Here are my personal picks of 10 don't-miss concerts (in chronological order).

• Friday and Saturday: The symphony orchestra performs the local premiere of Kullervo, a symphonic poem in the sublime musical language of Finland's most famous composer, Jean Sibelius. Kullervo is the tragic hero of Finland's national epic, the Kalavala (which means "land of heroes"). The powerful sound of the Grammy-winning Estonian National Male Choir should be worth the ticket alone. Paavo Jarvi conducts, 8 p.m.

• Sept. 24-25. Emanuel Ax - he's one of the most distinguished pianists performing today, and he's playing Mozart's engaging Piano Concerto No. 27 in B-flat Major, K. 595. Brahms' Piano Quartet in G Minor - arranged for orchestra - has an electric Hungarian dance for its third movement. 11 a.m. Friday and 8 p.m. Saturday.

• Oct. 15-16. Mahler fans won't want to miss what Jarvi does with Mahler's vast Symphony No. 5, with its famous "Adagietto" movement used in the film Death in Venice. Georgian-born violinist Lisa Batiashvili was nominated by BBC Music magazine as most outstanding debut of the year in Britain. She'll make her debut here in Bartok's Concerto No. 1.

• Oct. 21-23. French pianist Helene Grimaud is soloist in Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4. Jarvi leads a preview of the music that the orchestra will play on the Symphony's European tour, including Dvorak's tuneful Symphony No. 7 and the edgy Arditus by Erkki-Sven Tuur. 7:30 p.m. Thursday; 11 a.m. Friday; 8 p.m. Saturday.

• Dec. 3-5. This is a Nutcracker of a different kind - without the ballet dancers. Revel in Tchaikovsky's glorious music in an all-orchestral Nutcracker. James Conlon, the popular May Festival maestro, is on the podium. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday.

• Jan. 20-22. Superb young German pianist Lars Vogt visits with Grieg's sunny Piano Concerto, and Jarvi conducts Sibelius' Symphony No. 5. There's also a U.S. premiere. 7:30 p.m. Thursday; 11 a.m. Friday; 8 p.m. Saturday.

• Feb. 3-5. Keith Lockhart, the Boston Pops conductor who got his start in Cincinnati, returns with Gustav Holst's spectacular The Planets. American violinist Bobby McDuffie brings his rare Guarneri del Gesu violin - one of only 100 - to play Leonard Bernstein's Serenade. 7:30 p.m. Thursday; 11 a.m. Friday; 8 p.m. Saturday.

• April 1-2. Meet Awadagin Pratt - the new member of the piano faculty of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music known for his unorthodox manner. What will he do with Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 23? Rising star maestro Roberto Minczuk conducts Schubert's Unfinished Symphony and Liszt's Les Preludes. 11 a.m. Friday; 8 p.m. Saturday.

• April 22-23. Former prodigy Sarah Chang is soloist in Dvorak's lyrical Violin Concerto in A Minor, and Jarvi conducts Haydn and Lutoslawski. 8 p.m.

• May 6-7. The season finish could be a blockbuster, with the phenomenal pianist Alexander Toradze and symphony principal trumpeter Philip Collins playing Shostakovich's Concerto for Piano, Trumpet and Strings. Jarvi conducts Tchaikovsky's popular Symphony No. 4 and a fanfare by rising star composer Jennifer Higdon. 8 p.m.

All concerts are in Music Hall. Tickets: 381-3300 or www.cincinnatisymphony.org.

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E-mail jgelfand@enquirer.com