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.