Midday Music, Tuesday 3/31/09

11 AM

• Holst: The Planets. Berlin Phil, Berlin Radio Choir, Rattle. EMI 69690.
• Gaubert: Madrigal for flute and piano. Fenwick Smith, Sally Pinkas. Naxos 8.557305.
  

12 N

• Gaubert: Flute Sonata No. 3. Fenwick Smith, Sally Pinkas. Naxos 8.557306.
• Diepenbrock: The Birds, Overture. Residentie Orch The Hague, Vonk. Chandos 8821.
• Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 17 in G, K. 453. Mitsuko Uchida, English Chamber Orch, Tate. Philips 422 592.
  

1 PM

• Brahms: Clarinet Trio in A minor. Stanley Drucker, Carter Brey, Gerald Robbins. ERI Elysium GRK 720.
  
• Platti: Oboe Concerto in G minor. Anthony Camden, City of London Sinfonia, Ward. Naxos 8.554772.
• Piazzolla: Concierto para quinteto. Kremer, Meyer, Sakharov, Posch, Glorvingen. Nonesuch 79407.
  

Midday Music, Monday 3/30/09

11 AM

• Mozart: Clarinet Quintet in A major, K. 581. Dieter Kloecker, Consortium Classicum. CPO 999 802.
• Taneyev: Suite de Concert for violin and orchestra: mvts 4-5. David Oistrakh, Philharmonia Orch, Malko. EMI 65419.

12 N

• Bolcom: Graceful Ghost Rag. Richard Dowling. Klavier 77035.
  
• Gershwin: Concerto in F for piano and orchestra. Anne-Marie McDermott, Dallas Sym, Brown. Bridge 9252.
• Part: Da Pacem Domine. Estonian Phil Chamber Choir, Tallinn Chamber Orch, Kaljuste. ECM 2050.
• Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 3. Academy of Ancient Music, Egarr. Harmonia Mundi 807461.62.

1 PM

• Rosheger: Waltz No. 7. David Russell. Telarc 80707.
• Kleynjans: Arabesque in the Form of a Caprice. David Russell. Telarc 80707.
  
• Hindemith: Symphonic Metamorphosis on Themes of Carl Maria von Weber. San Francisco Sym, Blomstedt. London 421 523
  
• Beethoven: Leonore Overture No. 3. German Chamber Phil, Harding. Virgin 45364.
  

Midday Music, Thursday 3/26/09

11 AM

• Bach: Sonata No. 2 in A minor, BWV 1003, arr. guitar. Manuel Barrueco. EMI 56416.
• D'Ambrosio: Canzonetta. Sergiu Schwartz, Tao Lin. Romeo 7246.
• Haydn: Cello Concerto No. 1 in C major. Marie-Elisabeth Hecker, Kremerata Baltica. Profil 08031.

12 N

• Falla: Suite Populaire Espagnole. Daniel Hope, Sebastian Knauer. Warner 61329.
• Fesca: Symphony No. 2. NDR Radio Phil, Beermann. CPO 999 869.
  
• Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 4. Academy of Ancient Music, Egarr. Harmonia Mundi 807461.62.
  

1 PM

• Berwald: Festival of the Bayaderes. Royal Phil, Bjorlin. EMI 65073.
  
• Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major. Leonidas Kavakos, Camerata Salzburg. Sony BMG 842412.
  
• Ginastera: Impresiones de la Puna. Eugenia Zukerman, Shanghai String Quartet. Delos 3173.
  

Midday Music, Wednesday 3/25/09

11 AM

• Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 4 in D, K. 218. Leonidas Kavakos, Camerata Salzburg. Sony BMG 842412.
• Elgar: Piano Quintet in A minor: mvts 2-3. Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (Wu Han et al.). CMS 82505.
• Elgar: La Capricieuse. Chee-Yun, Akira Eguchi. Denon 75118.
• Mssenet: Meditation from Thais. Chee-Yun, Akira Eguchi. Denon 75118.
  

12 N

• Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D major. Academy of Ancient Music, Egarr. Harmonia Mundi 807461.62.
• Sarasate: Introduction and Tarantella. Chee-Yun, Akira Eguchi. Denon 75118.
  
• Stravinsky: The Firebird, Suite (1910 version). St. Petersburg Phil, Ashkenazy. Decca 448 812.
• Chopin: Etude in C major, Op. 10/1. Garrick Ohlsson. Arabesque 6718.
  

