What: Cincinnati May Festival, James Conlon, music director. The May Festival Chorus, Robert Porco, director. The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra is the official orchestra of the May Festival.

        Friday: Haydn's The Creation. James Conlon, conductor; Pamela Coburn, soprano; John Aler, tenor; Kristinn Sigmundsson, bass; 8 p.m. in Music Hall.

        Preconcert recital 7 p.m.: John Cheek, bass; Thomas Muraco, pianist.

        Saturday: J.S. Bach, Mass in B Minor. Robert Porco, conductor; Pamela Coburn, soprano; Theodora Hanslowe, mezzo-soprano; Paula Rasmussen, mezzo-soprano; Stanford Olsen, tenor; John Cheek, bass; 8 p.m., Music Hall.

        Preconcert recital: 7 p.m., Paula Rasmussen, mezzo-soprano; Thomas Muraco, pianist.

        Sunday: Victor Ullmann, The Emperor of Atlantis, in honor of the 125th anniversary of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. James Conlon, conductor; Ed Stern, artistic adviser; Jennifer Ringo, soprano; Paula Rasmussen, mezzo-soprano; John Aler, tenor; Stanford Olsen, tenor; William McGraw, baritone; John Cheek, bass; Kristinn Sigmundsson, bass; May Festival Youth Chorus, James Bagwell, director; May Festival Chamber Choir, Robert Porco, director; members of the CSO; 7:30 p.m., Isaac M. Wise (Plum Street) Temple, downtown.

        May 25: Mahler, Symphony No. 3 in D Minor. James Conlon, conductor; Florence Quivar, mezzo-soprano; Women of the May Festival Chorus, Robert Porco, director; Children's Choir of Greater Cincinnati, Robyn Lana, director; 8 p.m., Music Hall.

        Preconcert recital: 7 p.m., William McGraw, baritone; Thomas Muraco, pianist.

        May 26: Mussorgsky, excerpts from Khovanshchina; Prokofiev, Alexander Nevsky; Zemlinsky, Psalms 23 and 83; Tchaikovsky, 1812 Overture (with chorus). James Conlon, conductor; Florence Quivar, mezzo-soprano; John Cheek, bass; May Festival Chorus and Youth Chorus; Children's Choir of Greater Cincinnati; 8 p.m., Music Hall.

        Preconcert recital: 7 p.m., Jennifer Ringo, soprano; Thomas Muraco, pianist.

        Tickets: $11-$56. For subscriptions ($21-$159; $200 box) call 381-3300; fax 744-3599.

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