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.
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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.