Wednesday, December 23

GPB's Midday Music today serves up secular meat-and-potatoes classical staples with garnishes and sides of Christmas tunes.

On Thursday and Friday, GPB brings you special Christmas programs in lieu of Midday Music. Next week, December 28-31, please join my Savannah co-hosts Eric Nauert and Russell Wells as they host Midday Music statewide (their playlists live here). Friday, January 1 we bring you waltzes and more on New Year's Day from Vienna.

Here's a list of all our holiday programming on GPB Radio and GPB TV. I'll be back January 4. Till then, happy holidays, merry Christmas and a wonderful 2010 to you and yours!

- Sarah

11 AM

• Respighi: The Pines of Rome. Berlin Phil, Karajan. DG 449 724.
• Brooks/Schwab: O Little Town of Bethlehem. Jacqueline Schwab. Dorian 90275.
• Bruch: Scottish Fantasy. Arthur Grumiaux, New Philharmonia Orch, Wallberg. PentaTone 5186 117.

12 N

• Pierpoint/Coleman: Jingle Bells. Imani Winds. Koch 7748.
• Mozart: Divertimento in D, K. 136. Freiburg Baroque Orch. Harmonia Mundi 901809.
• Praetorius/Summer: Variations on "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming." Mark Summer (Turtle Island String Quartet). Windham Hill 01934 11175.
• Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier, Suite. Houston Sym, Eschenbach. RCA 82876-59408.
• Traditional spiritual/Coleman: Go Tell It on the Mountain. Imani Winds. Koch 7748.

1 PM

• Traditional English/Scott: I Saw Three Ships. Imani Winds. Koch 7748.
• Bach: Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major. Boston Baroque, Pearlman. Telarc 80619.
• Schumann: Concert Piece (Konzertstuck) for Four Horns and Orchestra. Philharmonia Orch, Thielemann. DG 453 482.
• Bach/Gounod: Ave Maria. Vinson Cole, Patrick Stephens. Delos 3138.
• Martin/Coleman: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. Imani Winds. Koch 7748.

Tuesday, December 22

11 AM

• Tchaikovsky: "Winter Dreams," Symphony No. 1. Chicago Sym, Abbado. Sony 48056.
• Humperdinck: Hansel and Gretel: Sandman, Evening Prayer, Dream Pantomime. Montague, Larmore, Evans, Philharmonia Orch, Mackerras. Chandos 3143.

12 N

• Scheidt: In Dulci Jubilo. Canadian Brass, Moody.
• Vivaldi: Concerto in E major, "Rest - for the night of Christmas," RV 270. Collegium Musicum 90, Standage. Chandos 0754.
• Rachmaninoff: The Rock, fantasy, for two pianos. Yukie Nagai, Dag Achatz. BIS 746.
• Ewazen: Symphony for Percussion (2008). TCU Percussion Ensemble, West. Albany 1159.
• Berkey: The Good King [Wenceslas] & Greensleeves for harpsichord and harp. Jackson Berkey, Kathy Bundock Moore. SDG [Omaha] 011.

1 PM

• Mozart: Adagio for Glass Armonica, K. 356/617a. Thomas Bloch. Naxos 8.555295.
• Schumann: Kinderszenen (Scenes from Childhood). Martha Argerich. EMI 50999 6 93399.
• Mozart: Symphony No. 34 in C major. Academy of Ancient Music, Hogwood. L'Oiseau-Lyre 411 658.

Monday, December 21

11 AM

• Tyson: A Ceiling Full of Stars. TCU Percussion Ensemble, West. Albany 1159.
• Mahler: Symphony No. 3: 4th and 5th movements. Chicago Sym Orch, Michelle DeYoung, Women of the Chicago Sym Chorus, Chicago Children's Choir, Haitink. CSO Resound 901 701.
• Salzedo: Chanson dans la nuit; Rumba. Yolanda Kondonassis. Telarc 80691.
• Strauss: Wine, Women and Songs Waltzes. Cincinnati Pops, Kunzel. Telarc 80314.

12 N

• Humperdinck: Hansel and Gretel, Overture. Philharmonia Orch, Mackerras. Chandos 3143.
• Schumann: Piano Quintet in E-flat, Op. 44. Marc-Andre Hamelin, Takacs Quartet. Hyperion 67631.
• Ravel/Grainger: Valley of the Bells. Netherlands Phil, Kreizberg. PentaTone 5186 058.
• Berlin: Puttin' On the Ritz; They Say It's Wonderful; White Christmas. Chestnut Brass Company. Naxos 8.559123.

1 PM

• Surrick: Solstice Lament; Richards: Welcome to Winter. Ensemble Galilei. Dorian 80139.
• Harrison: Solstice, excerpts. California Sym, Jekowsky. Argo 455 590.
• Bach: Allein Gott in der Hoeh sei Ehr, BWV 711. Matthew Dirst. Centaur 3015.
• Bach: Cantata No. 121, "Christum wir sollen loben schon." Collegium Vocale Gent, Herreweghe. Harmonia Mundi 901781.82.

Thursday-Friday, December 17-18

Thursday and Friday's shows are hosted by Eric Nauert this week, from our Savannah station WSVH. See WSVH's December playlists for details.

For Georgia performance links, see this blog's current calendar posting.

Wednesday, December 16

11 AM

• Praetorius, H.: Three motets (Ecce Dominus veniet; Hodie Christus natus est; Ab oriente venerunt Magi). Weser-Renaissance Bremen, Cordes. CPO 777 245.
• Gounod: Symphony No. 2 in E-flat. Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Marriner. Philips 289 462 125.
• Manfredini: Christmas Concerto (Concerto Grosso Op. 3/12, "Pastorale per il Santissimo Natale"). Collegium Musicum 90, Standage. Chandos 0754.

12 N

• Vierne: Rhapsody for harp, Op. 25. Pascale Zanlonghi. Timpani 2C2019.
• Handel: Messiah: Part 3. Polyphony, Britten Sinfonia, Doyle, Davies, Clayton, Foster-Williams, Layton. Hyperion 67800.
• Schubert: Rondo in A, D. 951, "Grand Rondeau," for piano four hands. Martha Argerich, Nelson Freire.

1 PM

• Meyer & Thile: Look Away. Joshua Bell, Edgar Meyer, Chris Thile. Sony 88697 52716.
• Alfven: Symphony No. 3 in E major. Stockholm Phil, Jarvi. BIS 455.
• Blane & Martin/Farber quasi Mozart: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. Orch, Juutilainen. Warren Schatz WS-5.

Tuesday, December 15

11 AM

• Traditional: Coventry Carol. Michael O'Neal Singers. Independent recording, mosingers.com.
• Bach: Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1: Preludes and Fugues Nos. 1-3. Maurizio Pollini. DG 13637.
• Mozart: Clarinet Quintet in A major, K. 581. Dieter Kloecker, Consortium Classicum. CPO 999 802.
• Sierra: Sinfonia No. 3, "La Salsa": Joglorio. Frost Sym, Sleeper. Albany 942.

12 N

• Handel: Messiah: Part 2. Polyphony, Britten Sinfonia, Doyle, Davies, Clayton, Foster-Williams, Layton. Hyperion 67800.

1 PM

• Shankar, R.: Variant Moods, duet for sitar and violin, abridged version. Joshua Bell, Anoushka Shankar, Samir Chatterjee, Kenji Ota. Sony 88697 52716.
• Fields: Sages of Chelm: Simchas... Houston Sinfonia, Rachleff. Centaur 2699.
• Brahms: Variations on a Theme by Haydn (Chorale of St. Anthony) for two pianos, Op. 56b. Martha Argerich, Nelson Freire. DG 289 477 8570.
• Brubeck/Cohen: Take Five. Quartet San Francisco. ViolinJazz JCCD 1006.

Monday, December 14

On Midday Music today we've got a couple of more fresh Grammy nominees: pianist Yuja Wang (solo performance category) and violinist Daniel Hope with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe (best small ensemble category). For the season we'll also break out a new recording of Handel's Messiah with the chorus Polyphony (part 1 today; part 2 tomorrow) and hear Mendelssohn's all-season musical statement of faith, his Fifth Symphony, "Reformation."

Details on some of this week's concerts and shows around Georgia are below. I hope you find time in your busy December to enjoy the performing arts live as well as on GPB.

11 AM

• Tavener: O Thou Gentle Light. Choir of Clare College Cambridge, Brown. Naxos 8.572168.
• Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 5, "Reformation." Vienna Phil, Gardiner. DG 289 459 156.
• Scriabin: Piano Sonata No. 2 (Sonata-Fantasy) in G-sharp minor, Op. 19. Yuja Wang. DG 12534.
• Traditional/Scott: Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella. Imani Winds. Koch 7748.

12 N

• Handel: Messiah, Part 1. Polyphony, Britten Sinfonia, Doyle, Davies, Clayton, Foster-Williams, Layton. Hyperion 67800.
• Gastoldi: Balleti (1591): A lieta vita. Baltimore Consort. Dorian 90801.

