Midday Music Monday 9/29/08

Much of today's music connects to Jewish religion and culture or to the theme of creation, in honor of Rosh Hashanah, which begins tonight. Happy new year to our Jewish listeners!

We also hear a couple of pieces with concert tie-ins: to Saturday's Rome Symphony performance, including a Vivaldi oboe concerto; the all-Mendelssohn LaGrange Symphony concert next Tuesday with Sergiu Schwartz as violin soloist; and the Eroica Trio's Sara Sant'Ambrogio and Emory University's William Ransom playing Beethoven's complete works for cello and piano in Atlanta over the course of two evenings, October 3-4. Also note the Atlanta Symphony's Bach-Beethoven-Brahms program with pianist Peter Serkin, October 2-4) and the Atlanta Opera's zoomy production of Madama Butterfly (October 4, 7, 10, 12) - more on that Thursday.

A note on hosts: Besides Monday and Thursday, this week's Midday Music will be hosted by Russell Wells from GPB station WSVH in Savannah. Alan Cooke's Friday show returns next week.

11 AM

• Bloch: Suite Hebraique: Affirmation. Trio Lyra. CBC 1161.
• Weinberg, J.: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C major. Jorge Federico Osorio, Barcelona Sym, Rickenbacher. Naxos 8.559457.
• Vandervelde: Genesis V. Minneapolis Guitar Quartet. Albany 207.
• Schoenfield: Klezmer Rondos for flute and orchestra: mvt 2. Scott Goff, Seattle Sym, Schwarz. Naxos 8.559403.
• Steinberg: Songs for Flute, Viola and Harp. Trio Lyra. CBC 1161.

12 N

• Haydn: The Creation: "Awake the Harp." Atlanta Sym Orch & Chorus, Shaw. Telarc 80519.
• Prokofiev: Overture on Hebrew Themes. Evgeny Kissin, members of Moscow Virtuosi. Philips 456 871.
• Vivaldi: Oboe Concerto in C major, Op. 8/12. Paul Goodwin, English Concert, Pinnock. Archiv 445 839.
• Beethoven: Cello Sonata No. 3 in A major, Op. 69. Pieter Wispelwey, Dejan Lazic. Channel 22605.
• Haydn: The Creation: "The Heavens Are Telling." Radio Sym Orch & Chorus Stuttgart, Marriner. EMI 50842.

1 PM

• Milhaud: The Creation of the World. Branford Marsalis, Orpheus Chamber Orch, Sony 89251.
• Dvorak: Romantic Pieces, Op. 75. Sergiu Schwartz, Alec Chien. Romeo 7263.
• Schoenfield: Trio for clarinet, violin and piano. Charles Neidich, Lev Polyakin, Frances Renzi. Innova 544.
• Weissgall: T'kiatot: shofar call. Steven Ovitsky. Naxos 8.559425.

Midday Music Thursday 9/25/08

(Alan Cooke will be in Friday to host Midday Music requests, and his playlists are here. Our list of Georgia classical concerts is here. See you Monday.)

11 AM

• Brahms: Romance, Op. 118/5. Mark Anderson. Nimbus 5521.
• Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor. Emanuel Ax, Chicago Sym, Levine. Sony 03510.

12 N

• Mussorgsky: Night on Bald Mountain. Cincinnati Sym, Jarvi. Telarc 80705.
• Crittenden: A Scottish Fantasy. Minneapolis Guitar Quartet. Albany 339.
• Mozart: "Prague" Symphony (No. 38 in D major). Freiburg Baroque Orch, Jacobs. Harmonia Mundi 901958.

1 PM

• Chopin: Fantasie-Impromptu in C-sharp minor. Evgeny Kissin. RCA 68668.
• Dvorak: "Dumky" Trio (Piano Trio in E minor, Op. 90). Trio con Brio. Azica 71240.
• Traditional: The Shining Shore. Anonymous 4. Harmonia Mundi 907400.
• Mandonico: Calace Rag. Italian Mando-Rag Club of Brescia. Naxos 8.557999.

