The best of the season

Classical

The Lord of the Rings Howard Shore’s epic score presented in a six-movement symphony performed by John Mauceri and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. Hollywood Bowl, Tuesday.

Pacific Symphony Season-opening concert features violinist Hilary Hahn in a program that includes music by Gabrieli, Kraft, Paganini and Respighi. Carl St.Clair conducts. Orange County Performing Arts Center, Segerstrom Hall, Wednesday-Thursday.

Kiri Te Kanawa Acclaimed soprano in recital. Orange County Performing Arts Center, Segerstrom Hall, next Sunday.

OCTOBER

Los Angeles Philharmonic Season-opening gala concert features pianists Emanuel Ax, Yefim Bronfman, Gloria Cheng, Helene Grimaud, Joanne Pearce Martin and Shai Wosner performing Liszt’s “Hexameron” as well as works by Strauss, Mozart and Barber. With organist Todd Wilson. Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts. Walt Disney Concert Hall, Oct. 1.

San Diego Symphony For the season-opening gala concert, James Galway joins conductor Jahja Ling for flute concertos by Domenico Cimarosa and Saverio Mercadante. Copley Symphony Hall, Oct. 2.

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Norwegian virtuoso Henning Kraggerud performs Beethoven’s Violin Concerto. Conductor Jeffrey Kahane also leads the orchestra in Ravel’s complete “Mother Goose.” Alex Theatre, Glendale, Oct. 2. Also, Royce Hall, UCLA, Oct. 3.

Los Angeles Philharmonic The Phil inaugurates Disney Hall’s grand organ with organist Todd Wilson in a program that includes two Bach works, Lou Harrison’s Organ Concerto and Saint-Saens’ Symphony No. 3, “Organ.” Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts. Walt Disney Concert Hall, Oct. 2-3.

Los Angeles Master Chorale The Music Center’s resident choral company kicks off its second season at Disney Hall with a program that includes Dvorak’s Mass in D, Morten Lauridsen’s “Lux Aeterna” and the West Coast premiere of James McMillan’s “Magnificat/Nunc Dimittis.” Grant Gershon conducts. Walt Disney Concert Hall, Oct. 3.

Los Angeles Philharmonic Organist Wayne Marshall performs James MacMillan’s “A Scotch Bestiary,” commissioned by the L.A. Philharmonic and the BBC Philharmonic. Also on the program: Strauss’ “Also sprach Zarathustra.” Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts. Walt Disney Concert Hall, Oct. 7, 9.

San Diego Symphony Pianist Emanuel Ax performs Chopin’s Concerto No. 2. Also on the program: Corigliano’s “The Mannheim Rocket” and Mahler’s Symphony No. 1. Jahja Ling conducts. Copley Symphony Hall, Oct. 8.

Jane Eaglen To start the Pasadena Symphony’s concert season, the acclaimed soprano sings an all-Strauss program, featuring the “Four Last Songs” and the final scene from “Salome.” Pasadena Civic Auditorium, Oct. 9.

Camerata Pacifica Premiere of Jake Heggie’s new song cycle, “Winter Roses,” to be sung by Frederica von Stade. The songs were inspired by a collection of Von Stade’s personal letters written to her during World War II by her father -- a man she would never know. Marjorie Luke Theatre, Santa Barbara, Oct. 9. Also, Scherr Forum Theatre, Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, Oct. 10, and the Huntington Library, San Marino, Oct. 19.

Rossetti String Quartet The quartet includes violinist Timothy Fain, violinist Henry Gronnier, violist Thomas Diener and cellist Eric Gaenslen. Part of Pepperdine’s 2004-05 Stotsenberg Recital Series. Raitt Recital Hall, Pepperdine University, Oct. 10.

Europa Galante Violinist Fabio Biondi leads the Baroque ensemble in music by Corelli, Telemann, Geminiani, Bach and Vivaldi. Walt Disney Concert Hall, Oct. 10.

Southwest Chamber Music Season-opening concert continues the group’s complete survey of the works of Carlos Chavez. Featured guest artists include mezzo-soprano Suzanna Guzman and the Tambuco Percussion Ensemble from Mexico City. Zipper Concert Hall, Colburn School of Performing Arts, Oct. 12. Also, Norton Simon Museum Theater, Pasadena, Oct. 16.

Daniel Barenboim Solo piano recital featuring Bach’s preludes and fugues from “The Well-Tempered Clavier” and Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor (“Appassionata”). Walt Disney Concert Hall, Oct. 18.

Carmen Milena Kitic and Catherine Malfitano share the title role of Bizet’s opera. Tenors Richard Leech and Marco Malagnini alternate in the role of her lover Don Jose. Bass Erwin Schrott returns as the bullfighter Escamillo. L.A. Opera general director Placido Domingo and Nicola Luisotti will share the podium. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Oct. 22- Nov. 7.

Los Angeles Philharmonic Guest conductor James Conlon leads the Phil in Ullmann’s Symphony No. 2 and Mahler’s Symphony No. 1. Walt Disney Concert Hall, Oct. 23-24.

Los Angeles Master Chorale Program features the premiere of Steve Reich’s “You Are (Variations)” as well as Stravinsky’s “Symphony of Psalms.” Grant Gershon conducts. Walt Disney Concert Hall, Oct. 24.

Ivo Pogorelich Pianist in recital performing Beethoven, Sibelius and Rachmaninoff. Presented by the Philharmonic Society of Orange County. Irvine Barclay Theatre, Oct. 27.

Andre Watts The renowned pianist performs Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Pacific Symphony in a program that also features the premiere of a new work by Paul Chihara. Carl St.Clair conducts. Orange County Performing Arts Center, Segerstrom Hall, Oct. 27-28.