1 PM

• Vivaldi: Sonata in D minor for two violins, "La Follia," Op. 1/12, RV 63. Daniel Hope, Chamber Orch Europe. DG 289 477 7463.
• Rachmaninoff: Variations on a Theme of Corelli (La Folia), Op. 42. Alexander Romanovsky. Decca 476 3334.
• Corelli: "Christmas Concerto," Concerto Grosso Op. 6/8 in G minor. L'Arte del Mondo, Ehrhardt. Phoenix Edition 149.
• Eybler: Omnes de Saba venient. WDR Radio Chorus & Orch, Lenneke Ruiten, Froschauer. Phoenix Edition 112.

Concert Calendar, December 14-23

Monday, December 14

• The Augusta Museum of History hosts the Augusta Collegium Musicum in the Thirteenth Annual Concert of Holiday Music at 7:30 in the Museum’s Rotunda. Twenty singers offer Christmas music from the 13th-16th centuries as well as modern day carols and “A Simple Alleluia” by Kenton Coe. Limited seating; always sells out.

Ongoing shows

• Through December 23: The Springer Opera House, Columbus, presents community favorite A Tuna Christmas.
• Through December 23: Amahl and the Night Visitors. Gian Carlo Menotti’s work captures the life of a crippled child and his impoverished mother, and one evening when traveling magi from the East seek rest with them. Balzer Theatre at Herren’s, Atlanta.
• Through December 27: The Atlanta Ballet's Nutcracker. Fox Theatre, Atlanta. Three weeks only. Live orchestra opening week only.

Friday, December 18

• A Christmas Carol. The Grand Opera House, Macon.
• The Amelia Piano Trio, proteges of the late great violinist Isaac Stern and winners of an ASCAP programming award, performs trios by Shostakovich (No. 1 in C minor), Beethoven (Op. 1/3 in C minor) and Chopin (G minor, Op. 8). Presented at the Maxwell Theatre, Augusta State University, by the Harry Jacobs Chamber Music Society.
• A Very Merry Holiday Pops! Atlanta Symphony Orchestra; Michael Krajewski, conductor; Lassiter High School and Walton High School Choruses. Repeats Saturday the 19th.

Sunday-Monday, December 20-21

• A Cantus Christmas 2009 - 10th Anniversary Celebration Concert: Message of the Season—Music of the Masters. This local professional chorus now offers its annual program not once but twice, this time with a larger chorus, a 40 piece orchestra, and soprano soloist Christina Howell.The Christmas story is told through classical music and audience carols without narration or applause. This year’s performance features brief works by Bach, Mozart, Brahms, Beethoven, Handel, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky, Schumann, Haydn, Rachmaninoff, Vaughan Williams, Britten, Fauré, Wolf, Berlioz, Respighi, Bizet, Schütz, Lasso, Byrd and others. The audience will join in in four well-known carols. 7:30 each evening, RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, Legacy Hall, Columbus.

Thursday, December 10

11 AM

• The First Song of Isaiah; Gaudete. Choirs of St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church of Atlanta, Brad Hughley, John Whitt. Independent recording.
• Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker, excerpts (including but not limited to the Nutcracker Suite). Royal Concertgebouw Orch Amsterdam, Dorati. Philips 425 177.
• Bach: In Dulci Jubilo, BWV 608; Pettman: Carol of Adoration. Choirs of St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, Atlanta, Brad Hughley, John Whitt. Independent recording.
• Playford: All in a Garden Green. Baltimore Consort. Dorian 90801.

12 N

• Beethoven: Symphony No. 8 in F major. Royal Flemish Orch, Herreweghe. PentaTone 5186 316.
• Liszt: Les Bergers a la mangeoire (The Shepherds in the Manger). Philip Amalong/Conundrum. Conundrum Music.
• Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E minor. Robert McDuffie, Scottish Chambrer Orch, Swensen. Telarc 80507.

1 PM

• Powell: Peace, Peace. Atlanta Feminist Women's Chorus. AFWC 001.
• Bach: Partita No. 3 in A minor, BWV 827. Cedric Tiberghien. Harmonia Mundi 901869.
• Susato: The Danserye. University of Texas Wind Ensemble, Junkin. Reference 104.
• Forbes: The Gowans Are Gay; Skene manuscript: Adew Dundee. Baltimore Consort. Dorian 90801.

Wednesday, December 9

A couple of tidbits on today's rep:

• The orchestral Handel that opens the program includes a reworked chorus from Messiah.
• Mendelssohn wrote his Magnificat inspired by similar works by J.S. and C.P.E. Bach... the year he turned 13.
• Georgia's own Columbus State University Wind Ensemble plays Brooklyn Bridge after the 1:00 news, from their new CD Synergy, with conductor Robert Rumbelow and visiting clarinetist John Bruce Yeh.

11 AM

• Handel: Concerto a Due Cori No. 2 in F major for two wind ensembles and strings. Tafelmusik, Lamon. Sony 63073.
• Ysaye: String Trio (1927), "Le Chimay." Henning Kraggerud, Bard Monsen, Lars Anders Tomter. Naxos 8.570977.
• Mozart: Horn Concerto No. 4 in E-flat, K. 495. David Jolley, Orpheus Chamber Orch. DG 423 377.
• Tavener: A Nativity (1985). Choir of Clare College Cambridge, Brown. Naxos 8.572168.

12 N

• Kreisler: Syncopation; Gypsy Caprice. Caroline Goulding, Christopher O'Riley. Telarc 80744.
• Mendelssohn: Magnificat in D major. Yale Schola Cantorum, Yale Voxtet, Yale Collegium Players, Carrington. Naxos 8.572161.
• Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 3 in E-flat, Op. 75. Jerome Lowenthal, London Sym, Cimmisiona. Bridge 9301A/B.
• Shayne-Regney/Farber: [What if Mozart wrote] Do You Hear What I Hear. Orchestra, Juutilainen. WS-5.

1 PM

• Daugherty: Brooklyn Bridge for clarinet and symphony band. John Bruce Yeh, Columbus State University Wind Ensemble [!], Rumbelow. Naxos 8.572319.
• Dubra: Our Lord's Nativity (sung in Latvian). New York Latvian Concert Choir, New Chamber Orch of Riga, Jansons. Albany 1040.

Tuesday, December 8

11 AM

• Beethoven: Seven Variations on "Bei Mannern, welche Liebe fuhlen" from Mozart's Magic Flute, WoO 46. Zuill Bailey, Simone Dinnerstein. Telarc 80740.
• Haydn: String Quartet in G major, Op. 17/5. Smithson String Quartet. Dorian 90905.
• Barber: Violin Concerto, Op. 14. Andres Cardenes, Sinfonia Varsovia, Hobson. Albany 1148.

12 N - New Grammy nominees for best solo performance with orchestra:

• Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C major. Evgeny Kissin, Philharmonia Orch, Ashkenazy. EMI 64536.
• Bermel: Voices for solo clarinet and orchestra (1997): mvts 2-3 (She Moves through the Fair; Jamm on Toast). Derek Bermel, Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Rose. BMOP 1008.
• Salonen: Piano Concerto: finale. Yefim Bronfman, Los Angeles Phil, Salonen. DG 477 8103
• Traditional/Brubeck/Cohen: What Child Is This? Quartet San Francisco. ViolinJazz JCCD 106 (QSF Plays Brubeck, Grammy nominee for best classical crossover and best engineered classical).

1 PM

• Warlock: Three Carols. City of London Choir, Bournemouth Sym, Wetton. Naxos 8.572102.
• Wagenaar: Frithiof's Sea Voyage, symphonic poem, Op. 5. Northwest German Phil, Hermus. CPO 777 479.
• Hartmann, J.P.E.: Piano Sonata in D minor, Op. 34. Nina Gade. Dacapo 8.226103-04.

Monday, December 7

Fresh Grammy nominations are out, and high on the list of classical honorees isJames Levine leading the Boston Symphony in the complete Daphnis and Chloe. The rapturous, incandescently orchestrated music by Maurice Ravel depicts the awakening love between two young people in bucolic ancient Greece. (Spicing up the plot is an abduction by pirates!) Levine's live rendition on the BSO's own label has racked up nominations for best classical album, best orchestral performance and best engineered classical recording. It fills the first hour of GPB's Midday Music.

11 AM

• Ravel: Daphnis and Chloe, complete ballet. Boston Sym Orch, Tanglewood Festival Chorus, Levine. BSO Classics 0801.

12 N

• Shostakovich: Festive Overture. Simon Bolivar Youth Orch of Venezuela, Dudamel. DG.
• Bach: Cantata No. 191, "Gloria in Excelsis Deo." Bach Choir of Bethlehem, Bach Festival Orch, soloists, Funfgeld. Analekta 9873.
• Alwyn: Overture to a Masque. Royal Liverpool Phil, Lloyd-Jones. Naxos 8.570704.
• Rachmaninoff: Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 36. Nareh Arghamanyan. Analekta 8762.