Midday Music Wednesday 9/24/08

11 AM

• Gabrieli: Canzon Primi Toni a 10. London Sym Orch Brass, Crees. Naxos 8.554129.
• Mozart: Piano Sonata in A major, K. 331. Mikhail Pletnev. DG 5832.
• Reger: Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Mozart [from the first movement of the above sonata]. Staatskapelle Dresden, Blomstedt. Profil 07003.
• Sarasate: Introduction and Tarantella. Itzhak Perlman, Abbey Road Ensemble, Foster. EMI 55475.

12 N

• Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue for two pianos and orch. Katia & Marielle Labeque, Cleveland Orch, Chailly. London 417 326.
• Chavez: Xochipili, An Imagined Aztec Music. Southwest Chamber Music. Cambria 8852.
• Falla: Ritual Fire Dance. Los Angeles Guitar Quartet. Delos 3144.
  
• Villa-Lobos: A Lenda do Caboclo. Los Angeles Guitar Quartet. Telarc 80686.
  
• Bach: Cantata No. 106, "Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit." Munich Bach Choir & Orch, Richter. Archiv 413 646.
• Jongen: Danse Lente for flute and harp. Laurel Zucker, Susan Jolles. Cantilena 66034.
  

1 PM

• Brahms: Rhapsody in E-flat, Op. 119/4. Emanuel Ax, piano. Sony 88697-03510.
• Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor. John O'Conor, London Sym, Delfs. telarc 80704.
• Tennant: Celtic Fare. Los Angeles Guitar Quartet. Sony 89100.
  

Classical Calendar, September 25-28

Ongoing through September 28

• The Westobou Festival is in full swing in Augusta.

Thursday, September 25

• The Augusta Symphony presents a "Music to the People" concert at East Georgia College in Swainsboro. Light classic and popular selections by Tchaikovsky, John Williams, Dvorak and others, and principal trumpeter James Ackley soloes in Haydn's Trumpet Concerto. 7 p.m., free admission.
• The Augusta Choral Society performs a program connecting music and the cosmos, "Something Like a Star." Sacred Heart Cultural Center, Augusta, 7:30.

September 25, 27 and 28

• The Atlanta Symphony opens its fall season with the three B's. Emanuel Ax soloes Beethoven's Third Piano Concerto, and Robert Spano conducts Bach and Brahms. Atlanta Symphony Hall.
  

Friday, September 26

• The Augusta Symphony plays for "Cirque de la Symphonie" in Augusta's Bell Auditorium. Part of the Westobou Festival.
• The Los Angeles Guitar Quartet plays at Emory University in Atlanta. As of midday Tuesday, tickets were still available.
  

Saturday, September 27

• The Ocmulgee Symphony opens its second season with music of Wagner, Dvorak, Gershwin and Rodgers. 7:30 p.m. in Hawkinsville's Opera House.

Sunday, September 28

• Alan Morrison (Curtis Institute of Music) and Jeannine Morrison (Clayton State professor emerita) play a mother-and-son duo recital at Spivey Hall in Morrow.
• The Atlanta Baroque Orchestra offers Telemann's recorder suite with soloist Aldo Abreu, a Bach cantata and more, 3 p.m. Sunday in Atlanta.
  

Midday Music Tuesday 9/23/08

In concert tie-ins on Midday Music we're hearing the Wagner overture the Ocmulgee Symphony Orchestra plays Saturday, plus tape from the OCO's first season finale last spring; the Haydn trumpet concerto the Augusta Symphony takes on the road Thursday to Swainsboro; the Brahms symphony the Atlanta Symphony performs at its season-opening concerts, and the soloist to appear on those concerts, Emanuel Ax. Find details in this blog's weekly Classical Calendar. "Music: It's not just for radio."

11 AM

• Bruch: Romance for violin and orchestra. Maxim Fedotov, Russian Phil, Yablonsky. Naxos 8.557689.
• Brahms: Symphony No. 1 in C minor. London Sym, Haitink. LSO 0045.

12 N

• Haydn: Trumpet Concerto in E-flat. Bibi Black, Philharmonia Orch, Scimone. EMI 54620.
  
• Brahms: Rhapsodies, Op. 79. Emanuel Ax. Sony 88697-03510.
  
