Destined for greatness

London's Daily Telegraph hailed Romanian violinist Eugene Sarbu as 'destined for greatness'. Sarbu, who plays a 1729 Stradivarius, joins Georgia-born conductor Vakhtang Jordania and the American Symphony Orchestra to play the Brahms Violin Concerto on 13 September in Carnegie Hall, New York at 8pm. The orchestra will also play the Wagner Tannhauser overture and the Shostakovich Leningrad symphony. Tickets: +1 212 247 7800.

Vanishing Point

Jeff Talman invites you to his Vanishing Point 1.1 - a soundspace installation in St Paul's Chapel, Columbia University, NYC, USA which has been selected as the inaugural event of the new concert series, Music at St Paul's. The installation 'unfolds the depths of 1.1 seconds of silence (room tone) recorded in the Byzantine-inspired chapel. Inherent resonant sounds of the space are projected back into the space as the 91-foot high dome is transformed into a giant parabolic reflecting sound shower. The chapel becomes a colossal resonating instrument where sound is tuned to space and space is tuned to sound. 3-D virtual sonic objects and spatial progessions and melodic figures interact with the architecture as the installation confronts aspects of time, perception and being'. Vanishing Point 1.1 opens 22 September 5-8pm (running until 27 September), and Jeff will speak briefly at the opening, at 6.30pm. Info: users.infohouse.com/vpoint.

BBC Concert Orchestra

The BBC Concert Orchestra is unusually focussed in advance publicity for its 1999/2000 season, shared between the Royal Festival Hall and Fairfield Halls, Croydon. John Williams conducts a new work for guitar and orchestra supported by recent film scores (RFH 6 Oct, FHC, 7 Oct), Cristina Ortiz plays the Rachmaninov Paganini Variations etc (RFH 2 Nov), and concerts with other celebrities go through to July. Info: concert.orch@bbc.co.uk.

Kathryn Thomas and Neil Crossland

Flautist Kathryn Thomas and pianist Neil Crossland will play Prokofiev's Sonata No 2 and a Sonata by Otar Taktakishvilli at a free lunchtime recital at Guys Hospital Chapel, London on 11 October, 1:10-1:50 pm, as part of the Southwark Festival.

A second chance to hear the Taktakishvilli will be at Sheffield's University Drama Studio, Glossop Road, on 4 November, 1:10pm, at another free lunchtime recital by the same performers, during which you can also hear Poulenc's Sonata, a work for solo piano by Ruth Byrchmore, Neil Crossland's Reminiscences and Debussy's Syrinx for solo flute. Thomas and Crossland will also be performing at Bradford's Alhambra Theatre on 9 February 2000.

Oxford Contemporary Music

Commencing 15 October, Oxford Contemporary Music has a stimulating programme of events opening with Thomas Ades opera Powder her face. Following is a wide range of performers, composers and music - Terry Riley, Poul Ruders, James Wood, and from jazz, Fred Hersch, Myra Melford, Gerard McChrystal, Tommy Smith, and others. Info: oxfordfestival@ofcm.ndirect.co.uk.

and previously published news ...

Starker gala concert webcast

Mstislav Rostropovich will lead a gala concert to honour the 75th birthday of Janos Starker on 14 September, 6-8pm CDT. Rostropovich will conduct the Indiana University Philharmonic Orchestra, and Starker, William Preucil, Jr, Gary Hoffman, Maria Kliegel, and Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi will also perform. The concert, which will include Bruch's Kol Nidrei, Popper's Hungarian Rhapsody, Dvorak's Rondo, and Brahms' Double Concerto, will be professionally webcast live in video and audio (Real G2 format) at broadcast.iu.edu/janos_starker/ and will also be archived at this address for one week following the concert. Info: www.music.indiana.edu/publicity/press/starker.html.

International Penderecki Competition

The International Krzysztof Penderecki Competition of Contemporary Chamber Music will be held in Kraków, Poland, 14-17 September. Info: sks@friko3.onet.pl or +48 12 412 7540.

What Next?

