Classical Calendar

by Peter Burwasser

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Published: Sep 10, 2008

Natalie Zhu (CLICK IMAGE FOR LARGER VERSION)

Starting the season with Beethoven seems routine enough, yet Solzhenitsyn and the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia give us these war horses in refreshing and insightful ways. This concert features Symphonies Two and Seven.

Sept. 26 and 28, Kimmel Center, 300 S. Broad St., 215-545-1739, chamberorchestra.org.

Astral opens up doing what they do best: presenting terrific up-and-coming musicians in a program that mixes the classics with interesting material deserving a wider audience. This all-20th-century concert concludes with a great masterpiece, a string-sextet version of Schoenberg's Verklärte Nacht.

Sept. 28, Trinity Center for Urban Life, 2212 Spruce St., 215-735-6999, astralartists.org.

And so the Dutoit era begins: The Swiss-born maestro plays to his strengths, with familiar music of Ravel and Mussorgsky, and with his redoubtable tag-team partner, the divine Martha Argerich, as soloist in Prokofiev and Shostakovich piano concertos.

Oct. 2, 3 and 7, Kimmel Center, 215-893-1999, philorch.org.

Lorin Maazel, outgoing music director of the New York Philharmonic, is something of a dinosaur, content with conducting the big, juicy works from the standard repertoire in a big, brassy way. But give him this: Nobody does it better. He struts his stuff in an all-Tchaikovsky program.

Oct. 3, Kimmel Center, 215-893-1999, kimmelcenter.org.

Natalie Zhu was not yet born when 1807 and Friends began giving concerts 28 years ago, but her smart, elegant piano playing is a good match for the venerable ensemble. Zhu will join them for the mighty Schumann Piano Quintet. Also music by Haydn, and the beautiful but rarely heard Verdi String Quartet.

Oct. 6, Academy of Vocal Arts, 1920 Spruce St., 215-438-4027, frnd1807@verizon.net.

Penderecki and Lutoslawski are the best-known symphonists of 20th-century Poland, but, with the exception of Penderecki's Threnody, as heard in 2001: A Space Odyssey, their solid, accessible music is not played here much, at least not lately. Here's a redress and, remarkably, the single most daring concert of the fall Orchestra lineup.

Oct. 14, Kimmel Center, 215-893-1999, kimmelcenter.org.

One of the great musical ensembles of our time, the Guarneri String Quartet, hangs up its bows this year. The fabulous foursome has strong Philly ties (they have all taught at Curtis). The valedictory program includes monster works by Bartók, Dvorak and Mozart, with guest violist Teng Li in the magnificent Mozart C major Quintet.

Oct. 28, Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Ben Franklin Parkway, 215-569-8080, pcmsconcerts.org.

Orchestra 2001 stretches the Elliott Carter centennial with two recent works (both from his 10th decade). Too bad it took a milestone to put so much music by this American master before the public, but we'll take it. Also music by compatriots Piston and Copland.

Nov. 15, Independence Seaport Museum, Columbus Boulevard and Walnut Street, 215-893-1999, orchestra2001.org.

All of Network for New Music's concerts this season will be in collaboration with some other art form. This one features music of Gene Coleman, Kyle Bartlett and Maurice Wright, and is in conjunction with a new exhibition of work from Sherif Habashi.

Nov. 21, 23, NEXUS, 1400 N. American St., 215-848-7647, networkfornewmusic.org.

Lidia Kaminska is not the only accordionist who plays classical and new music, but it is a small club. In practice, the old windbag turns out to be a remarkably flexible and expressive instrument. Kaminska will play music by Bach, Gubaidulina, Piazzolla, Scarlatti and others, with the help of several musical guests.

Dec. 7, Trinity Center for Urban Life, 215-735-6999, astralartists.org.

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