• Ravel: Pavane for a Dead Princess. Ocmulgee Sym, Chuck Quinn. From the orchestra's first season finale concert, April 2008 in Hawkinsville.
  
• Wagner: Prelude to Act 3 of Lohengrin. Berlin Phil, Tennstedt. EMI 86248.
  
• Raff: Duo on Themes from Wagner's Lohengrin. Livia Sohn, Benjamin Loeb. Naxos 8.570202.
  

1 PM

• Giuliani: Sonata Eroica. David Russell. Telarc 80525.
  
• Mozart: Andante from Sonata in D major, K. 448, arr. flutes and piano. Schulz, Schulz, Inui. Naxos 8.570309.
  
• Bach: Keyboard Concerto No. 7 in G minor, BWV 1058. Angela Hewitt, Australian Chamber Orch, Tognetti. Hyperion 67307.
  
• Dello Joio: Variations and Capriccio. Fritz Gearhart, Paul Tardiff. Koch 7268.
  

Midday Music Monday 9/22/08

Autumn. The first official day of fall doesn't always feel so autumnal in Georgia, but with the cool mornings we've been having this time round it's just plausible (today's projected high temperatures in the 80s notwithstanding). So on Midday Music we're harvesting, hunting, comtemplating and generally enjoying the break from the heat.

11 AM

• Gunning: Yorkshire Glory: "Autumn Festival." Royal Liverpool Phil, Handley. Resonance 3074.
  
• Tchaikovsky: The Seasons: "October" (Autumn Song). Helen Callus, Phillip Bush. ASV 1184.
  
• Glazunov: The Seasons: "Autumn." Royal Phil, Ashkenazy. London 433 000.
  
• Mozart: Flute Quartet No. 3 in C, K. 285b. Carol Wincenc, Emerson String Quartet. DG 431 770. (Not autumnal, just nice.)
  
• Delius: "Late Swallows," from String Quartet No. 1. Brodsky Quartet. Resonance 3074.

12 N

• Vivaldi: Four Seasons: "Autumn." Joshua Bell, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. Sony 88697 11013.
• Mozart, L.: Sinfonia di Caccia (Hunt). L'Orfeo Baroque Orch, Gaigg. CPO 999 536.
• Raff: Symphony No. 10, "At Autumn Time": "The People's Hunt." Philharmonia Hungarica, Albert. CPO 999 536.
• MacCunn: Highland Memories: "Harvest Dance." Royal Ballet Sinfonia, Wilson. Resonance 3074.
• Spohr: Symphony No. 9, "The Seasons": "Summer," "Fall." Bavarian Radio Sym, Rickenbacher. Orfeo 094-841.

1 PM

• Piazzolla: Otono Porteno (Autumn in Buenos Aires). Eroica Trio. Angel 57906.
  
• Thomson: Autumn, harp concertino. Ann Mason Stockton, Los Angeles Chamber Orch, Marriner. EMI 47715.
  
• Nelson: Pastorale, "Autumn Rune." Keystone Wind Ensemble, Stamp. Klavier 11168.
  
• Stevens: Seasons, symphony for brass quintet: "Autumn." Louisville Brass. Centaur 2821.
  
• Strauss: Four Last Songs. Christine Brewer, Atlanta Sym, Runnicles. Telarc 80661.

Midday Music Friday 9/19/08

Eric Nauert of WSVH is your host for today's Midday Music. (Playlist.) Alan Cooke returns next Friday.

Midday Music Thursday 9/17/08

A new occasional segment of Midday Music launches today: Opera Chat. Hear me and Renee Wilson-Wicker in conversation about opera and operas, in connection with the Metropolitan Opera's high-definition live broadcasts to theaters around the country - big-screen, real-time digital audio and video straight from the Met in New York.

The new season of those starts Monday, September 22 with a gala featuring soprano Renee Fleming in scenes from Verdi's La Traviata and more. In a new partnership, GPB Radio and Education and GMEA (the Georgia Music Educators' Association), we'll be offering tickets to music teacher/music student pairs to see the Met HD simulcasts at several theaters around Georgia.

