 PM

• Grainger: Handel in the Strand. Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble. Chandos 9346,
  
• Avison: Concerto in B-flat, Op. 6/5. Avison Ensemble, Beznosiuk. Naxos 8.557553-554.
  
• Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances. St. Petersburg Phil, Temirkanov. Warner 2564 62050.
  

Classical Calendar, October 30-November 4, 2008

Here are some top concert listings around Georgia for this week, courtesy of GPB's Midday Music.

Thursday-Saturday, October 30-November 1

• In Atlanta's Symphony Hall, Leonard Slatkin conducts the Atlanta Symphony in Barber's Piano Concerto with Garrick Ohlsson as soloist, Bernstein's "Jeremiah" Symphony with mezzo-soprano Kelley O'Connor, and Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances. The first in the ASO's "American Originals" series this fall.
  

Friday, October 31

• The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble, from London, plays Brahms and Shostakovich sextets and Mendelssohn's famous Octet at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain.
  

Saturday, November 1

• The Valdosta Symphony Orchestra performs Rimsky-Korsakov's Capriccio Espagnol, Nielsen's Flute Concerto with soloist Elizabeth Goode and Beethoven's Seventh Symphony. Conducting is Nicholas Ross, a finalist to become the VSO's next music director. Whitehead Auditorium, Valdosta State.
• At the Hardin Performing Arts Center in Evans, violinist Levon Ambartsumian and pianist Evgeny Rivkin perform Schubert's Arpeggione Sonata and both of Brahms' Op. 120 sonatas. Both men are from Russia but currently professors of music at the University of Georgia. Presented by the Augusta Symphony.
  

Sunday, November 2

• The world-famous Vienna Boys Choir (Wiener Sängerknaben), with a history half a millennium long, performs in Morrow. It's a concert for the whole family, according to Spivey Hall, with half-priced children's tickets.
  
• Always seeking new venues, the Atlanta Chamber Players offer piano trios by Khatchaturian and Ives, plus Bartok's Second String Quartet, at the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center, Atlanta.
  

Monday, November 3

• Brahms' German Requiem fills Columbus's RiverCenter. It's a joint student-faculty Columbus State performance of this divine work, with the CSU Choral Union and CSU Philharmonic and soloists Michelle DeBruyn and Earl Coleman conducted by Constantina Tsolainou.

Tuesday, November 4

• Award-winning American pianist Jeremy Denk headlines Columbus State's Legacy Live! series 7:30 at RiverCenter. He'll play two huge pieces - Beethoven's Hammerklavier Sonata and Ives' Concord Sonata - and be done by 9:00, just in time for you to jump into your car to catch election coverage on GPB.