True Blues

Classical music is going to be the main focus at London 2012 after it was revealed recently. Music Nation will take place on 3 and 4 March next year, with related performances during the preceding week.

It is part of Festival 2012 and will include Rufus Wainwright's setting of five Shakespearean sonnets.

The Canadian American singer-songwriter and composer's work will be performed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

The idea is to stage performances in 45 venues across the UK - among them, the first joint performance of the Ulster and RTE Orchestras in Belfast.

The Colorado Summer Arts is all set to provide the greatest relief for classical music fans. Because many of these compositions rank among Gil Shaham's favorite concertos of the 20th century, the esteemed violinist decided in 2009-10 to begin focusing on the works of this tumultuous decade.

The project continues in full force this summer, when he performs Walton's Violin Concerto (1938-39) on July 27 with conductor Ludovic Morlot and the New York Philharmonic as part of the orchestra's residency at the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival (877-812-5700 or vailmusicfestival.org).

Perlman brought classical music to the the residents of NJ in what turned out to be a highly entertaining encounter, "It's very nice, but you can't think about it," Perlman says, laughing during a phone call from his New York City apartment. "What I think about, mainly, is making sure that whatever I do onstage is up to my standards and is the best that I can do. If you start to think about that kind of thing, you basically lose the reason as to why you're doing it. I'm here to make the best music that I can make and to give it to the audience.

Symphony are set to host a classical music concert for kids. “The music will be geared toward youngsters,” says Punam Bhargava, co-president of the Symphony with Carmela Cecere. “They will learn, through brief explanations by our conductor, about instruments, the sounds they make, and the notes being played.”

“Celebration of Nature and Animals” is the theme of this performance. Throughout the concert, listeners can expect to hear songs such as “The Thieving Magpie” by Gioachino Rossini, “Waltz of the Flowers” by Tchiakovsky, and “The Birds” by Ottorino Respighi.

Digi Musik is giving away two free classical music CDs as a promotional exercise. The collection includes a range of pieces that exemplify Suchet’s accessible approach to the classical genre. Featured composers include: Beethoven, Mozart, Puccini, Bach and Debussy.

Volume One, free with the Daily Telegraph, features exclusive recordings of favourites including Handel’s rousing Hallelujah chorus, Puccini’s Humming Chorus and Beethoven’s dramatic Egmont Overture.

Jazz pianist Monty Alexander has entered into the Blues region. "I started playing [there] so long ago ?-- in the '70s. I was fresh and new and I [began] making friends in the area," he said. "Time went by, and over the years I've come back quite a lot of times. Playing that slot between Christmas and New Year's Eve is exactly what was going on then. So here I am again!"

Classical music taking risks to lure new faces according to Tangent. From tiny musical startups like Denver's coffee shop-hopping Telling Stories ensemble to

the venerable Cleveland Orchestra, presenters are experimenting with a new round of tricks meant to invigorate the field and lure new, younger audiences.

The question is: What works?

The good news for classical music is that it has a great product to sell. Bach, Beethoven and Brahms, who each produced hundreds of time-tested works that

Jazz & blues is coming in for December as it has saved the best for last. Frank Sinatra liked to call himself a "saloon singer" — a modest bit of self-description that, by the man who is generally regarded as the greatest interpreter of popular song in history. The occasion of the 95th anniversary of the birth of the Hoboken-born patriarch of pop has a flock of singers from New Jersey and New York poised to pay tribute to Sinatra at Red Bank's Count Basie Theatre on Dec. 10.

VALE Blues Jazz and Roots present Doug MacLeod at the Sea View Labour Club on Sunday, November 14.

Doug MacLeod is a singer-songwriter in the American tradition. He is a travelling artist who writes and sings original songs that are based on his own life and experiences.

He learned from the old masters, lived the music, survived the life and carries forward a valuable tradition. MacLeod is known for his superb songwriting, guitar wizardry, warm soulful vocals, wit and unforgettable live performances.

Hundreds of fans will gather around Columbia Park’s main stage area at the seventh annual Highland Jazz and Blues Festival on Saturday afternoon to get a dose of alternative country music flavor that only The Gourds can provide.

But for Gourds’ member Kevin Russell, their fans’ anticipation can’t compare to the excitement he feels about returning to a place he calls home.