Continuing the summer season of the Talcott Mountain Music Festival, presented by Chubb, guest conductor Michael Berkowitz will lead the Hartford Symphony Orchestra in a tribute to Motown and R&B with vocal quartet Spectum on Friday, July 11 at 7:30 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center at Simsbury Meadows.

Classical Spectacular returns exclusively to Melbourne in 2008 with a dazzling all-new laser, lights and special effects show choreographed to some of the world's best-known classical music tunes.

In keeping with the Talcott Mountain Music Festival's annual red-white-and-blue tradition, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra presents Celebrate America! on Friday, July 4 and Saturday, July 5 at 7:30 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center at Simsbury Meadows.

James Ehnes won the 2008 Grammy for best instrumental solo performance with orchestra for his recording of a selection of violin concertos. His excellent wrangling of the works of Barber, Korngold and Walton is praiseworthy, but Ehnes does not coast.

Alfie Boe, Cleo Laine and Charlie Chaplin are just some of the stars headlining the Ulster Orchestra’s new season, unveiled today.

The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra is pleased to announce that Bank of America will sponsor its 2008-2009 Classics series in the Symphony’s 77th season. The Charlotte Symphony is the largest and most active professional performing arts organization in the central Carolinas, employing more than 100 professional musicians, 64 on full-time contracts. The CSO Classics series opens on September 12, 2008.

In a performance showcasing some of the best talent in jazz and bluegrass today, Mark O'Connor's own "Hot Swing" pairs up with jazz vocalist Sophie Milman and the Punch Brothers featuring mandolin master Chris Thile for one night only. The performance will take place Wednesday, July 2, at 7:30 p.m. and will mark the third program of Seattle Symphony SummerFest which runs from June 26 through July 14 and celebrates some of the best artists in classical, jazz, bluegrass and more.

The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra announced an Asian-Pacific tour that will see the orchestra perform in China, South Korea, and the Special Administrative Region of Macau, from October 10th through the 20th, 2008.

The tenth anniversary season of KCRW’s World Festival at the Hollywood Bowl continues on Sunday, June 29, at 7pm, with a compelling and rare double bill featuring Gilberto Gil and Devendra Banhart, who share the stage for the very first time. The Album Leaf featuring Mike Heron from The Incredible String Band opens the show. KCRW DJ Anne Litt hosts.

Seattle Symphony concludes its regular season and launches SummerFest with Mahler's Sixth Symphony conducted by Gerard Schwarz. Renowned soprano Jane Eaglen will join the Orchestra onstage in the role of Isolde for the Prelude and Liebestod from Wagner's Tristan und Isolde. Performances will take place Thursday, June 26, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, June 27, at 8 p.m.; Saturday, June 28, at 8 p.m.; and Sunday, June 29, at 2 p.m.

LOUIS ARMSTRONG'S NEW ORLEANS

Byron Stripling, trumpet and vocals

Thursday, October 2 at 10:45 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Friday, October 3 at 8:30 p.m.; Saturday, October 4 at 8:30 p.m.; Sunday, October 5 at 3 p.m.

A major theme of Valery Gergiev’s London Symphony Orchestra touring throughout the 2008/2009 season is a landmark cycle of the works of Sergei Prokofiev, exploring the Russian composer’s rich orchestral palette.