1 PM

• Mendelssohn: "Scottish" Symphony (No. 3 in A minor).
• Schubert: The Harper's Songs: No. 3, "I shall steal from door to door." Ian Bostridge, Leif Ove Andsnes. EMI 84321.
• 
  

Midday Music, Tuesday 3/24/09

11 AM

• Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 6. Academy of Ancient Music, Egarr. Harmonia Mundi 807461.62.
• Dvorak: Piano Quartet in E-flat, Op. 87. Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. CMS.
• Palestrina: Ricercar del primo tuono. Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet.

12 N

• Walton: Spitfire Prelude and Fugue. Florida Phil, Judd. Harmonia Mundi 907070.
  
• Foote: Cello Sonata, Op. 78. Andres Diaz, Samuel Sanders. Dorian 90241.
  
• Haydn: Symphony No. 22 in E-flat, "Philosopher." Orpheus Chamber Orch. DG 427 337.
  

1 PM

• O'Connor: Americana Symphony, Variations on "Appalchia Waltz." Baltimore Sym, Alsop. OMAC-12.
  
• Hovhaness: Suite from String Quartet No. 2: Gamelan in Sosi Style, Spirit Murmur, Hymn. Shanghai Quartet. Delos 3162.
• Webern: Langsamer Satz. Emerson String Quartet. DG 445 828.
  

Classical Concerts, March 24-31, 2009

An embarrassment of riches. This week you can enjoy live classical music in Newnan, Macon, Athens, Augusta, Calhoun, Atlanta, Columbus, Rome, Kennesaw, Morrow, Roswell, Opelika, Auburn, LaGrange and Savannah. Arts organizations are especially eager to fill seats right now. Consider occupying one!

Tuesday, March 24

• The Parker String Quartet performs at 8th and Rail Dessert Cafe and Tavern in Opelika, Ala., presented by the Auburn Chamber Music Society.
  

Wednesday, March 25

• The Auburn Chamber Music Society presents the Parker String Quartet with pianist Soyeon Lee in Goodwin Recital Hall, Auburn University, Auburn, playing Brahms' Piano Quintet, Dvorak's "American" Quartet and Terry Riley's Sunrise of the Planetary Dream Collectors.
  
• The Savannah Music Festival's chamber music series, "Sensations," continues with two gems: Brahms' Piano Quintet and Tchaikovsky's sextet Souvenir de Florence. Savannah.
  
• Cellist Andres Diaz (with pianist Elizabeth Pridgen) performs a free recital of Rachmaninoff, Piazzolla and Tavener, Kopleff Recital Hall, Georgia State, Atlanta.

Thursday, March 26

• The Robert McDuffie Center for Strings presents cellist Andres Diaz in recital, Fickling Hall, Mercer University, Macon. Free admission.
  
• Pianist Sebastian Knauer is in recital in Savannah, celebrating Mendelssohn's 200th birthday. Savannah Music Festival.
• Guitarist Manuel Barrueco goes at it in Savannah as well. Savannah Music Festival.

Through the Weekend

• The Atlanta Ballet presents Stravinsky's Firebird, as well as works by Hampson and Moultrie. March 26-29 in Atlanta.
  
• The Atlanta Symphony, conductor Gilbert Varga and violinist Leonidas Kavakos perform in Atlanta's Symphony Hall. Kodaly's Galanta Dances, the Sibelius Violin Concerto and Brahms' Second Symphony.
• Georgia State University's Opera Production stages Francis Poulenc's masterpiece, Dialogues of the Carmelites, a story of nuns amidst the French Revolution. Rialto Center, Atlanta. March 27 & 29.
• The Cobb Symphony and the Georgia Ballet team up in A Young Dancer's Guide to the Orchestra and works by Minkus, Auber and Bach. Murray Arts Center, Kennesaw. March 28, 2 & 7 p.m.; March 29, 2:00 p.m.
  

Friday, March 27

• The Academy of Ancient Music plays all six of Bach's Brandenburg Concertos in Savannah.
  
• Pianist and longtime Piccolo Spoleto chamber music director Charles Wadsworth and friends perform chamber music in honor of Wadsworth's 80th birthday, Wadsworth Auditorium, Newnan.
• Louise Barfield plays a recital of Romantic piano music at Little Carnegie of the South, to benefit Little Carnegie of the South, Macon. In conjunction with art show by Wesleyan College's Libby Bailey. Tickets include catered reception. Reservations: (678) 256-3388.

Saturday, March 28

• The Academy of Ancient Music's tour continues in Athens, with a performance of the complete Brandenburg Concertos of Bach.
  
