Pianist Jonathan Biss brings bliss to Mendelssohn String Quartet

The Cincinnati Chamber Music Society opens its 74th season on Sept. 30 with a concert by the MENDELSSOHN STRING QUARTET and pianist JONATHON BISS. The quartet, which is based at the North Carolina School of the Arts, tours extensively -- they stopped in Cincinnati for a memorable program in 1997. Biss is developing a national reputation; he has performed with several major symphonies, including Cincinnati's. The Tuesday evening program at CCM's Corbett Auditorium features Beethoven's Quartet in E flat and Brahms' Piano Quintet in F minor. The Chamber Music Society presents five programs for its 2003-04 season: The Oct. 28 concert features some Classical music superstars: violinist Cho-Liang Lin and pianist André-Michel Schub (Oct. 28). Tickets: 513-381-1464 ...

Tickets are on sale for a national radio program to be recorded here in Cincinnati: FROM THE TOP features young musicians from across the country.

It airs every Saturday at 9 a.m. on WGUC (FM 90.9). But on Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. you won't need a radio: You can watch as the program is taped at Music Hall. The program's marketing director, David Balsom, remarks, "Cincinnati has a wealth of young talent, truly amazing kids." Performers will include pianist CAMERON LOGAN (age 17), guitarist JEREMY COLLINS (age 17), the STARLING CHAMBER ORCHESTRA (featuring four violin soloists who range in age from 11 to 14) and the WELL-TEMPERED PAN STEEL DRUM BAND from Clark Montessori. Tickets: 513-621-2787

Mini Reviews
THE CINCINNATI SYMPHONY rattled Music Hall's rafters to launch its 108th year of music-making. CCM Dean Douglas Lowry's Exordium Nobile, a brassy, heart-thumping fanfare, had its world premiere. Then towering cellist TRULS MØRK coaxed, plucked and whacked his almost 300-year-old cello in Prokofiev's Sinfonia Concertanta, followed by a brief encore solo of a lovely Spanish carol, exquisite in its simplicity and emotion. After intermission, Music Director PAAVO JÄRVI kept every musician busy with Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5 -- a noisy, angsty piece showcasing percussion and brass. What a great kick-off for Järvi's third season! (RICK PENDER)
Grade: A