1 PM

• Wagenaar: The Taming of the Shrew, overture after Shakespeare's play. Northwest German Phil, Hermus. CPO 777 479.
• Neusidler: Two lute pieces (Der Dorisanen Dantz mit Hupffauff; Nun lob mein Seel den Herren, Psalm 103). Paul O'Dette. Harmonia Mundi 907388.
• Dvorak: Symphony No. 8 in G major, Op. 88. Oslo Phil Orch, Jansons. Brilliant 93635.

Concert Calendar, December 2009

Midday Music's events list for December. You probably know of additional holiday concerts at schools and places of worship near you; here we just hit some highlights, in as close to chronological order as possible. Hope you find some great events in your neck of the woods. Further links and details to be added shortly.

December 3-5

• Madrigal Dinners, as presented annually by the music department of Covenant College, Lookout Mountain. The madrigal dinner was a 16th century pre-Christmas celebration and feast given by the wealthy for their court and friends.

At Symphony Hall, Atlanta this weekend:

• December 3 & 5: Handel’s Messiah. Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chamber Chorus; Norman MacKenzie, conductor
• December 4 & 5: ASO Gospel Christmas. Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Gospel Choir; Chelsea Tipton II, conductor.

Friday, December 4

• Macon State College Chamber Singers present "Gloria," featuring Vivaldi and Rutter at 7:30 p.m., Riverside United Methodist Church, Macon. Guests: the Colony IV Brass, soprano Melanie Cross-Buckner and mezzo-soprano Michelle DeBruyn. Free. 478.471.5773.

December 4-5

• A Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols featuring the Mercer Singers, with University organist Robert Parris, conducted by Stanley Roberts. 7:30 p.m., Newton Chapel, Mercer University, Macon. 478.301.5751.

December 4-6

• winterfest2009— a Visual & Performing Arts Festival at RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, Columbus. Paintings, pottery, jewelry, woodwork and more. Free admission to the Visual Arts Festival. Artists’ booths will be featured on the orchestra and mezzanine levels of RiverCenter’s lobby with student art on the balcony level. In addition, two ticketed events will be held in the Bill Heard Theatre: Béla Fleck & The Flecktones, “The Holiday Tour,” Friday, December 4, and pianist Jim Brickman, “Beautiful World Christmas,” Saturday, December 5.

December 4 & 6

• Aiken Choral Society’s 2009 Winter Concert. Friday at 7:30, Sunday at 3:00, Cornerstone Baptist Church, Aiken, SC. Vivaldi's Gloria, sacred and secular carols and a surprise guest performance. Directed by Maureen Simpson.

Ongoing shows

• December 4-20: Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. Atlanta Lyric Theatre, Atlanta.
• December 4-23: Peter Pan. Springer Opera House, Columbus.

Saturday, December 5

• Feaste of Caroles. Rome Symphony Orchestra, Shorter College Chorale & Chorus. Handel’s “Messiah” (Christmas portion), Corelli’s Christmas Concerto, Vaughan Williams’ Greensleeves. Rome City Auditorium, 7:30.
• Valdosta Symphony with soprano Tamara Hardesty and conductor Howard Hsu at Valdosta State University’s Whitehead Auditorium. “The Human Voice”: Mozart Exsultate Jubilate, Mahler Symphony No. 4.
• Organist Joyce Jones from Baylor University plays Widor, Vivaldi, Bach, Franck, Dupre, Langlais, Wright and more, including seasonal music. Joyce Jones is professor of organ at BaylorUniversity. Spivey Hall, Clayton State University, Morrow.

December 5-6

• Gala Holiday Concert presented by the Georgia State University School of Music. http://www.rialtocenter.org. Featuring the Georgia State University Symphony Orchestra, Choruses and Jazz Band, as well as community ensembles, performing traditional holiday favorites and music with an international twist. Ellington, Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Janowski, Handel and Holst, a world premiere by Nickitas Demos, a Hebrew song of peace, Handel’s “Hallelujah” Chorus and an audience sing-along. Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 3 p.m., Rialto Center, Atlanta. Free parking.

Sunday, December 6

• The Christmas Story as done by the Waverly Consort: The Christmas Story. A presentation of seasonal music originally performed in the cathedrals of Europe during the Middle Ages. In the spirit and pageantry of medieval church dramas and mystery plays, the Waverly Consort recounts the events of Christmas in a celebration of ritual drama and song. UGA Performing Arts Center, Athens.
• In the Macon area, a mother-daughter piano concert with Margery McDuffie Whatley and Susan McDuffie. 5 p.m., Vineville United Methodist Church. Free.

This week at Symphony Hall, Atlanta:

• December 6 & 13: ASO Kids’ Christmas. Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra; JereFlint, conductor; Lee Harper Dancers.
• December 10-12: Christmas with the ASO. Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus;Morehouse College Glee Club; Gwinnett Young Singers. Norman MacKenzie, conductor.

Monday, December 7

• The Macon Concert Association presents mezzo-soprano Magdalena Wor in concert, 7:30 p.m., Wesleyan College's Burden Parlor, Olive Swann Porter Building.

Tuesday, December 8

• Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols. Sacred Heart Cultural Center, Augusta.
• The Shoemaker and the Christmas Elves. Falany Performing Arts Center, Reinhardt College, Waleska.
• Tuesday's Music Live presents the University of Georgia Accidentals in two free concerts: 11 a.m. and 12 noon. Lunches are sold out. Saint Paul's Church, Augusta.

December 9-13

• The Nutcracker Ballet presented by Nutcracker of Middle Georgia at the Grand Opera House, Macon. 7:30 p.m. & 2:30 p.m. 478.301.5470.

Thursday, December 10

• A Very CSO Christmas. Columbus Symphony Orchestra. George Del Gobbo, conductor. 6:30 Santa arrives, 7:30 concert begins. Bill Heard Theatre, RiverCenter, Columbus.
• Christmas with the LSO. LaGrange Symphony Orchestra, with guests the LaGrange College Women’s Chorus and the Long Cane Middle School Chorus. Patricio Cobos will lead the orchestra in a mix of secular and spiritual selections, including Anderson, Rutter and others. 7:30, Callaway Auditorium, LaGrange College, LaGrange.

Friday, December 11

• Home for the Holidays, a Symphony Orchestra Augusta pops concert. Holiday and Broadway favorites with Broadway stars Jan Horvath and Dough LaBrecque, the Augusta Children's Choral, the ASU Home for the Holidays Chorus and Maestro Z Kuwahara. Bell Auditorium, Augusta, 7:30.
• Golden Bells of Atlanta. Falany Performing Arts Center, Reinhardt College, Waleska.

This weekend at Spivey Hall, Clayton State University, Morrow:

• December 11: Spivey Hall Young Artists, Spivey Hall Children’s Choir
• December 12-13: Spivey Hall Children’s Choir, Spivey Hall Tour Choir
• December 12: Big Band Christmas with Joe Gransden & Jazz Orchestra Atlanta
• December 13: The Atlanta Singers

December 11-12

• 17th Annual Atlanta Celtic Christmas Concert, James Flannery, host. Banjo virtuoso Alison Brown, Appalachian hipsters Leah and Chloe Smith (R.I.S.E.), string player and percussionist Joe Craven, and Irish classical pianist J. J. Sheridan. Saturday 8:00, Sunday 2:30. Schwartz Center, Emory University, Atlanta.

Ongoing shows

• December 10-23: The Springer Opera House, Columbus, presents community favorite A Tuna Christmas.
• December 11-27: The Atlanta Ballet's Nutcracker. Fox Theatre, Atlanta. Three weeks only. Live orchestra opening week only.
• December 13-23: Amahl and the Night Visitors. Gian Carlo Menotti’s haunting and vivid musical work captures the humble life of a crippled child and his impoverished mother, and one mesmerizing evening when traveling magi from the East mysteriously seek rest with them. Balzer Theatre at Herren’s, Atlanta.

Saturday, December 12

• Handel’s Messiah. Along with the Augusta Choral Society will be soloists Melanie Larsen, Brittnee Siemon, John Daniecki and Bryan Franklin; the Augusta Choral Society Orchestra; organist Keith Shafer; and artistic director and conductor, Dr. J. Porter Stokes. 706-826-4713. 7:30 p.m., Saint Paul's Church, downtown Augusta.
• Ocmulgee Symphony Orchestra.

Sunday, December 13

• Albany State University Community “Messiah” Sing, featuring area soloists and members of the Albany Symphony. 4 p.m., ACAD Auditorium, ASU campus, Albany. Free.

Monday, December 14

• The Augusta Museum of History hosts the Augusta Collegium Musicum in the Thirteenth Annual Concert of Holiday Music at 7:30 in the Museum’s Rotunda. Twenty singers offer Christmas music from the 13th-16th centuries as well as modern day carols and “A Simple Alleluia” by Kenton Coe. Limited seating; always sells out.