• Soprano Cynthia Watters - Carrollton native, Shorter College grad, longtime New Yorker, now on the music staff at Glenn Memorial Methodist in Atlanta - performs beloved songs from many genres at the Harris Arts Center in Calhoun. Info: (706) 629-2599.
• The Augusta Choral Society presents Mozart's Requiem, with chorus, soloists and orchestra, at St. Paul's Church, Augusta.
• The Columbus Symphony, led by George del Gobbo, celebrate two great composer's milestone birthdays with Mendelssohn's Scottish Symphony and Violin Concerto - with Sergiu Schwartz as soloist - and Haydn's Symphony No. 22, "The Philosopher." RiverCenter, Columbus.
• Pianists Marcus Roberts and Sebastian Knauer offer Gershwin at the Savannah Music Festival. Savannah.
  
• The Rome Symphony, under music director Richard Prior, perform Elgar's Enigma Variations, film music by Walton, and Haydn's Cello Concerto in C with soloist Annie Camp (principal cellist, Rome Symphony; string director, Darlington School; instructor, Berry College and Lee University). Rome City Auditorium.

Sunday, March 29

• The final stop on the U.S. tour of the Academy of Ancient Music is Spivey Hall, Clayton State, Morrow. Bach's Brandenburg Concertos, all six of them.
• UGA alum and distinguished musician and administrator Charles Wadsworth turns 80 this year. Before he eases up on the touring and performing, Charles Wadsworth and friends offer music by Bach, Saint-Saens, Brahms, Weber, Rachmaninoff and Wadsworth (!) at UGA's Performing Arts Center, Athens.
• More great chamber music from the Sensations series at the Savannah Music Festival: Schubert's "Death and the Maiden" Quartet and Elgar's Piano Quintet. Savannah.
  
• "Brilliant young organist" (and Juilliard organ department chair) Paul Jacobs performs on the organ at Roswell United Methodist Church, Roswell. 4 p.m., free admission.

Monday, March 30

• Schubert lieder (art songs) with renowned tenor Ian Bostridge and longtime musical partner Julius Drake bring their artistry to Savannah. Savannah Music Festival.

Tuesday, March 31

• The Callaway Concert Series presents the Shanghai Quartet in Callaway Auditorium, LaGrange College, LaGrange.

Midday Music, Monday 3/23/09

11 AM

• Granados: Goyescas: Young Men in Love: The Ghost's Serenade. Eric Parkin. Chandos 9412.
• Goldmark: Rustic Wedding Symphony. Pittsburg Sym, Previn. EMI 64319.

12 N

• Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 1. Academy of Ancient Music, Egarr. Harmonia Mundi 807461.62.
• Bernstein: Serenade for violin, strings, harp and percussion after Plato's Symposium (1954). Philippe Quint, Bournemouth Sym, Alsop. Naxos 8.559245.

1 PM

• Liszt/Renie: Liebestraum (Nocturne No. 3). Elizabeth Hainen. Naxos 555791.
  
• Brahms: Piano Quintet in F minor. Zilberstein, Schwarzberg, Hall, Romanoff-Schwarzberg, Drobinsky (Lugano Festival). EMI 58472.

Midday Music, Thursday 3/19/09

The Savannah Music Festival begins tonight, with one amazing concert after another, but there are also concerts of note this weekend in Augusta, Morrow, Columbus, Atlanta, Athens and elsewhere. Please see the list of Classical Concerts (below) for musical goings-on in your neck of the woods.

On GPB, tune in tonight at 9 for The ASO on GPB (all-Tchaikovsky, featuring Macon's own Robert McDuffie, violin). Friday please join Eric Nauert of member station WSVH for Midday Music at 11. Have a great weekend!

11 AM

• Ravel: Noble and Sentimental Waltzes. Cleveland Orch, Boulez. DG 289 449 213.
• Scriabin: Twelve Etudes, Op. 8. Garrick Ohlsson. Bridge 9287.
• Muffat: Concerto Grosso No. 11 in E minor, "Delirium Amoris." Musica Aeterna Bratislava, Zajicek. Naxos 8.555743.

12 N

• Dohnanyi: Variations on a Nursery Song. Cristina Ortiz, New Philharmonia Orch, Koizumi. EMI 64319.
• Opera Chat with Renee Wilson-Wicker about Bellini's opera La Sonnambula (The Sleepwalker). Note: Through a partnership between GPB and GMEA, any member of the Georgia Music Educators' Association is eligible to win a free pair of tickets to take a student to the high-definition broadcast of La Sonnambula live from the Metropolitan Opera at the nearest participating Georgia theater. The performance features soprano Natalie Dessay as Amina. If interested, email choral@gmea.org.
• Bellini: La Sonnambula: from the final scene, including "Ah, non credea mirarti." Eva Lind, Munich Radio Orch, Bavarian Radio Chorus, Wallberg.
• Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 2. Academy of Ancient Music, Egarr. Harmonia Mundi 807461.62.

