The Choral Arts Society bet its season opener on a single popular young choral composer— Eric Whitacre, who’s not yet 40. Call it another example of the Society’s intelligent adventurousness under conductor Matthew Glandorf.

Choral Arts Society: Whitacre, i thank You God for most this amazing day, Five Hebrew Love Songs, This Marriage, Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine, When David Heard, Water Night, Cloudburst. Joshua Stafford, piano; Patricia Franchescy and Gabriel Globus-Honic, percussion; Matthew Glandorf, conductor. October 26, 2008 at Philadelphia Cathedral, 3723 Chestnut St. (215) 240-6417 or www.choralarts.com.

Doctor Atomic, the new opera at the Met, is as accurate a documentary about the invention of the atomic bomb as Oliver Stone’s film JFK is about the Kennedy assassination. Which is to say, it is not, as I can attest from conversations with the scientists themselves.

Doctor Atomic. Opera by John Adams; libretto by Peter Sellars. Alan Gilbert, conductor. Metropolitan Opera production through November 13, 2008 at Lincoln Center, New York. Live version shown November 8, 2008 at AMC Plymouth Meeting Mall, UA King of Prussia Stadium 16, Ritz Center (Voorhees, N.J.) and AMC Neshaminy 24 (Bensalem). www.metropolitanopera.org.

Some people use the Internet to make virtual friendships. Little did I know that the Net would lead to my European solo piano debut— in Croatia, of all places.

The end of Susan Babini’s cello recital represented some of the most honestly self-revealing playing I’ve ever heard.

Susan Babini: Solo Cello Debut Concert. Presented by Astral Artists, October 19, 2008 at Trinity Center for Urban life, 2212 Spruce St. (215) 735-6699 or www.astralartists.org.

Levi Stubbs of the Four Tops had a voice that was smooth and pleading and as full of gravel as a quarry all at the same time. For a white suburban Jewish kid in the ’60s, that meant the world.

Charles Dutoit, beginning his tenure as the Philadelphia Orchestra’s chief conductor, says he wants to survey Berlioz’s orchestral and vocal music during the next few years. Roméo et Juliette proved a good place to start.

Roméo et Juliette. By Hector Berlioz. Philadelphia Orchestra, Charles Dutoit, conductor. October 16-21, 2008 at Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center. (215) 893-1900 or www.philorch.org/performance/5478/2008/10/21.

Charles Dutoit may have emphasized Berlioz in his pre-season remarks, but the Philadelphia Orchestra’s first three concerts indicated he’s prepared a more balanced menu. The big winners in all three events were the concertos.

Philadelphia Orchestra: Haydn Sinfonia concertante in B-flat major. Juliette Kang, violin; Daniel Matsukawa, bassoon; Hai-Ye Ni, cello; Richard Woodhams, oboe; Rossen Milanov, conductor.
Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 1 in D-flat major; Shostakovich Piano Concerto No. 1 in C-minor. Martha Argerich, piano; David Bilger trumpet; Charles Dutoit, conductor.
Penderecki Concerto Grosso No. 1 for three cellos and orchestra. Han-Na Chang, Daniel Miller-Schott, Arto Noras, cello; Charles Dutoit, conductor.
September 30, October 2 and 11, 2008 at Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center. (215) 893-1900 or www.philorch.org.

Beethoven’s Fidelio, like his Ninth Symphony, is a triumphal ode to freedom and love. This production does the piece proud.

Fidelio. By Ludwig van Beethoven; directed by Robert Driver. Opera Company of Philadelphia production through October 24, 2008 at Academy of Music, Broad and Locust Sts. (215) 732-8400 or www.operaphilly.com.

For its production of Beethoven’s Fidelio, the Opera Company of Philadelphia spent $2 million on towering sets and costumes by the sculptor Jun Kaneko. The result is a succession of visually disconcerting images that overwhelmed a great opera and some excellent voices.

Fidelio. By Ludwig van Beethoven; directed by Robert Driver. Opera Company of Philadelphia production through October 24, 2008 at Academy of Music, Broad and Locust Sts. (215) 732-8400 or www.operaphilly.com.

Astral Artists protégé cellist Susan Babini will give her Philadelphia solo debut on Sunday Oct 19th at the Trinity Center for Urban Life. If Pablo Casals or Jacqueline DuPré had selected this program, the concert would have sold out months in advance.

Susan Babini: Solo Cello Debut Concert. Presented by Astral Artists October 19, 2008 at Trinity Center for Urban life, 2212 Spruce St. (215) 735-6699 or www.astralartists.org.