Friday, December 18

• A Christmas Carol. The Grand Opera House, Macon.
• The Amelia Piano Trio, proteges of the late great violinist Isaac Stern and winners of an ASCAP programming award, performs trios by Shostakovich (No. 1 in C minor), Beethoven (Op. 1/3 in C minor) and Chopin (G minor, Op. 8). Presented at the Maxwell Theatre, Augusta State University, by the Harry Jacobs Chamber Music Society.

December 18 & 19

• A Very Merry Holiday Pops! Atlanta Symphony Orchestra; Michael Krajewski, conductor; Lassiter High School and Walton High School Choruses.

December 20-21

• A Cantus Christmas 2009 - 10th Anniversary Celebration Concert: Message of the Season—Music of the Masters. This local professional chorus now offers its annual program not once but twice, this time with a larger chorus, a 40 piece orchestra, and soprano soloist Christina Howell. The Christmas story is told through classical music and audience carols without narration or applause. This year’s performance features brief works by Bach, Mozart, Brahms, Beethoven, Handel, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky, Schumann, Haydn, Rachmaninoff, Vaughan Williams, Britten, Fauré, Wolf, Berlioz, Respighi, Bizet, Schütz, Lasso, Byrd and others. The audience will join in in four well-known carols. 7:30 each evening, RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, Legacy Hall, Columbus.

Tuesday, December 29

• Handel Candlelight Christmas. New Trinity Baroque. St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, Atlanta.

Thursday, December 31

• ASO New Year’s Eve. Atlanta Symphony; Michael Krajewski, conductor; Sylvia McNair, soprano.

Thursday, December 3

11 AM

• Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 3. Israel Phil, Imre Kovacs, Mehta. CBS 44926.
• Taneyev: Violin Sonata (1911). Ivan Peshkov, Olga Solovieva. Naxos 8.557804.
• Bloch: Concerto Grosso No. 1 for strings and piano. Jenny Lin, SWR Radio Orch Kaiserslautern, Starek. Hanssler 93.192.

12 N

• Vivaldi: Gloria in D, RV 589. Bach Choir of Bethlehem, Bach Festival Orch, Funfgeld. Analekta 2009.
• Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker: selection.
• Aguila: Charago Capriccioso. Camerata San Antonio. Bridge 9302.
• Handel: Messiah: selection.

1 PM

• Mahler: Symphony No. 4 in G major: finale. Kiri Te Kanawa, Boston Sym, Ozawa. Philips 422 072.
• Debussy: four preludes: Hills of Anacapri, Steps in the Snow; Sunken Catherdral; Fireworks. Ivan Ilic. www.IvanCDG.com.
• 
  

Wednesday, December 2

So much joyous musicmaking goes on across the state in December. Here are just two of this weekend's myriad Georgia events:

• Banjo phenom Bela Fleck and his Flecktones appear in concert Columbus Friday. It's part of the winterfest2009, which also includes a three-day artist's market with booths throughout the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts.
• Saturday at Valdosta State, the Valdosta Symphony performs Mozart's Exsultate Jubilate and Mahler's celestial Fourth Symphony with soprano Tamara Hardesty and conductor Howard Hsu. The program is called "The Human Voice."

11 AM

• Saint-Saens: Oboe Sonata, Op. 166. Ensemble Villa Musica. MDG 304 0395.
• Mendelssohn: "Scottish" Symphony (No. 3 in A minor). New Philharmonia Orch, Muti. EMI 81788.

12 N

• Meyer: By the River. Marshall, Fleck, Meyer. Sony 62891.
• Mozart: Exsultate Jubilate, K. 165. Carolyn Sampson, King's Consort, King. Hyperion 67560.
• Glazunov: Raymonda, ballet suite, Op. 57a. Royal Scottish National Orch, Serebrier. Warner 2564 61939.

1 PM

• Saint-Saens: Caprice on Danish and Russian Airs, Op. 79. Ensemble Villa Musica. MDG 304 0395.
• Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58. Evgeny Kissin, London Sym, Davis. EMI 50999 2 06311.
• 
  

Tuesday, December 1

All new releases!

11 AM

• Zhou Long: Partita for violin and piano. Cho-Liang Lin, Helen Huang. Delos 3397.
• Dvorak: Romance in F minor, Op. 11. Arabella Steinbacher, Berlin Radio Sym, Janowski. PentaTone 5186 353.
• Schubert: Quintet in A major for flute and strings (transcr. Stallman from Violin Sonata D. 574). Robert Stallman, members of Martinu Quartet, Karel Untermuller. Bogner's Cafe 103.

12 N

• Glass: The Hours Suite: Movement 3. Angele Dubeau, La Pieta. Analekta 8727.
• Bloch: Baal Shem Suite "Three Pictures of Chassidic Life." Vadim Gluzman, Sao Paulo Sym, Neschling. BIS 1662.
• Hartmann: Symphony No. 1 in G minor, Op. 17. Danish National Sym, Lundgaard. Dacapo 8.225103-04.

1 PM

• Schumann: Arabesque in C major, Op. 18. Vassily Primakov. Bridge 9300.
• Britten: Sinfonia da Requiem: Requiem aeternam. Kansas City Sym, Stern. Reference 120.
• Haydn: Piano Sonata in F major. Ivan Ilic. www.IvanCDG.com.
• Martinu: Piano Concerto No. 2. Robert Kolinsky, Basel Sym, Ashkenazy. Ondine 1158.

Monday, November 30

11 AM

• Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 3 in D major. Royal Phil, Levine. Telarc 80454.
• Bach: Sonata No. 2 in A minor for solo violin: Andante. Viktoria Mullova. Onyx 4040.

12 N

• Traditional Norwegian/arr. Krohn: Wedding March from Gugbrandsdalen. Trio Mediaeval. ECM 2003.
• Vaughan Williams: The Running Set. Royal Liverpool Phil, Judd. Naxos 8.572304.
• Medtner: Forgotten Melodies, Op. 39/3-5. Marc-Andre Hamelin. Hyperion 67221/4.
• Dvorak: Slavonic Dance in E minor, Op. 72/2. Atlanta Sym, Levi. Telarc 80497.
• Fuchs, K.: Eventide (English-horn concerto based on spirituals). Thomas Stacy, London Sym, Falletta. Naxos 8.559224.

1 PM

• Martinu: Overture (1953). Basel Sym, Ashkenazy. Ondine 1158.
• Hartmann: Andantino and Eight Variations in C major (1839). Tre Musici. Dacapo 8.226103-04.
• Beethoven: String Quartet in C major, Op. 59/3. Tokyo String Quartet. Harmonia Mundi 907423.

Tuesday, November 24

11 AM

• Roussel: Symphony No. 1, "Poem of the Forest." Royal Scottish National Orch, Deneve. Naxos 8.570323.
• Liszt: Waldesrauschen (Forest Rustlings). Murray Perahia. Sony 47180.
• Vanhal: Symphony in D major. Toronto Camerata, Mallon. Naxos 8.557483.

12 N

• Daugherty: Brooklyn Bridge for solo clarinet and symphonic band: North. John Bruce Yeh, Columbus State University Wind Ensemble, Rumbelow. Naxos 8.572319.
• Schumann: Piano Quartet in E-flat, Op. 47. Trio Parnassus, Schlichtig. MDG 303 1414.
• Monteverdi: Gloria a 7 (from his Selva morale e spirituale and from the Mass of Thanksgiving of November 21, 1631). Taverner Consort & Players, Parrott. Virgin 50999 9 66965.
• Chopin: Fantasy-Impromptu in C-sharp minor. Maria Joao Pires. DG 289 457 585.

1 PM

• Ungar: Ashokan Farewell. Jay Ungar, Molly Mason, Nashville Sym. Angel 56720.
• Weill: Little Threepenny Music: Overture and Ballad of Mack the Knife. Members of London Sym Orch, Thomas. CBS 44798.
• Ysaye: Sonata in A minor for Two Violins, op. posth.: Mvts 2-3. Henning Kraggerud & Bard Monsen, violins. Naxos 8.570977.
• Berwald: Festival of the Bayaderes. Royal Phil, Bjorlin. EMI 65073.
• American traditional, arr. Wilberg: Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing. Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Orchestra at Temple Square. Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Monday, November 23

Saint Cecilia's Day is November 21, so on GPB just one day late we'll celebrate the patron saint of music. Looking ahead to Thanksgiving we'll also hear give thanks - with music celebrating deliverance from the plague in Venice, but you know, think of it in whatever terms work for you. And with that mythical grandmother's house in mind, we'll go over the river - several rivers. Tomorrow: continuing on through several woods.

11 AM

• Purcell: Hail, Bright Cecilia! Ode for St. Cecilia's Day (1692): Symphony (Introduction) and final choruses. Taverner Consort, Choir & Players, Parrott. Virgin 50999 266356.
• Dvorak: Violin Concerto in A minor. Arabella Steinbacher, Berlin Radio Sym, Janowski. PentaTone 5186 353,
• Mussorgsky: Dawn on the Moscow River (Khovanshchina, Prelude). Oslo Phil, Jansons. EMI 50824.