1 PM

• Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E minor. Daniel Hope, Chamber Orchestra of Europe. DG 477 6634.
• Schubert: String Quartet in D major, D. 94. Prazak Quartet. Praga 250 191.

Midday Music, Wednesday 3/18/09

11 AM

• Muffat: Concerto Grosso No. 8 in F, "Coronatio Augusta." Musica Aeterna Bratislava, Zajicek. Naxos 8.555743.
  
• Schubert: Piano Trio No. 1 in B-flat, Op. 99. Wu Han, Philip Setzer, David Finckel. ArtistLed 10802.
  
• Borodin: In the Steppes of Central Asia. Edmonton Sym, Mayer. CBC 5169.
  

12 N

• Bach: Keyboard Partita No. 2 in C minor, BWV 826. Murray Perahia. Sony 22697.
  
• Bizet: Symphony in C. New York Phil, Bernstein. Sony 61830.
  
• Rahasimanana: Maki. John Williams and friends. Sony 89483.
  

1 PM

• Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 2, "Little Russian." Gewandhaus Orch Leipzig, Masur. Teldec 44943.
  
• Medtner: Piano Sonata in A minor, Op. 30. Marc-Andre Hamelin. Hyperion 67221/4.
• Scriabin: Etudes Op. 2/1 & Op. 49/1. Garrick Ohlsson. Bridge 9287.
  

Classical Concerts, March 17-25

GPB's Sarah Zaslaw introducing the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra's March 12 concert in Columbus, Georgia.











The Savannah Music Festival gets underway with an incredible lineup of musicians, classical and otherwise. This weekend's classical highlights include:

• Thursday, March 19: Pianist Garrick Ohlsson in recital.
• Friday, March 20: "Sensations I" - chamber music with violinists Daniel Hope and Lorenza Borrani, pianist Wu Han and friends. Dvorak's Piano Quintet, Barber's Adagio and Beethoven and Schulhoff.
• Saturday, March 21: The Prazak Quartet with an all-Czech program (Dvorak, Janacek, Smetana).
• Sunday, March 22: "Sensations II" - chamber music including Rachmaninoff's Cello Sonata (with David Finckel and Wu Han), Schubert's great String Quintet and the premier of a festival-commissioned piece by Alexandra du Bois.
• Monday, March 23: Pianist Marc-Andre Hamelin in recital.

Amazing. Please consult the festival's website for details on times, venues and tickets.

Meanwhile, the rest of GPB's listening area isn't exactly kicking back.

Tuesday, March 17

• Columbus State's Schwob School of Music presents guest artists Andre Gaskins and Yien Wang in Romantic music for cello and piano by Schumann, Brahms and Chopin, Legacy Hall, RiverCenter, Columbus, 7:30. Free.
• Award-winning Turkish-born pianist Zeynep Ucbasaran and Georgia State keyboard faculty Sergio Gallo present a faculty/guest artist recital. Kopleff Recital Hall, Georgia State University, Atlanta, 7:30. Free.

Thursday, March 19

• Columbus State University presents internationally acclaimed organist James David Christie making his first solo appearance on the Jordan organ in Legacy Hall, RiverCenter, Columbus, 7:30.
  

Friday, March 20

• The Prague-based Prazak Quartet plays Haydn, Webern and Dvorak as part of the University of Georgia's Franklin College Chamber Music Series. Hodgson Concert Hall, UGA Performing Arts Center, Athens. 8 p.m. Free.
• The Vega String Quartet teams up with the vocal sextet Lionheart for a program including Phil Kline's John the Revelator and the world premiere of Richard Prior's Three Essays. (Richard Prior of Emory's music faculty is also director of the Rome Symphony.) Schwartz Center, Emory University, Atlanta, 8:00.

Saturday, March 21

• Donald Portnoy leads the Augusta Symphony Orchestra, in one of his final concerts as music director, featuring Ukrainian-American pianist Marina Lomazov in Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto, plus Glinka's Russlan and Ludmilla Overture and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 2. First Baptist of Augusta, 7:30.
• Famed guitarist John Williams is in recital at Spivey Hall, Clayton State, Morrow, 8:15. Sold out.
  