The Berlin premiere of Elliot Carter's one act comic opera What Next? is at the Deutsche Staatsoper Unter den Linden, 16 September 1999. With text by Paul Griffiths (after Jacques Tati's film Traffic), What Next? is conducted by Daniel Barenboim and directed by Nicolas Brieger, with decor by Gisbert Jaekel. There are further performances on 18, 22 and 25 September, and on 25 and 31 March 2000.

Rootham Première

The Broadheath Singers' annual concert will feature the world première of Cyril Rootham's The Lady of Shalott, Edgar Bainton's The Blessed Damosel, La belle dame sans merci by Armstrong Gibbs and the Elegy In memoriam William Morris by Gustav Holst. 18 September, 8pm at Eton College School Hall, Eton, Berkshire, UK. Info from conductor Robert Tucker on +44 (0)171 638 0672.

Master Singers

The following Britten-Pears School Masterclasses at Aldeburgh, UK this autumn are open to the public: Elisabeth Söderström (Sibelius and Richard Strauss) 18-26 September (concert on 27 September); Nelly Miricioiu (Italian opera) 30 September-8 October (concert on 9 October); Thomas Allen (Mozart and Britten) 13-20 October (concert on 21 October); Anthony Rolfe Johnson and Ian Partridge (Bach) 23 October - 1 November (concert on 2 November). Email: enquiries@aldeburghfestivals.org.

Sum Vermis in Amsterdam

Works for two pianists (Frieda Scheuermann and Tjako van Schie), two percussionists (Peter Bansberg and Maarten Ronger) and a singer (Julia Bronkhorst) will be performed in the Pianosalon Cristofori, Prinsengracht 583, Amsterdam on 19 September, 2pm. The centrepiece to a concert including music by Albeniz, Enescu, Federico Longas, Milhaud, Poulenc, Rodrigo and Jean Wiéner will be Montsalvatge's monumental Sum Vermis. Info: +31 20 626 8485.

Exploring Mozart

The months ahead for the London Mozart Players include the Mozart Series of four concerts - the first on 21 September - at St John's, Smith Square with an unusual format. Each concert will contain a symphony and a concerto with a rare chamber work, such as the Adagio and Rondo K617 for flute, oboe, viola, cello and glass harmonica. There is a short talk about some aspect of the evening's music at each concert. Email info@lmp.org.

Even jazz

'Jazz on the level' will be a series at St David's Hall in Cardiff, Wales on Tuesdays at 8.30: Peter King Quartet, 21 Sept; Rickey Woodard Quartet, 12 Oct; Just East of Jazz, 30 Nov; John Etheridge's Sweet Chorus, 25 Jan; Tony Coe Trio, 15 Feb; Marlene Verplank and her Musicians, 7 March. Box Office: +44 (0)1222 878444.

Berliner Mahler-Fest

The complete works of Mahler will be performed at the Berliner Mahler-Fest, throughout September. Info: www.berlinerfestspiele.de .

RFH Classics International

Looking forward to London's Royal Festival Hall's Classic International Series starting in September, a procession of great orchestras of Europe and one American will dazzle the musical scene on the South Bank. Leading off with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam on 22 September under Riccardo Chailly, there follows in date order the La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra, Milan directed by Riccardo Muti (4 October), Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra under Claudio Abbado (11 October), Pierre Boulez directing the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (22 October), the Orchestra and Chorus of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Rome conducted by Myung Whun Chung (21 and 22 November), the Vienna Philharmonic again with Seiji Ozawa (15 March), and the Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Wolfgang Sawallisch (19 May).

La Guitarra California

Tickets are now on sale for La Guitarra California (24-26 September 1999 on the campus of Cuesta College, scenic Highway 1, north west of San Luis Obispo, California) from +1 805 546 3131. Info: La Guitarra California website.

Visiting Symphony Hall

Birmingham's Symphony Hall's autumn season includes the following visiting orchestras: the Bournemouth Symphony (25 Sept), the Russian State Philharmonic (30 Sept), Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (6 Oct), Leipzig Gewandhaus (14 Oct), Slovenian Philharmonic (16 Oct), and Czech Philharmonic (17 Oct). Info: +44 (0)121 212 3333.