For details, read about GPB's Metropolitan Opera Project, and listen shortly after noon for the first Opera Chat. My co-chatter, Renee Wilson-Wicker, is GMEA's choral chair and - by day - a public school chorus director in Gwinnett County.

(Week's almost over. Got plans? How about the Silk Road Ensemble tonight in Augusta, or the Macon Symphony on Saturday, or the Daedalus Quartet at Spivey Hall? Classical Calendar.)


11 AM

• Mussorgsky: Khovanshchina, Prelude (Dawn on the Moscow River). Cincinnati Sym, Jarvi. Telarc 80705.
• Franck: Symphony in D minor. Orchestre des Champs Elysees, Herreweghe. Harmonia Mundi 901771.
• Wolf: Intermezzo in E-flat. Leipzig String Quartet.

12 N

• Mozart: The Marriage of Figaro, Overture. Concerto Koln, Jacobs. Harmonia Mundi 901818.20.
• Verdi: La Traviata, Prelude to Act 1. Cincinnati Pops, Kunzel. Telarc 80364.
• Opera Chat with Ren
  
• Massenet: "Adieu, notre petit table" from Manon. Renee Fleming. Decca 289 467 049.
  
• Massenet: Manon. Excerpt. Renee Fleming.
• Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major. John O'Conor, London Sym, Delfs. Telarc 80704.
• Faure: Requiem: Pie Jesu. Branford Marsalis, Orpheus Chamber Orch. Sony 89251.
  

1 PM

• Sibelius: Finlandia. Scottish National Orch, Gibson. Chandos 241-19.
  
• Sibelius: "Intimate Voices" String Quartet. Daedalus Quartet. Bridge 9202.
  
• Sibelius: The Swan of Tuonela. Helsinki Phil, Segerstam. Ondie 862.
  

Midday Music Wednesday 9/17/08

Georgia connections: Violinist Sergiu Schwartz, who soars through Strauss in our first hour, teaches at Columbus State University (and will be featured in concerto appearances in Columbus and LaGrange later this season). The prizewinning young Daedalus Quartet opens Spivey Hall's concert season Saturday; we hear their recording of Ravel in the noon hour. And Dvorak's New World Symphony, featured after the one o'clock news, is the headline work on the Macon Symphony's upcoming concert. Here is this week's concert info, including links to festivals revving up in Augusta.

11 AM

• Satie/Debussy: Gymnopedie No. 1. Royal Phil, Entremont. Sony 47278.
  
• Lawes: Consort Set in G minor. Maxine Eilander, Les Voix Humaines. Atma 2372.
  
• Strauss: Violin Sonata in E-flat, Op. 18. Sergiu Schwartz, Alec Chien. Romeo 7263.
  

12 N

• Mendelssohn: Hebrides Overture. New Philharmonia Orch, Atzmon. EMI 81788.
• Mendelssohn: Song without Words, Op. 19/2. Bertrand Chamayou. Naive 5131.
  
• Rachmaninoff: Vespers (All-Night Vigil), beginning. Academy of Choral Art Moscow, Popov. Delos 3388.
• Ravel: String Quartet in F major. Daedalus Quartet. Bridge 9202.
• Rachmaninoff: Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom: Nos. 6, 8, 12. Prague Phil Choir, Brych. Praga 250 176.
  

1 PM

• Dvorak: Symphony No. 9, "From the New World." Oslo Phil, Jansons. Brilliant 93635.
• Telemann: Solo No. 11 in E minor, TWV 41:e6. Paul Goodwin et al. Harmonia Mundi 907152.
  

Midday Music Tuesday 9/16/08

11 AM

• Purcell: Chacony. Aradia Baroque Ensemble, Mallon. Naxos 8.554262.
• Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 8 in C major, K. 246, "Lutzow." David Greilsammer, Suedama Ensemble. Naive 5149.
• Roussel: Symphony No. 2: 2nd mvt. Royal Scottish National Orch, Deneve. Naxos 8.570529.
• Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture. Gewandhaus Orch Leipzig, Masur. Teldec 44943.