• The Atlanta Opera presents Opera Family Day, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Atlanta Opera Center, Northside Drive, Atlanta. Crafts, food, music, stage combat and more!

Sunday, March 22

• One of the world's greatest pianists, Murray Perahia, performs Bach, Beethoven and Brahms in Spivey Hall, Morrow, 3 p.m. Sold out. (Perahia also gives a piano master class at Spivey Hall 11 a.m. Saturday.)
• The Atlanta Baroque Orchestra offers music of Georg Muffat and both of his teachers, Corelli and Lully, with professional baroque dancer Paige Whitley-Baugess for pieces by Lully and Schmelzer. Also concertos by Corelli. Julie Andrijeski, guest director and violinist. Peachtree Road United Methodist Church, Atlanta, 3 p.m.
• Columbus State's Choral Union and Percussion Ensemble, joined by four vocal soloists and four pianists, present Stravinsky's seldom performed work Les Noces (The Wedding), plus music by Antheil and Harrison. 4 p.m., Bill Heard Theater, RiverCenter, Columbus.

Tuesday, March 24

• The Auburn Chamber Music Society presents the Parker String Quartet at 8th and Rail Dessert Cafe and Tavern, Opelika.

Wednesday, March 25

• The Auburn Chamber Music Society presents the Parker String Quartet and pianist Soyeon Lee in Brahms' Piano Quintet, Dvorak's "American" Quartet, and music of Riley and Webern. 7:30, Goodwin Recital Hall, Auburn University.
• Renowned Chilean-born, Georgia-bred cellist Andres Diaz performs Rachmaninoff, Piazzolla and Tavener with pianist Elizabeth Pridgen. 7:30, Kopleff Recital Hall, Georgia State, Atlanta. Free.

Midday Music, Tuesday 3/17/09

11 AM

• Stanford: "Irish" Symphony (No. 3 in F minor). Bournemouth Sym, Lloyd-Jones. Naxos 8.570355.
• Torke: Green. Baltimore Sym, Zinman. Argo 433 071.
  

12 N

• O'Carolan: Jigg to the Above. Harp Consort, Lawrence-King. DHM 77375.
• Schumann: Adagio and Allegro, Op. 70. Pieter Wispelwey, Paolo Giacometti. Channel 18698.
• Sullivan: "Irish" Symphony in E. Royal Liverpool Phil, Lloyd-Jones. Naxos 8.570351.
• 
  

1 PM

• Glinka: Russlan and Ludmilla, Overture. Baltimore Sym, Zinman. Telarc 80378.
• Beethoven: String Quartet No. 1 in F major, Op. 18/1. Prazak Quartet. Praga 250 183.
  
• Pinkham: Sonata No. 3 for Organ and Strings (1987). James David Christie, London Sym, Sedares. Koch 7179.
• 
  

Midday Music, Monday 3/16/09

11 AM

• Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat. Garrick Ohlsson, American Sinfonietta, Palmer. Natural Soundfields 100630.
• Brahms: Clarinet Trio in A minor, Op. 114. Emanuel Ax, Richard Stoltzman, Yo-Yo Ma. Sony 57499.
  

12 N

• Valentine (or Valentini): Sonata Prima. Rubato Appassionato. m-a recording 075.
• Turina: Sinfonia Sevillana. Cincinnati Sym, Lopez-Cobos. Telarc 80574.
• Mozart: "Hunt" Quartet in B-flat, K. 458. Prazak Quartet. Praga 250 242.
  

1 PM

• Mussorgsky: Dawn on the Moscow River (Khovanshchina, Prelude). Russian National Orch, Pletnev. DG 439 892.
• Schubert: Piano Trio No. 2 in E-flat, Op. 100, D. 929. Wu Han, Philip Setzer, David Finckel. ArtistLed 10802.

Midday Music, Thursday 3/12/09

Please join GPB tonight in Columbus, 7:30 at RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, for what promises to be a fabulous concert by the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra on their first U.S. tour together with music director Nikolai Alexeev and magnetic young Van Cliburn silver medalist Joyce Yang. The program includes music of Arvo Pärt, Sergei Rachmaninoff and Jean Sibelius. It's copresented by GPB and I'll be there; hope you will be too. In preparation, Midday Music features the Estonian National Symphony and music of Estonian composers Arvo Pärt and Eduard Tubin.

11 AM

• Tchaikovsky: Capriccio Italien. Royal Phil, Gatti. Harmonia Mundi 907393.
  