Moonbird

Gerard Schurmann's song-cycles, Chuench'i (translations of Chinese poems by Arthur Waley), and Six Songs of William Blake, together with Nine Slovak Folk Songs are due to be performed in Manchester on September 25, to be followed by recordings for commercial CD on September 27 and 28 by Alison Wells (soprano) and Martyn Hill (tenor), with Keith Swallow (piano). In addition, Moonbird for solo recorder will be given its first performance at the concert on September 25 by John Turner. Info: www.gerard-schurmann.com

ISCM in Bucharest

The ISCM Romanian section will host a World Music Day on 26 September at the Auditorium Hall. Pro Contemporania, conductor Iurie Florea, will perform Illusion of time by Walter Schraeyen (Belgium), Intimacy by Vladimir Scolnic (Israel), Aksak by Theo Loevendie (Netherlands), A la recherche by Jean-Luc Darbellay (Switzerland), L'arrivee a Cythere by Thomas Beimel (Germany) and Terra incognita by Gabriel Valverde (Argentina).

Music to move you

'Music to move you' is an eight-concert season announced for the St David's Hall as the National Concert Hall of Wales from September through to May 2000. Apart from top ranking British orchestras and conductors there will be visits by the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra and the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra.

Judith Lang Zaimont

Forthcoming U.S. performances of the music of Judith Lang Zaimont include the world première of her Piano Sonata on November 14, 1999 at Washington D.C.'s Phillips Gallery by Bradford Gowen.

Internationally, the Duo Pianistico Firenze's southern European tour will feature Zaimont's Snazzy Sonata - An Entertainment for Two for piano, 4 hands; a presentation of her new Parallel Play for saxophone quartet will be given at the International Festival 'Donne in Musica' in Italy in September. Info: http://www.joblink.org/jzaimont 

New dance

The Baldwin Dance Company will present 'Julius Tomb' - one of three works choreographed by Baldwin - as part of a UK national tour this autumn: Corn Exchange, Newbury (1 Oct); University College, Swansea (7 Oct); The Gantry, Southampton, (9 Oct); Queen Elizabeth Hall, South Bank (23 Oct); Wimbledon Theatre (27 Oct); Brunton Theatre, Edinburgh.(6 Nov).

Welsh National Opera tour

In Cardiff during October Welsh National Opera will perform Poulenc's The Carmelites (2, 7, 20), Mozart's Don Giovanni (12, 16, 22), and Verdi's Rigoletto (21, 23). Thereafter they tour these operas to Southampton (26-30 October), Bristol (2-6 November), Belfast (9-13 November), Birmingham (16-20 November), Liverpool (23-27 November), and Oxford (7-11 December). Info www.wno.org.uk. 

Forgotten genius of Renaissance Spain

A native of Flanders, Philippe Rogier (c1561-1596) lived and worked mostly in southern Spain, and his music reflects both styles. Magnificat will perform three concerts of Rogier's music in London this Autumn. All concerts are at St James, Piccadilly, 7.30pm: Missa Ego sum qui sum (5 October), Missa Inclina Domine (30 October) and Missa Domine Dominus Noster (10 December, also featuring The Wallace Collection in Rogier's festive polychoral Christmas music). Info: www.magnificat.org.uk.

Early Music Vancouver

Early Music Vancouver's 1999-2000 season begins on 8 October with Monteverdi Madrigals of War and Love - a programme of music of the early Italian baroque. 8pm at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, 189 West 11th Avenue. A highlight of the season will be the visit of Musica Antiqua Koln to the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts on 8 November, with concertos for one, two, three and four solo violins by Bach, Vivaldi and Telemann. Info: www.earlymusic.bc.ca/ssn-main.htm.

Finnissy at Ultima

Metier has produced three CDs of music by the English composer Michael Finnissy: string quartets, the composer playing Folklore, and Voces Sacrae singing Seven Sacred Motets. The NMC label has also produced a CD with major chamber works, so Finnissy's music is receiving growing attention. The composer appears as pianist at Norway's Ultima Festival in Oslo on 9 October playing part of his The History of Photography in Sound.

Beethoven cycle

The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment will give a Beethoven symphony cycle at the Royal Festival Hall in London commencing October 14 with conductor Sir Roger Norrington. Info: +44 (0)171 960 4242.

