By Janelle Gelfand

People to watch

Lang Lang: The 20-year-old pianist has taken the classical music world by storm. Oct. 29, Miami University Performing Arts Series.

Don't miss it

CSO opener: Paavo J”rvi, one of the hottest talents on the conducting scene, opens the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra season Sept. 12-13 with a Shostakovich thriller.

The concert includes stellar Norwegian cellist Truls Mork playing Prokofiev and a world premiere by Doug Lowry, dean of UC's College-Conservatory of Music. Go early for free desserts and stay late to meet Paavo in Music Hall's lobby.

Best freebie

UC events: Almost any concert at UC's College-Conservatory of Music. Check out rising star conductor Xian Zhang when she leads the CCM Concert Orchestra in Dvorak's Symphony No. 8 on Oct. 16. In her off-weeks, she's at the New York Philharmonic. (Some events require tickets. 556-4183 or visit www.ccm.uc.edu).

Cutting edge

Percussion group: After 25 years, it's still Percussion Group Cincinnati. The masters of rhythm tackle music by American maverick John Cage with soprano Audrey Luna, Oct. 17 at CCM.

Most offbeat

Bluegrass spin: Bela Fleck and Edgar Meyer: Wizards of banjo and bass team up for a bluegrass spin on the classics. The Grammy-winning players are virtuoso, fascinating and unpredictable. Sept. 24, Miami University Performing Arts Series.

Celebrations

Holiday show: The Cincinnati Pops celebrates the holidays with Broadway great Lee Roy Reams and a cast of hundreds, Dec. 11-14, in Music Hall.

Rising stars

Recorded, live: Public Radio International's hit radio show, "From the Top," showcasing prodigiously talented kids, is recorded before a live audience, Nov. 11 in Music Hall. Pianist Christopher O'Riley hosts the show, which will star heaps of Tristate talent. It will air in January on 250 stations, nationwide. 621-2787.

Go for Baroque

French opera: On Sept. 14, an exquisite French opera takes a bow in an architectural gem, Covington's Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption. Annalisa Pappano's Catacoustic Consort mounts a rare performance of Marc Antoine Charpentier's The Descent of Orpheus.

Cincinnati classic

Skinner organ: Hear the awe-inspiring sounds of the historic E.M. Skinner organ in Cincinnati Museum Center's Art Deco rotunda. The Vocal Arts Ensemble, organist Ernest Hoffman and others join forces, Oct. 13 (Music at the Museum).

Hot ticket

Vocal ensemble: Chanticleer, Oct. 7 at Northern Kentucky University. The superb 12-man vocal ensemble comes fresh from winning two Grammys last year.

Best deal

Open door series: The CSO's diverse Open Door Series includes fiddler Mark O'Connor (October); violinist Midori playing Tchaikovsky (February); Mariachi Cobre at the Pops (March) and piano legend Andre Watts (April-May). Four concerts: $75-$90. 381-3300 or cincinnatisymphony.org.

E-mail jgelfand@enquirer.com