• Tubin: Symphony No. 4, "Lyrical." Estonian National Sym, Volmer. Alba 155.
  
• Pärt: Summa. I Fiamminghi, Werthen. Telarc 80387.
  

12 N

• Strauss: Serenade for Winds in E-flat, Op. 7. Minnesota Orch, de Waart. Virgin 91102.
  
• Satie: Gymnopedie No. 3. Jean-Yves Thibaudet. Decca 470 290.
  
• Pärt: Cecilia, Vergine Romana. Estonian Phil Chamber Choir, Estonian National Sym, Kaljuste. ECM 2050.
  
• Copland: Appalachian Spring. Nashville Chamber Orch, Gambill. Naxos 559069.
  

1 PM

• Vivaldi: Concerto in C for three violins, oboe, etc., RV 555. Europa Galante, Biondi. Virgin 45527.
  
• Röntgen: Theme with Variations for piano four hands, Op. 17.
  
• Mozart: Concerto for Flute and Harp in C major, K. 299. Emmanuel Pahud, Marie-Pierre Langlamet, Berlin Phil, Abbado. EMI 57128.
  

Classical Concerts, March 12-15, 2009

Thursday, March 12

• The acclaimed Estonian National Symphony stops through Columbus on its inaugural United States tour. On the program: Sibelius's Symphony No. 2 and Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 with Van Cliburn silver medalist Joyce Yang as soloist. Copresented by RiverCenter and GPB, this concert will be recorded for future broadcast on GPB Radio. I'll be in the RiverCenter audience at 7:30; hope to see you in Columbus!
• The Augusta Symphony's Pops! at the Bell series presents Don McLean in an evening of his best-loved hits, including "American Pie" and "Vincent (Starry, Starry Night)." 7:30, Bell Auditorium, Augusta.

March 12-15

• The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, with Italian guest conductor Nicola Luisotti and pianist Horacio Gutierrez, offer Tchaikovsky's Capriccio Italien, Prokofiev's Third Piano Concerto and Beethoven's Seventh Symphony, Thursday-Saturday, 8 p.m., Symphony Hall, Atlanta, and Sunday 3 p.m., UGA Performing Arts Center, Athens.

March 13-14

• The Macon Symphony performs an all-American tribute to the Lincoln bicentennial. Adrian Gnam conducts music of Copland, Corigliano and Berstein and the southeastern premiere of Blue Shades by composer-in-residence Frank Ticheli. Friday, 7 p.m., Goldstein Center for the Performing Arts, Georgia Military College, Milledgeville, and Saturday, 7:30, Grand Opera House, Macon.
• These are tough times for the arts. The Augusta Opera has had to cancel the rest of its season, including Puccini's Tosca scheduled for this weekend and Rossini's Barber of Seville scheduled for May.
  

Sunday, March 15

• Clayton State faculty pianist Michiko Otaki and the Swiss Wind Quintet perform Mozart, Meier and Thuille at Clayton State's Spivey Hall, Morrow, Sunday afternoon. They repeat the program at Georgia Southwestern State in Americus on Thursday the 19th.

Midday Music, Wednesday 3/11/09

11 AM

• Kabalevsky: The Comedians. San Deigo Chamber Orch, Barra. Koch 7042.
• Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 in A major. Vienna Phil, Kleiber. DG 447 400.

12 N

• Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. Horacio Gutierrez, Baltimore Sym, Zinman. Telarc 80193.
• Liszt: Reminiscences of Don Juan (after "La ci darem la mano" from Mozart's Don Giovanni). Joyce Yang. HMU 907405.
• Elgar: Three Bavarian Dances. New Zealand Sym, Judd. Naxos 8.557577.

1 PM

• Chedeville: Sonata IV from Il Pastor Fido (1737). Rubato Appassionato. m a recordings M075A.
  
• Mozart: Quintet in E-flat for piano and winds, K. 452. Uchida, Black, King, Lloyd, O'Neill. Philips 422 592.
• Roncalli: Guitar Sonata No. 5 from Capricci Armonici (1692). Richard Savino. Dorian 90804.

Midday Music, Tuesday 3/10/09

Apologies for technical difficulties that have GPB intermittently going off the air today. Our engineers are working hard to fix the problems. Thanks for your patience. -SZ

11 AM

• Tchaikovsky: "Grand" Piano Sonata in G major, Op. 37. Vassily Primakov. Bridge 9283.
• Telemann: Sonata in F major for Two Chalumeaux. Collegium Musicum 90, Standage. Chandos 0593.
• Roncalli: Guitar Sonata No. 8 from Capricci Armonici (1692). Richard Savino. Dorian 90804.