12 N

• Instrumental selections from a composite Mass of Thanksgiving (Venice, November 21, 1631; music by Monteverdi et al.; liturgical reconstruction by Keyte & Parrott). Usper: Sonata a 8. Marini: Canzon quarta. Fantini: Sonata Imperiale II & Intrada. Taverner Players, Parrott. Virgin 50999 9 66965.
• Vaughan Williams: Piano Concerto in C. Ashley Wass, Royal Liverpool Phil, Judd. Naxos 8.572304.
• Wagner: Gotterdammerung: Dawn and Siegfried's Rhine Journey.
• Piazzolla: Rio Sena (Seine River). Rosa Antonelli. Albany 1140.

1 PM

• Vivaldi: La Senna Festeggiante (The Seine Rejoicing): Sinfonia to Part 1. King's Consort, King. Hyperion 67361/2.
• Napravnik: Russian Fantasy in B minor (on the Volga Boatmen's Song). Evgeny Soifertis, BBC Scottish Sym, Titov. Hyperion 67511.
• Grofe: Mississippi Suite. Boston Pops, Lockhart. BMG/RCA 68786.
• Picker: Old and Lost Rivers. Christoph Eschenbach. Virgin 91162.
• Nelson: Savannah River Holiday. Boston Pops, Lockhart BMG/RCA 68786.

Thursday, November 19

11 AM

• Bach: Keyboard Concerto No. 3 in D major, BWV 1054. Olli Mustonen, German Chamber Phil. London 443 118.
• Paderewski: Minuet Celebre in G, Op. 14/1. Philip Martin. Hyperion 67379.
• Mozart: Symphony No. 39 in E-flat, K. 543. Camerata Salzburg, Kavakos. Sony BMG 82876842412.
• Sinding: Rustle of Spring. Philip Martin. Hyperion 67379.

12 N

• Mendelssohn: "Reformation" Symphony (No. 5 in D). New Philharmonia Orch, Muti. EMI 81788.
• Stoelzel: Aria "Bist du bei mir," arr. trumpet. Paul Merkelo et al. Analekta 9812.
• Columbus Symphony conductor George Del Gobbo talks about the orchestra's concert, "Let the Trumpet Sound," coming up Saturday
• Mendelssohn: "Italian" Symphony: Saltarello (Tarantella). New Philharmonia Orch, Muti. EMI 81788.
• Gesualdo: Ave Dulcissima Maria. Monteverdi Choir, Gardiner. Erato 88087.
• Handel: Largo (Ombra mai fu) from Serse, for organ. Luc Beausejour. Analekta 9812.

1 PM

• Farrenc: Trio for Clarinet, Cello and Piano in E-flat. Brigitte Engerer, Romain Guyot, Francois Salque. Naive 5033.
• Vivaldi: Bassoon Concerto in F, RV 488. Peter Whelan, La Serenissima, Chandler. Avie 2178.
• Eagan: Red, White, Black 'n' Blue. Los Angeles Guitar Quartet. Delos 3163.

Wednesday, November 18

For details on concerts mentioned during Midday Music - including pianist Olli Mustonen in Atlanta, the Cypress String Quartet in Augusta and guitarist Manuel Barrueco in LaGrange, plus the Columbus Symphony's Haydn with trumpeter Jens Lindermann - please see the current concert calendar below and go, go, go!

11 AM

• Grieg: Piano Concerto in A minor. Olli Mustonen, San Francisco Sym, Blomstedt. London 444 518.
• Beethoven: "Spring" Sonata (Violin Sonata No. 5 in F major). Itzhak Perlman, Vladimir Ashkenazy. Decca 289 458 618.

12 N

• Higdon: Impressions: To the Point. Cypress String Quartet. Naxos 8.559298.
• Haydn: Trumpet Concerto in E-flat. Alison Balsom, German Chamber Phil Bremen. EMI 16213.
• Lecuona: A la Antigua. Manuel Barrueco. EMI 56757.
• Brouwer: Preludio. Manuel Barrueco. EMI 56757.
• MacDowell: "Keltic" Sonata (Piano Sonata No. 4). James Tocco. Gasparo 231.
• Telemann: Concerto in B-flat for three oboes and three violins. Collegium Musicum 90, Standage. Chandos 0580.

1 PM

• Rimsky-Korsakov: Sheherazade, Symphonic Suite after The Thousand and One Nights. Atlanta Sym, Arzewski, Spano. Telarc 80568.
• Guastavino: La Siesta: El Patio. Rosa Antonelli. Albany 1140.

Concert Calendar, November 17-30

November 17, 20, 22

• Acclaimed countertenor (and Georgian) David Daniels stars as Orpheus in the Atlanta Opera's production of Orfeo ed Euridice, sung in Italian with English supertitles. Cobb Energy Centre, Atlanta.

Wednesday, November 18

• The Auburn (Ala.) Chamber Music Society presents the Canadian threesome the Gryphon Piano Trio, in concert on the campus of Auburn University. CANCELED. WILL BE RESCHEDULED.
• The McDuffie Center for Strings presents violinist David Halen and pianist Elizabeth Pridgen. They perform in Fickling Hall, Mercer University, Macon.

November 19-20

• Finnish pianist Olli Mustonen soloes with the Atlanta Symphony in Ravel's Piano Concerto in G. Also on the program: the world premiere of excerpts from Wynton Marsalis's American Symphony; ASO principal clarinetist Laura Ardan is soloist in Bernstein's Prelude, Fugue and Riffs; and Robert Spano conducts Gershwin's American in Paris. Symphony Hall, Atlanta.

Friday, November 20

• LaGrange College's Callaway Concert Series presents renowned classical guitarist Manuel Barrueco.
• The Harry Jacobs Chamber Music Society and Augusta State's Lyceum Series present the Cypress String Quartet in quartets by Barber, Griffes and Debussy. Maxwell Theatre.
• Violinist and former Atlanta Symphony concertmaster Cecylia Arzewski plays solo Bach in a free noontime performance. Carlos Museum, Emory University, Atlanta.

November 20-23

• Ballethnic's Urban Nutcracker takes the stage at Georgia Tech's Ferst Center for the Arts, Atlanta.

Saturday, November 21

• The Columbus Symphony and music director George del Gobbo welcome trumpeter Jens Lindermann as soloist. Program includes Haydn's Trumpet Concerto, Vizzutti's Rising Sun, Dvorak's Serenade for Strings and Mendelssohn's "Italian" Symphony. RiverCenter, Columbus.
• The Brasil Guitar Duo makes its Spivey Hall debut. Clayton State campus, Morrow.

Sunday, November 22

• Saint John Church and Concerts with a Cause present a Thanksgiving Concert with the Augusta Children's Choral and the Birmingham Boys Choir. Free, 3 p.m., Saint John United Methodist Church, Augusta.

November 27-28

• The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra provides the musical backdrop to the acrobatics of the Cirque de la Symphonie. Symphony Hall, Atlanta.

Tuesday, November 17

I speak with countertenor David Daniels in the noon hour on GPB. He's starring as Orpheus, who retrieves his wife from the underworld, in the Atlanta Opera's current production of Orfeo ed Euridice. Remaining shows are tonight, Friday evening and Sunday afternoon.

On Midday Music we also hear recordings from the Gryphon Trio, Manuel Barrueco and the Cypress Quartet, who all perform in these parts this week (in Auburn, LaGrange and Augusta, respectively). Please follow the links in the concert list above for details.

UPDATE: The Gryphon Piano Trio's appearance in Auburn has been canceled and will be rescheduled at a later date.

11 AM

• Lalo: Piano Trio in A minor, Op. 26. Gryphon Trio. Analekta 3127.
• Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 12 in A major, K. 414. Mitsuko Uchida, English Chamber Orch, Tate. Philips 422 258.

12 N

• Bach: Cantata No. 170: "Vergnugte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust." David Daniels, English Concert, Picket. Virgin 519037.
• Conversation with countertenor David Daniels
• Gluck: Orpheus and Euridice: "Che far senza Euridice?" Michael Chance, Tafelmusik, Bernius. Sony 48040.
• More conversation with countertenor David Daniels
• Bach: Cantata No. 208: "Schafe koennen sicher weiden" (aria "Sheep May Safely Graze"). David Daniels, English Concert, Picket. Virgin 519037.
• Dvorak: Serenade for Strings in E major, Op. 22. Metamorphosen Chamber Orch, Yoo. Archetype 60105.

1 PM

• Barrios: Una limosna por el amor de Dios. Manuel Barrueco. EMI 56578.
• Beethoven: String Quartet No. 16 in F major, Op. 135. Cypress String Quartet. Cypress.