12 N

• Wieniawski: Violin Concerto No. 2 in D minor. Mark Kaplan, London Sym, Miller. Arabesque 6597.
• Haydn: String Quartet in C major, Op. 33/3, "The Bird." Kodaly Quartet. Naxos 8.550789.
• Persian traditional: Avaz-e Dashti. Silk Road Ensemble members on setar, ney and santur. Sony 89782.

1 PM

• Schubert: Symphony No. 5 in B-flat. Chamber Orch of Europe, Abbado. DG 423 654.
• Ries: Piano Sonatina in A minor, Op. 45. Susan Kagan. Naxos 8.570796.
• Saint-Saens: Havanaise. Itzhak Perlman, New York Phil, Mehta. DG 423 063.

Classical Calendar, September 18-21

Lots going on in Augusta! The multi-arts, multi-genre Westobou Festival runs September 18-28, and the Arts in the Heart Festival comes to life this weekend only, September 18-21. As one highlight of this cultural smorgasbord, the internationally acclaimed Silk Road Ensemble appears at Augusta State Thursday the 18th, with very reasonably priced tickets. Follow the festival links above for complete, extensive, colorful festival listings.

Meanwhile, Saturday at Macon's Grand Opera House, the Macon Symphony opens its new season ("a season so hot you gotta wear shades," they claim!) with Dvorak's "New World" Symphony and Wieniawski's Second Violin Concerto, featuring soloist Emil Chudnovsky.

And in Morrow, the prizewinning young Daedalus Quartet makes its Spivey Hall debut in a season-opening celebration presenting string quartets by Haydn and Janacek and the "Trout" Quintet by Schubert.

Midday Music Monday 9/15/08

Our noontime selections tie in to concerts you might like to check out: Thursday's appearance in Augusta of the innovative-traditional-multinational Silk Road Ensemble as part of the Westobou Festival; Saturday's Spivey Hall season opener in Morrow featuring the prizewinning young Daedalus String Quartet in Schubert's Trout Quintet and more; and the start of the Macon Symphony's season with a concert of Ravel, Wieniawski and Dvorak at the Grand Opera House on Saturday. Find links to details in this week's Classical Calendar.

11 AM

• Bach: Concerto in F major for harpsichord and two recorders, BWV 1057. Academy of Ancient Music Berlin. Harmonia Mundi 901876.
• Mozart: Violin Sonata in A major, K. 305. Gil Shaham, Orli Shaham. Canary CC01.
• Prokofiev: Cinderella, Suite. Scottish National Orch, Jarvi. Chandos 10484.

12 N

• Zhao: Distant Green Valley. Silk Road Ensemble. Sony 93962.
• Schubert: "Trout" Quintet. Paul Lewis, Leopold String Trio, Mitchell. Hyperion 67527.
• Ravel: Alborada del Grazioso. London Sym, Abbado. DG 427 314.

1 PM

• Lawes: Consort Set in D major. Maxine Eilander, Les Voix Humaines.
• Rachmaninoff: Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat, op. 36; Prelude in G-sharp minor, Op. 32/12. Denis Matsuev. RCA 88697155912.

Midday Music playlist for Thursday, September 11

I'm about to resume posting weekly lists of concerts. If you notice I've missed a performance GPB listeners would like to know about, please write (middaymusic@gpb.org) and point me to details. Note: Much as I'd love to provide one-stop shopping for every single classical event in Georgia, and valuable though student performances and church singalongs may be, there is a whole state to cover. Just concerts by pros, please. Thanks!

Concert-wise, it's all Beethoven at the CSO's Saturday concert; the Cobb Symphony has an all not-Beethoven program; the Valdosta Symphony plays some Beethoven and some not-Beethoven. Details are here on those concerts and others. (Today on the air, Columbus Symphony music director George del Gobbo introduces Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. Tomorrow please join Alan Cooke for Midday Music Requests.)

11 AM

• Godard: Berceuse from Jocelyn. Eroica Trio. Angel 57906.
• Dvorak: "American Quintet" (String Quintet in E-flat, Op. 97). Vlach Quartet, Kyeslak. Naxos 8.553376.
• Roussel: Suite in F (1926). Royal Scottish National Orch, Deneve. Naxos 8.570529.