12 N

• O'Connor: Concerto No. 6, "Old Brass," for violin and orchestra. Mark O'Connor, Pro Arte Chamber Orch, Smirnoff. OMAC-12.
  
• Ticheli: Blue Shades. Massachusetts Wind Orch, Rowell. Albany 666.
  
• Corigliano: Voyage for flute and string orchestra. Edmund-Davies, I Fiamminghi, Werthen. Telarc 80503.
  

1 PM

• Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 3. Horacio Gutierrez, Royal Concertgebouw ORch, Jarvi. Chandos 8889.
• Bridge: Enter Spring. New Zealand Sym, Judd. Naxos 8.557167.
  

Midday Music, Monday 3/9/09

11 AM

• Schubert: String Quintet in C major. Emerson Quartet, Mstislav Rostropovich. DG 289 459 151.

12 N

• Bernstein: Fancy Free, Ballet. New York Phil, Bernstein. Sony 63085.
• Thuille: Sextet for piano and winds. Michiko Otaki, Warsaw Wind Quintet. Preciosa 66009.
• 16th c. Italy: Gagliarda "La Scarpa." Musica Reservata, Morrow. Boston Skyline 123.
  

1 PM

• Mozart: Horn Concerto No. 1. Eric Ruske, Scottish Chamber Orch, Mackerras. Telarc 80367.
  
• Godowsky: Java Suite: Part 4. Esther Budiardjo. ProPiano 224529.
  
• Falla: Nights in the Gardens of Spain. Angela Cheng, Calgary Phil, Graf. CBC SMCD 5195.
  

Midday Music, Thursday 3/5/09

11 AM

• Brahms: String Quartet No. 1 in C minor, Op. 51/1. Belcea Quartet. EMI 57661.
• Brahms: Intermezzo in B minor, Op. 117/1. Emanuel Ax. Sony 88697-03510.
• Sullivan: Cello Concerto in D (reconstr. Mackerras & Mackie). Julian Lloyd Webber, London Sym, Mackerras. EMI 0777 7 64726.

12 N

• Purcell: The Fairy Queen: Suite. Red Priest. Dorian 90305.
• Puccini: Madama Butterfly: Humming Chorus; Un bel di. Leontyne Price, RCA Italian Opera Orch & Chorus, Leinsdorf. RCA 63496.
  
• Medtner: Sonaten-Triade, Op. 11. Marc-Andre Hamelin. Hyperion 67221/4.
• Jarnefeldt: Praeludium. Minnesota Orch, Oue. Reference 92.
  

1 PM

• Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6. Joyce Yang. Harmonia Mundi 907405.
• Scriabin: The Poem of Ecstasy. New York Phil, Sinopoli. DG 427 324.
• Martinu: Concerto in D major for Two Violins and Orchestra. Bohuslav Matousek, Jennifer Koh, Czech Phil, Hogwood. Hyperion 67671.

Classical Concerts, March 5-9, 2008

Thursday-Saturday, March 5-7

• Robert Spano leads the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and violinist Jennifer Koh in a colorful program of music by Richard Wagner, Jennifer Higdon, Alvin Singleton and Alexander Scriabin. 8 p.m. Symphony Hall, Atlanta.

Saturday, March 7

• From the UK, the award-winning young Belcea Quartet plays Haydn, Britten and Schubert. Spivey Hall, Clayton State, Morrow.
• The Augusta Symphony's Columbia County Music Series presents internationally acclaimed pianist Valentina Lisitsa in recital playing Rachmaninoff, Liszt, Schumann, Thalberg and Beethoven. 7:30 p.m., Hardin Performing Arts Center, Evans.
• Celebration Concert XII, "My Soul as a Witness: Spirituality in the Music of American's Enslaved," takes place in Albany, with tenor Leroy Bynum, the Albany State University Concert Chorale and the Albany Symphony. Claire Fox Hillard conducts. 4 p.m., Mount Zion Baptist Church.

Sunday, March 8

• Concerts with a Cause presents the Manhattan Piano Trio and renowned flutist Eugenia Zukerman at St. John United Methodist Church, Augusta. 3 p.m., free, but donations accepted to benefit Child Enrichment.
• Young Russian piano phenom Yevgeny Sudbin makes his Spivey Hall debut playing Scarlatti, Haydn, Medtner and Chopin. 3 p.m., Morrow.

