Talent packs classical calendar

Classical music is one of Cincinnati's biggest assets. This fall, the classical calendar is full, and the choices are many.

Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra's 25th anniversary season will be bittersweet, as Keith Lockhart begins his final year as music director. He'll soon be dividing time between the Utah Symphony and Boston Pops, while the CCO searches for a new leader. (The board has whittled down 250 worldwide applicants to about 15. Stay tuned.) Mr. Lockhart makes his only area appearance Nov. 22-23.

At the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Jesus Lopez-Cobos begins his 13th season as music director. CSO soloists include the pianist Yefim Bronfman (Sept. 18-19) and the outrageous Kennedy, the British violinist who has dropped his first name (Oct. 2-3). Podium-watchers will want to be in town when up-and-coming conductor Michael Stern (son of violinist Isaac) takes the baton (Dec. 11-12).

At the Pops, Erich Kunzel tapes a Valentine's Day show with singer/guitarist John Pizzarelli (Nov. 20-22).

You could see a show nightly at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. The eminent Tokyo String Quartet joins the youthful Amernet Quartet to play octets on Oct. 13. On Oct. 15, the newly appointed director of the Philharmonia Orchestra, Mark Gibson, takes his first bow in Corbett Auditorium.

'm curious to see how music director Neal Gittleman and the Dayton Philharmonic will project Alexander Nevsky, the movie, while playing Alexander Nevsky, the music, in Dayton's Memorial Hall (Nov. 11-12).

Piano legend Earl Wild opens the Xavier Piano and Guitar Series (Sept. 27), and crooner Tony Bennett visits Miami University (Oct. 31).

Finally, chamber music lovers will have something to smile about (we hope) when classical comedian Peter Schickele plays his own quintet with the Lark Quartet (Oct. 6) at the Cincinnati Chamber Music Society's concert at the Cincinnati Art Museum.