12 N

• Villa-Lobos: Aria from Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5. Eroica Trio. Angel 57906.
• Kapustin: Concert Etudes, Op. 42: Raillery, Pastoral, Intermezzo. John Salmon. Naxos 8.570532.
• Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue. Anne-Marie McDermott, Dallas Sym, Justin Brown. Bridge 9252.
• Bach: Lute Suite No. 4 in E major, arr. guitar. Julian Bream. EMI 55123.

1 PM

• Rachmaninoff: Vocalise. Eroica Trio. Angel 57906.
• Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C minor. Tonhalle Orch, Zinman. Arte Nova 49695.
• Dvorak: Rusalka: Song to the Moon, arr. violin and orchestra. Joshua Bell, Orch of St. Luke's, Stern. Sony 97779.
  

Midday Music playlist for Wednesday, September 10

11 AM

• Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor. Lang Lang, Vienna Phil, Mehta. DG 289 477 79841.
• Albeniz: Cordoba. Xuefei Yang, guitar. EMI 06322.
• Daugherty: Metropolis Symphony: Red Cape Tango. Baltimore Sym, Zinman. Argo 452 103.

12 N

• Beethoven: Fidelio Overture. Scottish Chamber Orch, Mackerras. Telarc 80439-A.
  
• Beethoven: "Eroica" Symphony (No. 3 in E-flat). Helsingborg Sym, Manze. Harmonia Mundi 907370.
  

1 PM

• Tuma: Sonata a tre in A minor. Concerto Italiano, Alessandrini. Naive 30436.
  
• Mozart: Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor, K. 478. Mann, Hillyer, Adam, Bernstein. Sony 60598.
  
• Schmitt: Symphony in D. New Dutch Academy Chamber Orch, Murphy. PentaTone 039.
  

Midday Music playlist for Tuesday, September 9

Today's musical newcomer is William Perry's Jamestown Concerto from 2006, written to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the first permanent English colony in Virginia. The solo cello acts as the narrator, introducing each section of the story (London 1606 - The Virginia Company; Settlements Along the River; The Long Winters; Pocahontas in London; and Jamestown - Four Hundred Years On). William Perry has had a long and successful career writing music for films and television, and you get some of that cinematic feeling from this concerto.

For details on live classical music around Georgia this week - orchestral concerts in Columbus, Valdosta and Kennesaw and the Eroica Trio's appearances in Dahlonega, Lookout Mountain and Columbus - please see Monday's post.

11 AM

• Beethoven: Oboe Concerto: Largo (reconstr. ). Bart Schneeman, Radio Chamber Orch Netherlands, de Vriend. Channel 21404.
  
• Wagner: Rienzi Overture. Berlin Phil, Tennstedt. EMI 86248.
  
• Gershwin: Cuban Overture, arr. piano duo. Piano Duo Genova and Dimitrov. CPO 777 039.
  
• Mozart: "Haffner" Symphony (No. 35 in D). English Baroque Soloists, Gardiner. Philips 422 419.
  

12 N

• Milhaud: Scaramouche. Theodore Kerkezos, Philharmonia Orch, Brabbins. Naxos 8.557063.
  
• Perry: Jamestown Concerto for Cello and Orchestra. Yehuda Hanani, RTE National Sym, Eddins. Naxos 9.559344.
  
• Quantz: Trio Sonata in C minor, on flute, oboe and guitar. Kuskin, Bender, Kessler. Boston Skyline 110.
  
• Prokofiev: Fountain Scene and Polonaise from Boris Godunov. Scottish National Orch, Jarvi. Chandos 10484 X.
  

1 PM

• Victoria: Vexilla Regis. The Sixteen, Christophers. Coro 16021.
  
• Beethoven: Triple Concerto for Piano, Violin and Cello. Eroica Trio, Prague Chamber Orch. Angel/EMI 62655.
  

Midday Music playlist for Monday, September 8

Midday Music's noontime selections tie into these upcoming concerts:

• The Valdosta Symphony is trying out potential new music directors this season. First up is Howard Hsu, who leads the orchestra in Bartok's Rumanian Folk Dances, Milhaud's Percussion Concerto (with Paul Campiglia as soloist) and Beethoven's Eroica Symphony. Valdosta; Saturday, September 13.


