Audra McDonald, Lang Lang, and more

Other boldface names in the series are violinists Sarah Chang (Oct. 16), Itzhak Perlman (Nov. 20), and Joshua Bell (April 15, 2012, with Academy of St. Martin in the Fields), all at Symphony Hall; pianists Angela Hewitt (Dec. 2) and Emanuel Ax (May 11, 2012), both at New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall; and country singer Kathy Mattea, performing Jan. 21, 2012, at Sanders Theatre in Cambridge.

Among the artists new to the series are countertenor Andreas Scholl, singing with the baroque orchestra, The English Concert, Oct. 23 at Jordan Hall; jazz trumpeter Terence Blanchard and Latin jazz bandleader Poncho Sanchez, Nov. 6 at the Berklee Performance Center; and Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, Nov. 18 at Sanders Theatre.

Also new are French pianist Lise de la Salle, Jan. 28, 2012, at Jordan Hall; the Inbal Pinto & Avshalom Pollak Dance Company, an Israeli troupe making its Boston debut with “Oyster’’ Feb. 3-4, 2012, at the Paramount Theatre; the Australian contemporary circus company Circa, Feb. 29-March 4, 2012, at the Paramount Theatre; and jazz vocalist Jane Monheit, May 4, 2012, at Sanders Theatre.

Lang Lang will give a recital Oct. 30 at Symphony Hall, where Keillor will perform Nov. 13 and Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra will play March 18, 2012. Sedaris will read there May 6, 2012.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will perform April 26-29, 2012, at the Citi Wang Theatre. The dance series will also include Ballet Hispanico (March 9-11, 2012), and Mark Morris Dance Group (May 17-20, 2012), both at the Cutler Majestic Theatre.