UT OPERA THEATRE: OPERA SCENES This division of UT's College of Fine Arts focuses on the singular vocal and performance demands of opera, developing new artists for the field through recitals and impressive, full-scale productions. For the conclusion of the fall semester, director Robert DeSimone tests his students' abilities through a program of scenes, and this time they're all drawn from the work of one of the form's true geniuses, the incomparable W.A. Mozart. An Evening of Mozart draws from some of the composer's masterworks, including Cosi Fan Tutti, Don Giovanni, and The Marriage of Figaro. It's a challenge for the students but a delight for the audience. Opera is seldom more fun than this. TWO PERFORMANCES ONLY! Dec 3-4, Thu- Fri, 8pm, at B. Iden Payne Theatre, UT campus. 471-1444.
UT SCHOOL OF MUSIC This division of UT's College of Fine Arts offers an exceptional schedule of performances throughout the year, with music to suit every taste, from early music to jazz to experimental sound collages, in recitals and concerts by students, faculty members, and guest artists. Most of its presentations get little attention, but that's no reflection of the quality of the work; there are outstanding sounds to be caught here, some of which you won't find anywhere else in town. This week:
Recorded listings of upcoming events: 471-5401.
CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY ADVENT CONCERT Annual holiday tradition featuring Benjamin Britten's A Ceremony of Carols, performed by the Concordia University Choir, as well as performances by the Wind Ensemble, Handbell Choir, Early Music Consort, organists, and a classical guitarist. Associate director of music Robert Achterberg directs the program. TWO PERFORMANCES ONLY! Fri-Sat, Dec 4-5, 7:30pm, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 3105 Red River. Free. 486-1192.
THE AUSTIN SYMPHONY The city's premier purveyors of orchestral music stride into the holiday season beaming -- and deservedly so -- after their shining performance in last month's debut concert for new music director Peter Bay. But they have their work cut out for them this month, with a challenging program focusing on classical music's Killer Bs: Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms. These are the giants, and despite their familiarity, their work is demanding; if you can get them right, you're at the top of your form. The scheduled pieces are Beethoven's Symphony No. 1, Bach-Respighi's Prelude and Fugue, and Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 1. The guest artist for this last work is a giant in the field himself. Pianist Leon Fleisher is a performer of great stature, a pianist whose performances of the piano masterpieces of Western music have been called definitive. He visits Austin to play the piece with which he made a spectacular debut 54 years ago, a move made all the more remarkable by the fact that he has only recently returned to playing with his right hand after decades of being crippled by carpal tunnel syndrome. This is a once-in-a-lifetime occasion -- and a sure sign that Bay's tenure with the ASO will be an exciting one. TWO PERFORMANCES ONLY! Dec 4-5, Fri-Sat, 8pm, in Bass Concert Hall, UT campus. $14-30. 476-6064.
LA FOLLIA Austin's top promoters of Baroque music, using instruments and performance styles of the period, get in the spirit of the season with Fa-la La Follia, a program of cantatas, carols, and instrumental works celebrating Christmas in Baroque style. Joining the ensemble -- Stephanie Prewitt, mezzo soprano; Dell Hollingsworth, recorder; Marcus McGuff, baroque flute; Keith Womer, harpsichord; William Davis, harpsichord; and Gwen Ashba, violoncello -- are guitarist Jonathan Kulp, a doctoral candidate in musicology at UT Austin, and tenor Daniel Johnson, director of UT's Early Music Ensemble and artistic director of the Texas Early Music Project. ONE PERFORMANCE ONLY! Sat, Dec 5, 8pm, at First English Lutheran Church, 30th & Whitis. $10. 454-TIXS.
FESTIVAL OF GERMAN CHRISTMAS MUSIC Holiday concert featuring carols and other traditional Yuletide music from Germany performed by the Austin SaengerrundeDamenchor, Mannerchor, and Kinderchor. The concert concludes with a sing-along of German carols. ONE PERFORMANCE ONLY! Sun, Dec 6, 2pm, at Saengerrunde Hall, 1607 San Jacinto. Free. 346-5436.
AUSTIN CHAMBER MUSIC CENTER The chamber center presents the second of its Outreach Concerts of the season, a program of chamber music for the holidays. The quartet performing will be Felicity Coltman, piano; Bruce Williams, violin; Margaret Coltman-Smith, cello; and Betty Phillips, soprano. ONE PERFORMANCE ONLY! Sun, Dec 6, 2:30pm, at the Carver Library, 1161 Angelina. Admission is free. 454-7562.
AUSTIN CIVIC ORCHESTRA A mainstay of the city's classical music scene for two decades, the ACO contributes orchestral fare at little or no cost. In the spirit of the season of giving, the community group offers a benefit concert, with proceeds dedicated to the Salvation Army. The program will include Telemann's Concerto for Three Trumpets, choral work by special guests the Austin Children's Choir, and a sing-along of Yuletide carols. Music Director Dan Long is conductor. ONE PERFORMANCE ONLY! Sun, Dec 6, 3pm, at Westlake High School Fine Arts Center, 4100 Westbank. Admission by donation of two non-perishable food items or cash. 926-8596.
TUESDAYS AT ALL SAINTS' Free lunchtime concert performances by local musicians and vocalists, sponsored by this UT-area church. Refreshments follow the half-hour program; brown bags welcome. Tue, Dec 8: Madrigals, performed by the St. Stephen's School Madrigal Singers; Warren Dickson, director. Tuesdays, 12:05pm, at All Saints' Episcopal Church, 209 W. 27th. 476-3589.
AUSTIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA & AUSTIN CIVIC CHORUS: HANDEL'S MESSIAH The city's premier ochestra and one of its most stalwart community choirs join forces to present the mighty choral work that is for many people the alpha and omega of classical music at Christmastime. While Handel's Messiah sometimes unfairly muscles equally fine music out of the spotlight, there's no denying the genuine power and majesty of the piece. Heard with full orchestra and the right singers, and it can sound like heaven thundering in all its glory. The soloists for this joint concert are Mary Ellen Callahan, soprano; Lori Bade, mezzo-soprano; David Vanderwal, tenor; and Brett Barnes, bass. Civic Chorus Music Director David Stevens conducts the ASO and directs the chorus. ONE PERFORMANCE ONLY! Tue, Dec 8, 8pm, at Riverbend Church, 4214 Capital of Texas Hwy N. $10-25. 476-6064.
ST. DAVID'S ADVENT ORGAN SERIES: MADOLYN DOUGLAS FALLIS Free lunchtime concert series featuring guest organists paying tribute to the coming of Christ in music for this grand instrument. A hot lunch is served after the half-hour program ($4); free parking available. Wed, Dec 9: Madolyn Douglas Fallis, organist for University United Methodist Church in San Antonio, performs works by J.S. Bach (Prelude and Fugue in B Minor) and Marcel Dupré (Prelude and Fugue in G Minor), and the hymn "Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus" in settings by Paul Manz and David A. Schack. Wednesdays, 12:05pm, at St. David's Episcopal Church, Seventh & San Jacinto. 472-1196.
THE NOONDAY CONCERT SERIES Free weekly concert performances by a diverse range of local musicians, classical and otherwise. Lunch follows the half-hour program ($3). Thu, Dec 3: "Sing We All Noël," featuring the Westlake High School Show Choir; Morris Stevens, director. Thursdays, noon, at Central Presbyterian Church, Eighth & Brazos. 472-2445.