• Joining the Cobb Symphony, Russian pianist Alexander Ghindin (first prize winner, Cleveland International Piano Competition) performs Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. Also on the program: The Planets by Gustav Holst. Kennesaw; September 13-14.


• The Columbus Symphony plays an all-Beethoven program including the Fifth Symphony and, with the Eroica Trio as guests, the Triple Concerto. Columbus; Saturday, September 13.

• Note that the Eroica Trio also appears in Dahlonega this Thursday, September 11 (a free concert at Northern Georgia College and State University's student center auditorium) and on Friday the 12th in Lookout Mountain (at Covenant College, again free).

And here's today's playlist.

11 AM

• Tuma: Sonata a quattro in A minor. Concerto Italiano. Naive 30436.
• Saint-Saens: Oboe Sonata. Ensemble Villa Musica. MDG 304 0395.
• Lawes: Consort Set in G major. Maxine Eilander, Les Voix Humaines. Atma 2372.
• Dvorak: Violin Sonata in F major. Gil Shaham, Orli Shaham. DG 449 820.

12 N

• Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. Peter Jablonski, Royal Phil, Ashkenazy. London 436 239.
• Bartok: Rumanian Folk Dances. Quebec Sym, Talmi. Analekta 3156.
• Beethoven: Piano Trio in B-flat, Op. 11, "Gassenhauer." Eroica Trio. Angel 62655.

1 PM

• Haydn: Symphony No. 70 in D major. Nicolaus Esterhazy Sinfonia, Drahos. Naxos 8.550780.
• Gershwin/Grainger: Porgy and Bess Fantasy. Piano Duo Genova and Dimitrov. CPO 77 039.
• Warlock: Capriol Suite. Royal Phil, Wordsworth. Intersound 2882.

Midday Music playlist for Friday, September 5

...will be found at augustamiddaymusic.blogspot.com, where Alan Cooke posts details of his Requests Fridays. The request line is 877-RADIO-GA.

Midday Music playlist for Thursday, September 4

Three big new releases from three big names: pianist Simone Dinnerstein, violinist Joshua Bell and pianist Lang Lang. Enjoy!

11 AM

"The Berlin Concert" is the second recording by American pianist Simone Dinnerstein, and it's being as received as enthusiastically as her first, career-launching recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations was last year.

In this live performance in November 2007, Simone Dinnerstein ("Simona Dinnersteen") plays Bach, Lasser and Beethoven to an enthusiastic crowd at the Berlin Philharmonie. It's available from Telarc as a disc or a download.

• Bach: French Suite No. 5 in G major, BWV 816.
• Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111.
• Bach: Goldberg Variation No. 13 (as an encore).

12 N

Joshua Bell is among the world's most popular violinists, and Vivaldi's Four Seasons are among the world's most popular violin concertos. At last, he and they meet.

Josh Bell is backed by the English chamber orchestra the Academy of Ancient Music. As a bonus, Bell throws in the devilishly tricky "Devil's Trill" Sonata by Giuseppe Tartini. All just out this week from Sony BMG.

We hear the entire album this noon hour.

• Vivaldi: The Four Seasons, violin concertos, Op. 8, Nos. 1-4 (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter).
• Tartini: Violin Sonata in G minor The Devil's Trill

1 PM

Did you watch the opening ceremony of the Olympics in Beijing? Recall a musical number with throngs of green lightbulb-clad dancers gyrating around a grand piano? Well, the young man playing that piano was twenty-something international Chinese-born superstar pianist Lang Lang.

Lang Lang's latest recording is of pieces well suited to his Romantic, impassioned style: the two gorgeous piano concertos by Chopin. With him are conductor Zubin Mehta and the Vienna Philharmonic. The recording officially comes out next Tuesday from Deutsche Grammophon in disc or download form. We'll hear one today and catch the other next week.

• Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21.