Monday, November 16

11 AM

• Fasch: Quadro in F major for violin, oboe, bassoon and continuo. Epoca Barocca. CPO 777 204.
• Schubert: String Quintet in C major, Op. post. 163, D. 956. Guarneri Quartet, Leonard Rose. RCA 62310.

12 N

• Wagner: Siegfried: Forest Murmurs. Met Orch, Levine. DG 447 764.
• Bolcom: Cello Sonata: Adagio semplice. Norman Fischer, Jeanne Kierman. Naxos 8.572087.
• Joachim: Violin Concerto in G minor in one movement, Op. 3. Suyoen Kim, Staatskapelle Weimar, Halasz. Naxos 8.570991.
• Hatzis: Old Photographs. Gryphon Trio. Analekta 3174.
• Vivaldi: Sinfonia for Strings in G major, RV 149. Tafelmusik, Lamon. Analekta 3171.

1 PM

• Saint-Saens: Piano Trio No. 1 in F major, Op. 18. Yuval Trio. Relief 891009.
• Golijov: Last Round for double string quartet and bass. A Far Cry. (Independent CD.)
• Puccini: Preludio Sinfonico in A major. Hungarian Opera Orch, Morandi. Naxos 8.555304.

Thursday, November 12

GPB's Midday Music offers recordings of music and musicians to be heard around Georgia this week. Pianist Simone Dinnerstein is in recital Saturday evening at Kennesaw State, for example, and star countertenor David Daniels headlines Gluck's Orfeo with the Atlanta Opera. We'll hear them both from disc. Also on Midday Music are recordings of pieces on orchestral concerts in Macon and Augusta, as well as works from weekend programs with the Vogler Quartet and the Atlanta Chamber Players. For concert details, see the calendar listing below.

11 AM

• Loeffler: Two Rhapsodies for Oboe, Viola and Piano: La Cornemuse (The Bagpipe). Klein, Young, Castro. Cedille 90000 102.
• Franck: Symphony in D minor. Orchestre des Champs Elysees, Herreweghe. Harmonia Mundi 901771.
• Mozart: Ave Verum Corpus, K. 618. Tolzer Knabenchor, English Baroque Soloists, Schmidt-Gaden. Sony 75944.

12 N

• Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111. Simone Dinnerstein. Telarc 80715.
• Neusidler: Phantasia. Paul O'Dette. Harmonia Mundi 907 388.
• Shostakovich: Piano Concerto No. 2 in F major, Op. 102. Yefim Bronfman, Los Angeles Phil, Salonen. Sony 60677.

1 PM

• Vivaldi: Stabat Mater in F minor for alto (countertenor) and strings, RV 621. David Daniels, Europa Galante, Biondi. Virgin 45474.
• Haydn: String Quartet in E-flat major, Op. 64/6. Lindsay String Quartet.
• Waxman: Carmen Fantasy. Yossif Ivanov, Itamar Golan. Ambroisie 136.

Concert Calendar, November 12-18

November 12-14

• Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Glazunov Violin Concerto with Tai Murray, violin. Tchaikovsky Suite from Swan Lake. Shostakovich Symphony No. 1. Hannu Lintu, conductor. www.atlantasymphony.org. 8 p.m., Symphony Hall, Woodruff Arts Center, Atlanta.

Saturday, November 14

• Simone Dinnerstein. Bailey Performance Center, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw. Copland Piano Variations, Webern Variations for Piano Op. 27, Schubert Four Impromptus D. 899, Lasser Twelve Variations on a Bach Chorale, Bach French Suite No. 5 in G.
• Symphony Orchestra Augusta. "Too Hot!" Music director Shizuo Z Kuwahara conducts Aaron Jay Kernis’ Too Hot Toccata, Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with accomplished 22-year-old concert pianist (and composer and improviser) Stewart Goodyear, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 (“Eroica”). First Baptist of Augusta, 7:30.
• Macon Symphony Orchestra. Masterworks Concert No. 2, “The Excitement Continues. ” Brahms Tragic Overture, Haydn Violin Concerto in C major with soloist Xiang Gao, Sarasate Carmen Fantasy on Themes of Bizet, Franck Symphony in D minor. Music director Adrian Gnam conducts. Grand Opera House, Macon.
• Georgia State University School of Music. Johnny Mercer Centennial Celebration Concert. GSU Jazz Band, Lizz Wright, Joe Gransden. Rialto Center, Atlanta.

November 14, 17, 20 & 22

• The Atlanta Opera presents Gluck's Orfeo & Euridice, starring acclaimed countertenor and Georgia resident David Daniels in his company debut. Cobb Energy Centre, Atlanta.

Sunday, November 15

• Vogler Quartet. Haydn, Schulhoff, Beethoven. Spivey Hall, Morrow.
• Symphony Orchestra Augusta's Family Fun series. "Music, Out of This World!" Maxwell Theatre, Augusta State University, Augusta, 3 p.m.
• Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra. Symphony Hall, Atlanta.
• Lucktenberg Chamber Ensemble. A Celebration of Haydn. Falany Performing Arts Center, Reinhardt College, Waleska.
• Atlanta Chamber Players. Spotlight on Winds. Mozart, Loeffler, Telemann, Shostakovich. Ahavath Achim Synagogue, Atlanta.

Monday, November 16

• ARCO Chamber Orchestra. Free performance on the Franklin College Chamber Music Series. Bronner, Podgaits, Schubert. University of Georgia Performing Arts Center, Athens.

Wednesday, November 18

• Gryphon Piano Trio. Auburn Chamber Music Society. Goodwin Recital Hall, Auburn University, Auburn, Ala.

Wednesday, November 11

Thanks to Russell Wells of WSVH for hosting the show on Tuesday the 10th. (Playlist here.)

11 AM

• Bach: French Suite No. 5 in G major, BWV 816. Simone Dinnerstein. Telarc 80715.
• Bertolozzi: The Contemplation of Bravery. Mark Robbins, SeattleMusic, Suben. BWP 8806.
• Glazunov: Violin Concerto in A minor. Vadim Gluzman, Bergen Phil, Litton.
• Gluck: Orpheus and Euridice: Dance of the Blessed Spirits. Ashley Solomon, Masumi Nagasawa. Channel 17798.

12 N

• Kernis: Too Hot Toccata. Grant Park, Kalmar. Cedille 90000 105.
• Haydn: Violin Concerto No. 1 in C major. Christian Tetzlaff, Northern Sinfonia, Schiff. Virgin 81489.
• Bach: St. Matthew Passion: "Erbarme dich." David Daniels. Virgin 5099 519037.
• Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake, Suite. Philharmonia Orch, Karajan. EMI 72474.

1 PM

• Copland: Fanfare for the Common Man (1943). Canadian Brass, Moody. Opening Day 7347.
• Schuman, W.: Prayer in Time of War (1943). Louisville Orch, Mester. First Edition FECD-0011.
• Kaipanen: Cello Concerto No. 1: Finale. Marko Ylonen, Finnish Radio Sym, Lintu. Ondine 1062.
• Janacek: Lachian Dances. Czech State Phil, Serebrier. Reference 65.
• Naderman: Nocturne: Rondoletto. Ashley Solomon, Masumi Nagasawa. Channel 17798.

Monday, November 9

On GPB we mark the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall with Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. This concert took place in Berlin on December 25, 1989, mere weeks after the historic opening of the wall. Leonard Bernstein led massed musicians from East Germany, West Germany, the Soviet Union, the United States and beyond. In the final chorus, Bernstein changed the word Freude (joy) to Freiheit (freedom): Ode to Freedom.

11 AM

• Mozart: Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra in E-flat, K. 365. Katia & Marielle Labeque, Berlin Phli, Bychkov. Philips 426 241.
• Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D minor: first half. Bavarian Radio Sym Orch; members of the Dresden Staatskapelle, Kirov Orchestra, London Symphony, New York Phil, Orchestre de Paris; Bernstein.

12 N

• Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D minor: second half. Bavarian Radio Sym Orch; members of the Dresden Staatskapelle, Kirov Orchestra, London Symphony, New York Phil, Orchestre de Paris; Bavarian Radio Chorus; members of the Berlin Radio Chorus; Dresden Philharmonic Children's Chorus; soloists June Anderson, Sarah Walker, Klaus Koenig, Jan-Hendrik-Rootering; Bernstein.
• Poulenc: Intermezzo in A-flat. Marc-Andre Hamelin. Hyperion 67275.

1 PM

• Tchaikovsky: Piano Trio in A minor. Lang Lang, Vadim Repin, Mischa Maisky. DG B0013504.

Thursday, November 5

11 AM

• Nicolai: The Merry Wives of Windsor, Overture. Bamberg Sym, Rickenbacher. Virgin 91079.
• Tchaikovsky: String Quartet No. 3 in E-flat minor, Op. 30. Ying Quartet. Telarc 80685.
• Handel: Concerto Grosso in G major, Op. 3/3. Linde Consort, Linde. Virgin 699472.