Thursday, March 12

• Van Cliburn Competition silver medalist Joyce Yang performs Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Estonian National Symphony, now on its U.S. debut tour. Also on the program: the Second Symphony by Jean Sibelius. This concert, co-presented by GPB and RiverCenter, will be recorded for future broadcast. 7:30 p.m., RiverCenter, Columbus.

Midday Music, Wednesday 3/4/09

As an aside: Please join me after hours for a new season of The ASO on GPB. Our Atlanta Symphony broadcasts resume Thursday, March 5 at the new time of 9 p.m. (with repeat broadcasts Sunday at 10 p.m.). The first two programs present music of "the three B's" (Bach, Beethoven and Brahms) with music director Robert Spano conducting. These concerts took place last fall to open the orchestra's 2008-2009 season. Tune in to GPB Radio or gpb.org.

And now today's Midday Music playlist:

11 AM

• Bantock: Heroic Ballads: Kishmul's Galley. Royal Phil, Handley. Hyperion 66630.
• Bantock: Pagan Symphony. Royal Phil, Handley. Hyperion 66630.
• Bach: Keyboard Concerto No. 4 in A major, BWV 1055. Angela Hewitt, Australian Chamber Orch, Tognetti. Hyperion 67308.

12 N

• Norwegian traditional: In My Reckless, Youthful Days; Wedding March from Gudbrandsdalen; I Know a Stronghold in Heaven. Trio Medieval. ECM 2003.
  
• Higdon: Concerto for Orchestra. Atlanta Sym, Spano. Telarc 80620.
• Geminiani: Concerto Grosso No. 4 in F (based on Corelli's Op. 5/4). Boston Baroque, Pearlman. Telarc 80698.
  

1 PM

• Bernstein: Candide Overture. Los Angeles Phil, Bernstein. DG 289 459 147.
  
• Vine: Piano Sonata No. 1: mvt 2. Joyce Yang. Harmonia Mundi 907405.
• Debussy: String Quartet in G minor. Belcea Quartet.
• Chabrier: Larghetto for horn and orchestra. Hermann Baumann, Gewandhaus Orch Leipzig, Masur. Philips 416 380.
  

Midday Music, Tuesday 3/3/09

11 AM

• Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 19 in F major, K. 459. Malcolm Bilson, English Baroque Soloists, Gardiner. Archiv 415 111.
• Mendelssohn: String Quartet No. 3 in D major, Op. 44/1. Guarneri String Quartet. Arabesque 6714.

12 N

• Grieg: Peer Gynt: Morning Mood; Anitra's Dance; In the Hall of the Mountain King. Philharmonia Orch, Davis. Sony 47281.
  
• Schumann: Fantasy in C mfor violin and piano, Op. 131. Jennifer Koh, Reiko Uchida. Cedille 073.
  
• Coleman: Trinity, fantasy for solo violin. Jennifer Koh. Cedille 073.
• Liebermann: Concerto for Flute and Orchestra: 1st mvt. Eugenia Zukerman, Dallas Sym, Litton. Delos 3256.
• Vivaldi: Chamber Sonata Op. 1/8. L'Arte dell'arco, Hogwood. DHM 77350.
  

1 PM

• Brahms: String Quintet No. 2 in G major, Op. 111. Belcea Quartet, Kakuska. EMI 57661.
• Henselt: Variations de Concert sur "Quand je quittai la Normandie" from Meyerbeer's Robert le Diable. Marc-Andre Hamelin, BBC Scottish Sym, Brabbins. Hyperion 66717.
  

Midday Music, Monday 3/2/09

11 AM

• Huang Zi: Plum Blossoms in the Snow. Xuefei Yang. EMI 06322.
• Rimsky-Korsakov: The Snow Maiden, Suite. Scottish National Orch, N. Jarvi. Chandos 10369(2)X.
• Alfven: Symphony No. 3 in E major. Stockholm Phil, N. Jarvi. BIS 455.

12 N

• Farrenc: Melody in A-flat. Brigitte Engerer. Naive 5033.
• Dvorak: Cello Concerto in B minor. Gautier Capucon, Frankfurt Sym, P. Jarvi. Virgin 519035.
• Loieillet: Sonata in B minor. Sibelius Academy Baroque Ensemble. Ondine 736.

1 PM

• Khatchaturian: Masquerade, Suite. Scottish National Orch, N. Jarvi. Chandos 2023.
• Liszt: Die Taubenpost. Valentina Lisitsa. ACA Digital 20102
• Schubert: Fantasy in C major, D. 939. Jennifer Koh, Reiko Uchida. Cedille 073.