A Tale of Three Cities

An international conference is to be held at London University's Senate House, 22-24 October 1999. Entitled, A Tale of Three Cities: Janácek's Brno Between Vienna and Prague, the aim of the conference is to re-assess the self-image of Brno and Moravia between (roughly) 1850 and 1930, using Janácek as a focus. Info from Royal Holloway College.

Uncommon Artistry

The Plymouth Music Series in Minneapolis has announced its 1999-2000 season, called 'Uncommon Artistry'. The Gershwin (George and Ira) musical Of Thee I Sing will be performed on 2 October in Orchestra Hall; Handel's Solomon in Bethel College on 30 October; Witness will be partially African American with a song cycle from John Williams and Dream N. the Hood, a rap symphony by Gregory T.S.Walker to be programmed in Orchestra Hall on 19 Feb; The Kings Singers will present Aha! Cappella at Wooddale Church on 7 April; Czech composer Jan Jiraseks reworking of Bach's St Luke's Passion will be sung on 12 May at the Ted Mann Concert Hall. Info: +1 612 624 2345.

Steel and Gold

'Steel and Gold' is the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra's title for a forthcoming Rachmaninov retrospective. Over October and November, five concerts will contain the three symphonies, Symphonic Dances, and a concert version of his opera The Miserly Knight, as well as works by contemporaries. A series booking will also include a free celebrity concert with Artur Pizarro. Info: bbcso@bbc.co.uk

Biped

A European tour by the Merce Cunningham Dance Company will bring Biped, a new work to a commissioned score by Gavin Bryars to Paris for a season 9-20 November. The work explores a new animation technology of motion capture.

St Ceciliatide International Festival

The 5th St Ceciliatide International Festival of Music takes place at Stationers' Hall in the City of London 20-28 November. American musicologist Joshua Rifkin and the Bach Ensemble play Bach concertos and the Ouverture in D (minus the oboes, trumpets and drums it later acquired) 24 Nov. Fiori Musicale present Vivaldi's Seasons on 20 & 21 November with new music by Geoffrey Burgon reflecting on the Vivaldi work and interweaving with it. Chapelle du Roi sing Guerrero's Vespers for St Ceciliatide on 22 Nov, and the Finnish Yggdrasil Quartet mark the 150th anniversary of Chopin's death on 25 November with pianist Fumiko Shiraga playing new chamber arrangements of Chopin's two piano concertos. The Lindsay Quartet plays Beethoven on the 26th and Fiori Musicale reappear on 27 and 28 November with James Bowman presenting two choral works by Zelenka and Bach Cantata 54 (Widerstehe doch der Sunde). Info: www.st-ceciliatide.com.

Galliard Ensemble

The Galliard Ensemble Wind Quintet will play in London's Purcell Room as part of 'Fresh Young Artists Platform' on 7 December, 7.30pm. The ensemble will give the world première of a work written for them - Paul Patterson's Westerley Winds, the European première of Philip Bimstein's Casino for quintet and tape, and music by Berio, Briccialid, Pärt and Tinoco. Info: www.sbc.org.uk. Tickets GBP 10 (GBP 8, concessions) from boxoffice@rfh.org.uk or phone +44 (0)171 960 4242.

About Time in Ely

On Sunday 12 December a BBC Millenium concert will take place in Ely Cathedral presenting The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group conducted by Sir Simon Rattle in a programme including Haydn's Te Deum and Beethoven's Ninth plus the première of Mark-Anthony Turnage's About Time. Info: +44 (0)1353 660349.

Millennium Pilgrimage

From 25 December 1999 to 1 January 2001, The Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists and John Eliot Gardiner will perform all 200 of Bach's surviving church cantatas, each on the precise liturgical date for which it was written, in abbeys, cathedrals and churches throughout Europe. The project will cost more than 5 million UK pounds (approx. 7.5 million US dollars), and will involve Gardiner in 150 air flights. Deutsche Grammophon will record the concerts, and many will be televised.

Danielpour Première

The illustrious Guaneri String Quartet, which has a residency at the University of Maryland, is to première a Concerto for string quartet and orchestra by Richard Danielpour with the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Leonard Slatkin at Washington's Kennedy Center on 13,14,and 15 January 2000 then in New York at Carnegie Hall on 25 January.