Midday Music playlist for Wednesday, September 3

11 AM

• Beethoven: Romance No. 1 in G major. Itzhak Perlman, Berlin Phil, Barenboim. EMI 49657.
• Cramer: Variations on "Ein Maedchen oder Weibchen" from Mozart's Magic Flute. Malcolm Bilson. Bridge 9263.
• Mendelssohn: "Italian" Symphony (No. 4 in A major). Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Mackerras. Virgin 61183.
• Sarasate: Carmen Fantasy. Gil Shaham, Berlin Phil, Abbado. DG 289 457 583.

12 N

• Telemann: Recorder Concerto in C major. Peter Holtslag, Parley of Instruments, Holman. Hyperion 66413.
  
• Debussy: Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun. London Sym, Thomas. Sony 48231.
  
• Reicha: Oboe Quintet in F major, Op. 107. Sarah Francis, Allegri String Quartet.
  
• Copland: Hoe-Down from Rodeo. Detroit Sym, Dorati. Decca 466 909.
  

1 PM

• Glass, L.: Piano Quintet in C major. Christina Bjorkoe, Copenhagen Classic. CPO 777 062.
• Wagner: Forest Murmurs, from Siegfried. Met Orch, Levine. DG 447 764.
  

Midday Music playlist for Tuesday, September 2

The summer drought of concerts is ending. First into the water for 2008-2009 is the Albany Symphony. Led by music director Claire Fox Hillard, the orchestra plunges in with Made in America. The program includes Joan Tower's piece by that name, Philip Glass's double timpani concerto (featuring principal timpanists of the Atlanta and Macon symphonies, Mark Yancich and David Morris), Copland's Rodeo and the premiere of Evening Scenes by Albany Symphony member Scott Young. Albany's ASO is in concert 8 p.m. Saturday, September 6 at Albany Municipal Auditorium. Info: (229) 317-6799; Albany Symphony.

11 AM

• Prokofiev: The Stone Flower, Suite. Scottish National Orch, Jarvi. Chandos 10481.
• Gabrieli: Jubilate Deo. Canadian Brass. Opening Day 7347.
• Breton: Four Spanish Pieces. LOM Piano Trio. Naxos 8.570713.

12 N

• Lawes: Consort Set in D minor. Maxine Eilander, Les Voix Humaines. Atma 2372.
• Beethoven: "Pastorale" Piano Sonata (No. 15 in D major, Op. 28). Claudio Arrau. Philips 426 256.
• Tower: Made in America. Nashville Sym, Slatkin. Naos 8.559328.
• Purcell: Trumpet Sonata, Z. 850: Allegro. Aradia Baroque Ensemble, Mallon. Naxos 8.554262.
  

1 PM

• Bolling: Jazz Suite No. 1 for Flute and Jazz Piano. Baroque and Blue. Profil 08021.
• Sainz de la Maza: Zapateado; Rondena. David Russell. Telarc 80633.
  
• Beriot: Violin Concerto No. 5 in D major. Philippe Quint, Slovak Radio Sym, Trevor. Naxos 8.570360.

Midday Music playlist for Monday, September 1

11 AM

• Mascagni: Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana. I Salonisti. DHM 77377.
• Ries: Piano Sonata in F minor, Op. 11/2. Susan Kagan. Naxos 8.570796.
• Lawes: Duo for Guitar and Harp. Maxine Eilander, Stephen STubbs. Atma 2372.
• Saint-Saens: Piano Concerto No. 5. Stephen Hough, City of Birmingham Sym, Oramo. Hyperion 67331/2.

12 N

• Pachelbel: Canon and Gigue in D major. Tafelmusik, Lamon. Reference 2101.
• Rubinstein: Melody in F major. Bernard Gregor-Smith, Yolande Wrigley. ASV 2103.
• Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 6 in B-flat, K. 238. David Greilsammer, Suedama Ensemble. Naive 5149.
  
• Dvorak: Humoresque, Op. 101/7 (arr. Waxman). Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, Leslie Stifelman. Nonesuch 79464.
  
• Copland: Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes. Atlanta Sym, Lane. Telarc 80606.
  

1 PM

• Tchaikovsky: Piano Trio in A minor, Op. 50. Yefim Bronfman, Gil Shaham, Truls Mork. Canary CC05.