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.