NOVEMBER

Green Umbrella Alexander Mickelthwate leads the L.A. Philharmonic’s New Music Group in a program that features a world premiere by Mason Bates, “Omnivorous Furniture: for sinfonietta and electronica,” commissioned by the group. Walt Disney Concert Hall, Nov. 1.

Laurie Anderson Anderson’s as-yet-untitled new work features a blend of stories, songs and new music for violin and electronics. A UCLA Live presentation. Royce Hall, UCLA, Nov. 5-6.

Los Angeles Philharmonic Leila Josefowicz performs Adams’ Violin Concerto. Also on the program: Sibelius’ “Karelia” Overture and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 12 (“The Year 1917”). Mikko Franck conducts. Walt Disney Concert Hall, Nov. 5-7.

Lang Lang Acclaimed pianist in recital. Walt Disney Concert Hall, Nov. 7.

Warsaw Philharmonic Olga Kern performs Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1. Also on the program: Penderecki’s “Polymorphia.” Antoni Witt conducts. Presented by the Philharmonic Society of Orange County. Irvine Barclay Theatre, Nov. 8-9.

The English Concert with Andrew Manze Violinist Manze leads the ensemble in a chamber program featuring music by Andreas Anton Schmelzer, Pietro Antonio Locatelli, Vivaldi and Mozart, including “Eine kleine Nachtmusik.” Orange County Performing Arts Center, Founders Hall, Nov. 9.

Turandot Puccini’s grand opera of China opens Opera Pacific’s season. Conducted by John Demain. Orange County Performing Arts Center, Segerstrom Hall, Nov. 9-14.

Philip Glass & Bang on a Can All-Stars Program includes new arrangements of Glass’ 1960s pieces “Music in 5ths” and “Music in Similar Motion,” plus works by David Lang, Michael Gordon and Louis Andriessen. A UCLA Live presentation. Royce Hall, UCLA, Nov. 10.

Pasadena Symphony Pianist Howard Shelley performs Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3. Also on the program: Dvorak’s “Scherzo capriccio” and Stravinsky’s “Firebird.” Jorge Mester conducts. Pasadena Civic Auditorium, Nov. 13.

Southwest Chamber Music Program features the premiere of a Sept. 11 memorial work by Richard Derby, Sofia Gubaidulina’s “Gallows Songs” and Shostakovich’s Quintet for Piano and Strings. Norton Simon Museum Theater, Pasadena, Nov. 13. Also, Zipper Concert Hall, Colburn School of Performing Arts, Nov. 16.

Moscow Virtuosi Chamber program features music by Bach, Shostakovich, Schoenberg and Mozart. Vladimir Spivakov conducts. Presented by UCLA Live. Royce Hall, UCLA, Nov. 14.

Pacific Symphony Program features Berlioz’s “Symphonie Fantastique” and Jean-Philippe Collard performing Ravel’s “Left Hand Concerto.” Carl St.Clair conducts. Orange County Performing Arts Center, Segerstrom Hall, Nov. 17-18, 20.

La Boheme Soprano Ana Maria Martinez and tenor Marco Berti open the run as Mimi and Rodolfo, sharing the lovers’ roles with Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna (Dec. 10, 14, 17). Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Nov. 20-Dec. 19.

Long Beach Symphony Orchestra Program features music by Respighi, Gabrieli and Ginastera, plus John Adams’ jazz-influenced piano concerto “Century Rolls.” Gloria Cheng, piano. Enrique Arturo Diemecke conducts. Terrace Theater, Nov. 20.

Vanessa Kiri Te Kanawa makes her L.A. Opera stage debut in the title role of American composer Samuel Barber’s opera. Simone Young conducts. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Nov. 27-Dec. 18.

DECEMBER

Los Angeles Philharmonic Director Peter Sellars’ “Tristan Project,” Wagner’s opera performed over three nights, features soprano Christine Brewer as Isolde and tenor Clifton Forbis as Tristan. Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts. Walt Disney Concert Hall, Dec. 3-5, 10-12.

Calder Quartet Program includes music by Haydn, Christopher Rouse and Beethoven. A UCLA Live presentation. Schoenberg Hall, UCLA, Dec. 4.

Tallis Scholars Music of the Renaissance sung in one of L.A.’s great landmark examples of Gothic architecture as part of the Da Camera Society’s Music in Historic Sites series. Immanuel Presbyterian Church, Dec. 5.

Los Angeles Master Chorale A Baroque Christmas program features motets by Giovanni Gabrieli, Cantata 4 of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, music by Pachelbel and Praetorius, plus the “Hallelujah” chorus from Handel’s “Messiah.” Grant Gershon conducts. Walt Disney Concert Hall, Dec. 5.

Yo-Yo Ma, Emanuel Ax Renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma and pianist Emanuel Ax perform. A UCLA Live presentation. Royce Hall, UCLA, Dec. 6.

Long Beach Symphony Orchestra Holiday celebration. Mark Mandarano conducts. Terrace Theater, Dec. 11-12.

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Guest conductor Joseph Swensen leads the orchestra for performances of James MacMillan’s “I (A Meditation on Iona)” and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1. Music director Jeffrey Kahane also takes to the keyboard for Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2. Alex Theatre, Dec. 11. Also, Royce Hall, UCLA, Dec. 12.

Pasadena Symphony Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8 and Symphony No. 9, the “Ode to Joy.” Jorge Mester conducts. Pasadena Civic Auditorium, Dec. 11.

Los Angeles Master Chorale 24th annual “Messiah Sing-Along.” Grant Gershon conducts. Walt Disney Concert Hall, Dec. 13.