Classical Calendar


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Published: Jan 13, 2010

Brentano Quartet

The quality of playing by young string quartets can be astonishing these days, including the Brentano Quartet, who open the spring season of the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society with a program that includes the intriguing music of Stephen Hartke. Jan. 15, Independence Seaport Museum, 211 S. Columbus Blvd., 215-569-8080, pcmsconcerts.com.

Philadelphia Singers/ Relâche/ Orchestra 2001

The new music event of the spring is the result of a remarkable collaborative venture. These three groups have snared local premieres (and one world premiere) of music by superstars Philip Glass, Steve Reich and Gavin Bryars. March 6, Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 3680 Walnut St., 215-751-9494, philadelphiasingers.org.

Academy of Vocal Arts

The AVA turns 75 this year, and the quality of its graduating singers has never been better. This Brava Philadelphia! gala will include recent hi-octane grads such as Ruth Ann Swenson, Latonia Moore, Angela Meade, Stephen Costello and many more. March 31, Kimmel Center, 300 S. Broad St., 215-735-1685, avaopera.org.

Philadelphia Orchestra

Vladimir Jurowski remains one of the most intriguing candidates for orchestra boss, and for this concert delivers surprisingly straight standard repertoire to judge him by, including Brahms, Schumann and Beethoven. March 18-20, Kimmel Center, 215-893-1999, philorch.org.

Philadelphia Classical Symphony

Gershwin on the accordion? Sounds like a natural (Rhapsody in Blue!), and beautiful young squeezebox virtuoso Lidia Kaminska is just the person to bring it off. April 11, Church of the Holy Trinity, 1904 Walnut St., 215-228-2224, classicalsymphony.org.

Curtis Symphony Orchestra

This orchestra consistently maintains a world-beating sound, and their major concerts at Verizon Hall are the big-band bargains in town. This concert includes music of Barber, Musorgsky, Strauss and a rare treat, Atmosphères from Ligeti. April 24, Kimmel Center, 215-893-7902, curtis.edu.

Network for New Music

Beethoven at first hated the ungainly waltz that Anton Diabelli asked a number of prominent composers of the day to write variations on, then went on to write his own monumental set of 33. Network for New Music is only asking for 25 composers to write new variations to celebrate 25 great years, but may add another eight when they hit their own 33rd anniversary. May 2, Settlement Music School, 416 Queen St., 215-848-7647, networkfornewmusic. org.