12 N

• Traditional French (arr. Richards): Songs of the Auvergne: L'eau de source; Le Baylere. The King's Singers, Davis. EMI 47708.
• Bax: November Woods. BBC Phil, Handley. Chandos 10362.
• Ginstera: Estancia: Malambo. Boston Pops, Lockhart. RCA 63717.
• Albany Symphony music director Claire Fox Hillard describes the orchestra's Latin-flavored concert coming up Saturday
• Bernstein: West Side Story, Symphonic Dances. New York Phil, Bernstein. Sony 47154.

1 PM

• Mussorgsky: Sorochintsy Fair: Overture; Gopak. State Sym Orch of Russian, Svetlanov. BMG 68406.
• Schubert: Piano Sonata in A major, D. 664. Leon Fleisher. Sony 47667.
• Reinecke: Wind Sextet in B-flat, Op. 21. Berlin Wind Quintet, Manfred Klier. BIS 612.

Wednesday, November 4

11 AM

• Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 2. Academy of Ancient Music, Egarr. Harmonia Mundi 807461.62.
• Schumann: String Quartet No. 3 in A major, Op. 41/3. Eroica Quartet. Harmonia Mundi 907270.
• Dvorak: Bagatelles, Op. 47. Quartetto Gelato. Silva Screen 6033.

12 N

• Holst: The Planets: Jupiter, Bringer of Jollity. Berlin Phil, Rattle. EMI 69690.
• Hoffmeister: Clarinet Quartet in A major. Dieter Kloecker, Vlach Quartet. CPO 999 812.
• Respighi: The Pines of Rome. Berlin Phil, Karajan. DG 449 724.
• Liszt: Staendchen (after Schubert). Evgeny Kissin. RCA 58420.

1 PM

• Brahms: Symphony No. 2 in D major. Royal Concertgebouw Orch, Chailly. London 430 324.
• Lauridsen: Lux aeterna: O nata lux. Elora Festival Singers, Edison. Naxos 8.559304.

Tuesday, November 3

11 AM

• Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 3 in C major, Op. 2/3. Mari Kodama. PentaTone 067.
• Nielsen: Aladdin: Act 3. Danish National Sym & Chamber Choir, Rozhdestvensky. Chandos 10498X.

12 N

• Radiohead/O'Riley: Like Spinning Plates. Christopher O'Riley. World Village 468034.
• Purcell: Fantasias in Four Parts for Viols: Nos. 7-9. Hesperion XX, Savall. Alia Vox 9859.
• Popper: Three Pieces for cello and piano, Op. 11. Wendy Warner, Eileen Buck. Cedille 111.
• Villa-Lobos: Bachianas Brasileiras No. 2: mvts 3-4. Nashville Sym, Schermerhorn. Naxos 8.557460-62.
• Arensky: Suite No. 4 for two pianos, Op. 62. Stephen Coombs, Ian Munro. Hyperion 66755.

1 PM

• Bach: Magnificat, BWV 243. Yale Schola Cantorum, Yale Voxtet, Yale Collegium Players, Carrington. Naxos 8.572161.
• Popper: Suite for Cello and Piano, Op. 69: mvt 1. Wendy Warner, Eileen Buck. Cedille 111.
• Mendelssohn: Ave Maria. Yale Schola Cantorum, Yale Voxtet, Yale Collegium Players, Carrington. Naxos 8.572161.

Monday, November 2

11 AM

• Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 in E-flat, "Eroica." Helsingborg Sym Orch, Manze. Harmonia Mundi 807470.
• Debussy: Suite Bergamasque: Prelude (arr. guitars). Sergio & Odair Assad. Nonesuch 278140.

12 N

• Schmelzer: Sonata in D minor. Trio Settecento. Cedille 114.
• Saint-Saens: Piano Quintet in A minor, Op. 14 (arr. for sextet with double bass). Wirl WCD 510.
• Tallis: Gaude gloriosa Dei Mater. The Sixteen Choir, Chirstopher. Chandos 0513.

1 PM

• Tchaikovsky: The Maid of Orleands: Dances from Act 2. State Sym Orch of Russia, Svetlanov. Melodiya 10-00411-412.
• Mozart: Symphony No. 41 in C major, "Jupiter." Les Musiciens du Louvre, Minkowski. Archiv 6506.

Thank you for supporting GPB!

If you are one of the more than 2,000 listeners who made contributions during GPB's fall membership campaign which ended Friday evening, thank you, thank you, thank you. With your participation we surpassed our goal. For the confirmation that you value the music and news and all the programming on GPB Radio, I thank you.

By the way, it's not too late to get your contribution in. In these times, every penny is needed. Become a new or renewing member right now by donating at gpb.org and you can still choose from our lovely array of thank-you gifts and be figured into the grand total. Once more: Thanks.

Midday Music playlists from the drive follow, in reverse order. In addition to the pieces listed below, each edition of the show included at least three varied selections from The Essential Yo-Yo Ma, the two-CD set that's one of our thank-you gifts at the $100 membership level.

Thursday, October 29

11 AM

• Bach: Concerto for Oboe, Violin and Orchestra. Academy of Ancient Music Berlin. Harmonia Mundi 901876.
• Traditional (Cape Breton): Hector the Hero, Hey Johnny Cope, Tullochgorum, Jean's Reel. Carolin Goulding, Janine Randall. Telarc 80744.
• Ippolitov-Ivanov: Caucasian Sketches: selections. Baltimore Sym, Zinman. Telarc 80378.

12 N

• Chopin: Piano Sonata No. 3 in B minor, Op. 58: mvts 3-4. Nelson Freire. Decca 289 470 288.
• Martinu: Symphony No. 2: outer mvts. Cincinnati Sym, Jarvi. Telarc 80616.

1 PM

• Sibelius: Karelia Suite, Op. 11: Intermezzo. Atlanta Sym, Levi. Telarc 80320.
• Schmelzer: Sonata No. 6. Holloway, Assenbaum, Mortensen. ECM 1668.
• Balakirev: Islamey, Oriental Fantasy. Yefim Bronfman. Sony 60689.
• Bruch: Scottish Fantasy: finale. Arthur Grumiaux, New Philharmonia Orch, Wallberg. PentaTone 5186 117.

...Plus selections from the two-CD set The Essential Yo-Yo Ma.

Wednesday, October 28

11 AM

• Brahms: A German Requiem: Selig Sind. Atlanta Sym Orch & Chorus, Spano. Telarc 80701.
• Higdon: Piano Trio (2003): Pale Yellow. Meyers, Weilerstein, Neiman. Naxos 8.559298.

12 N

• Beethoven: Leonore, Overture No. 3. German Chamber Phil Bremen, Harding. Virgin 45364.
• Borodin: Prince Igor, Overture. Russian National Orch, Pletnev. DG 439 892.
• Wagner: Parsifal: Good Friday Music. New York Phil, Mehta. Sony 45749.

1 PM

• Glazunov: Spring. Hong Kong Phil, Schermerhorn.
• Bach: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God. William Kuhlman, Empire Brass. Telarc.
• Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker: Act 1, Tableau 2. Cincinnati Pops, Kunzel. Telarc.

...Plus selections from the two-CD set The Essential Yo-Yo Ma.

Tuesday, October 27

11 AM

• Glinka: Kamarinskaya. Detroit Sym, Jarvi. Chandos 9227.
• Milhaud: Scaramouche. Theodore Kerkezos, Philharmonia Orch, Brabbins. Naxos 8.557063.
• Handel: Sonata in C minor, Op. 1/8 for oboe. Academy of Ancient Music (de Bruine, Egarr). Harmonia Mundi 907465.66.

12 N

• Smetana: The Bartered Bride: Three Dances. New York Phil, Bernstein. Sony 61836.
• Zenamon: Sonatina Andina for two guitars. Julian Gray, Ronald Pearl. Dorian 90230.

1 PM

• Ravel: Pavane for a Dead Princess. Angela Hewitt. Hyperion 67341.
• Dukas: The Sorcerer's Apprentice. St. Petersburg Phil, Temirkanov. EMI 11272.
• Enescu: Cantabile and Presto. Irena Grafenauer, Michael Grandt. Philips 426 248.

...Plus selections from the two-CD set The Essential Yo-Yo Ma.

Monday, October 26

11 AM

• Mussorgsky/Rimsky-Korsakov: Night on Bald Mountain. Oslo Phil, Jansons. EMI 50824.
• Mozart: Symphony No. 25 in G minor: Allegro con brio. Concentus Musicus Vienna, Harnoncourt. DHM 75736.
• Rodrigo: Concierto Serenata for harp and orchestra: mvt 1. Nancy Allen, Royal Phil, Batiz. EMI 37681.

12 N

• Vivaldi: Concerto in G major for two mandolins. Rolf Lislevand (twice!) and ensemble. Naive 30429.
• Saint-Saens: Clarinet Sonata, Op. 167. Sabine Meyer, Oleg Maisenberg. EMI 79787.
• Singlee: First Quartet for saxophones: mvts 3-4. New Century Saxophone Quartet. Channel 17998.

1 PM

• Sheng: Never Far Away: Moonlight Shadows. Yolanda Kondonassis, San Diego Sym, Ling. Telarc 80719.
• Fontana: Sonata 2. Maurice Steger and ensemble. Harmonia Mundi 902024.
• Ravel: Tzigane. Arthur Grumiaux, National Orch of the Monte Carlo Opera, Remoortel. Philips 422 274.

...Plus selections from the two-CD set The Essential Yo-Yo Ma.

Thursday, October 22

11 AM

• Koechlin: Bassoon Sonata, Op. 71. Dag Jensen, Midori Kitagawa. MDG 603 0585.
• Vivaldi: Concerto in B-flat for oboe and violin, RV 548. Zefiro Baroque Orch. Naive 30409.
• Schubert: Impromptu in G-flat, Op. 80/3. Nikolai Demidenko. Hyperion 67091/2.

12 N

• Bolcom: The Serpent's Kiss. Elizabeth & Marcel Bergmann. Naxos 8.559244.
• Korngold: Violin Concerto in D major: mvts 2-3. James Ehnes, Vancouver Sym, Tovey. CBC 5241.
• Chavez: Xochipilli, An Imaginary Aztec Music. Southwest Chamber Music. Cambria 8852.

1 PM

• Bruch: Kol Nidrei. Lynn Harrell, Philharmonia Orch, Ashkenazy. London 410 144.
• Haydn: Piano Sonata No. 62 in E-flat: finale. Malcolm Bilson. Bridge 9263.
• Godard: Scenes Poetiques: On the Mountain; In the Village. Slovak State Phil, Trevor. Naxos 8.570554.

...Plus selections from the two-CD set The Essential Yo-Yo Ma.

Wednesday, October 21

11 AM

• Strauss: Thus Spake Zarathustra: Introduction. Berlin Phil, Karajan. DG 289 457 496.
• Alkan: Concerto for Solo Piano, Op. 39/10: Allegretto alla barbaresca. Marc-Andre Hamelin. Hyperion 67569.
• Dvorak: Violin Concerto in A minor: finale. James Ehnes, BBC Phil, Noseda. Chandos 10309.
• Lhoyer: Duo Concertante in A major for two guitars, Op. 31/1. Josiane Rabemananjara & Philippe Spinosi. Naive 30396.

12 N

• Bizet: Pearl Fishers: Au fond du temple saint (arr. euphoniums and band). David Thornton, John French, Black Dyke Band, Childs. Naxos 8.570726.
• Bermel: Dust Dances. Boston Modern Orch, Rose. BMOP 1008.
• Golijov: Ainadamar: From My Window (arr. violin and piano). Livia Sohn, Benjamin Loeb. Naxos 8.570202.
• Smetana: Ma Vlast (My Homeland): Vysehrad (The High Castle). Milwaukee Sym, Macal. Telarc 80265.

1 PM

• Mendelssohn: The Fair Melusina, Overture. London Sym, Abbado. DG 423 104.
• Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12. Thomas Pandolfi. (Independent.)

...Plus selections from the two-CD set The Essential Yo-Yo Ma.

Tuesday, October 20

11 AM

• Weber: Oberon, Overture. Vienna Phil, Thielemann. DG 289 474 5022.
• Beethoven: Piano Trio in B-flat, Op. 11, "Gassenhauer": mvts 2-3. Ashkenazy, Perlman, Harrell. EMI 47455.
• Friedman: Variations on the Rag. Louisville Brass. Centaur 2821.

12 N

• Schoenfield: Cafe Music. Ehnes, Arron, Russo. Black Box 1109.
• Sinding: Piano Concerto in D-flat, Op. 6: finale. Piers Lane, Bergen Phil, Litton. Hyperion 67555.

1 PM

• Bach: Air from Orchestral Suite No. 3. Sarah Chang, Berlin Phil, Domingo. EMI 57220.
• Marcello: Flute Sonata in B minor. Masahiro Arita et al. Denon 18013.

...Plus selections from the two-CD set The Essential Yo-Yo Ma.

Concert Calendar, October 17-31

Sunday, October 18

• Trumpets, Pipes, Bach and Jazz.   Bach, Clarke, Torelli, Victor Young and Claude Bolling with an international trumpeter and recording artist James Ackley, now principal trumpet of Symphony Orchestra Augusta and based at the University of South Carolina.  Free, Concerts with a Cause, 3 p.m., St. John United Methodist Church, Augusta.    

Thursday, October 22

• The University of West Georgia Department of Music presents The Atlanta5 Wind Quintet in wind music by Barber, Bozza, Ewazen and Piazzolla.  The Atlanta5 are Elisa Lyle, flute, principal flute, La Grange and Carrollton symphonies; Jeannie Ohnemus, principal oboe, LaGrange Symphony; Luan Mueller, UWG clarinet instructor; Jim Jackson, principal bassoon, Georgia Philharmonic; and John Pirtle, freelance French horn. Cashen Hall, Humanities Building, UWG, Carrollton. 8:15 p.m. Free. 
• Karen Parks, soprano.  Falany Performing Arts Center, Reinhardt College, Waleska. 

October 22-24           

• The great Canadian violinist James Ehnes soloes in Korngold’s Violin Concerto, and Donald Runnicles conducts the Atlanta Symphony in Strauss’s Also Spake Zarathustra and Weber’s Overture to Oberon. Symphony Hall, Atlanta, 8 p.m. 
  

Friday, October 23           

• “Journey to the Amazon” with renowned guitarist Sharon Isbin, percussionist Thiago de Mello and saxophonist Paul Winter.  Grammy-nominated blend of Afro-Brazilian, Amazonian Indian and wildnerness sounds with jazz. Schwartz Center, Emory University, Atlanta, 8 p.m.
  

Saturday, October 24           

• The Ocmulgee Symphony Orchestra plays Bach’s Third Orchestral Suite, a Vivaldi concerto for oboe and violin, Godard’s Suite of Three Pieces for flute and Haydn’s Symphony No. 41. City Auditorium, Cochran, 7:30 p.m.     
  
• Grammy-winning cellist Lynn Harrell, with pianist Victor Santiago-Asuncion.  Cello sonatas by Chopin and Barber, Beethoven’s sets of variations on Handel’s “See the conqu’ring hero comes” and Mozart’s “Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen,” and Schubert’s Introduction and Variations on an Original Theme in B-flat.  UGA Performing Arts Center, Athens.

 Sunday, October 25

• American pianist Thomas Pandolfi loves music popular in the “Golden Age of Pianism,” by such composers as Busoni, Godowski, Dohnanyi, Paderewski, MacDowell and Rubinstein.  He plays at 2 p.m. at the Morris Museum of Art, Augusta.
  
• Haydn’s Seven Last Words of Christ is performed by the Vega String Quartet and speakers of seven different faiths.  Schwartz Center, Emory University, Atlanta, 4 p.m.
  

Tuesday, October 27

• The LaGrange Symphony calls its pre-Halloween concert “Sorcerers, Witches and Things.”  Patricio Cobos conducts such scary seasonal favorites as Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor, Mussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain and Dukas’s Sorcerer’s Apprentice, plus Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No.1 with Ukrainian-born pianist Kseniia Polstiankina, winner of the 2009 LSO Young Artists Competition.  7:30, Callaway Auditorium, LaGrange College, LaGrange. 
• Symphony Orchestra Augusta presents America (the group famous for “A House with No Name” and other songs, now in its fourth decade).  The first half of the concert is orchestral; America appears after intermission.  Shizuo Kuwahara conducts. Pops! at the Bell, Bell Auditorium, Augusta. 

Tuesday, October 27           

• The adventuresome Amstel Quartet (saxophone quartet) appears at the Falany Performing Arts Center, Reinhardt College, Waleska.  
• The acclaimed Merling Trio appears in two Georgia communities in one day.  First, in Augusta, Tuesday's Music Live presents the Merling Trio in a free noon concert at St. Paul's Church. (Advance reservations are required for lunch following the concert.  The concert is free.)
• Then the Merling Trio hits the road as Gainesville ProMusica presents the threesome in Haydn’s Trio in G major and Dvorak’s Dumky Trio. 7:30 p.m., Pearce Auditorium, Gainesville. 

October 29-30           

• Brahms’ German Requiem sounds through Atlanta’s Symphony Hall, as the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, with soloists soprano Chen Reiss and baritone Matthew Worth, perform. Also Haydn’s Symphony No. 44, “Trauer.”  Donald Runnicles conducts. 

Friday, October 30           

• New Trinity Baroque calls their late October concert “Handel’s Nightmare.” 8 p.m., St. Bartholomew’s Church, Atlanta.  

Saturday, October 31  

• The Zagreb Saxophone Quartet has toured extensively around the globe and performs an eclectic repertoire spanning centuries and styles. Free concert. University of Georgia Performing Arts Center, Athens.