"Ainadamar'': Since its Tanglewood premiere in 2003, Osvaldo Golijov's flamenco-infused opera has been musically revised and theatrically reimagined. It's now finally arriving in the composer's hometown. Opera Boston mounts a production that was first conceived for the Santa Fe Opera, with Dawn Upshaw, Jessica Rivera, and Kelley O'Connor in the lead roles and Peter Sellars directing. The opera is a beautifully voiced meditation on the life and loves of writer Federico Garcia Lorca, and his murder during the Spanish Civil War. Gil Rose conducts. Oct. 19, 21, and 23, Cutler Majestic Theatre. 617-451-9944 or operaboston.org
Boston Symphony Orchestra: The orchestra opens its season Oct. 4 with an all-Ravel program under James Levine, with pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet and the radiant mezzo-soprano Susan Graham. Other promising programs include Mahler's Ninth Symphony (Nov. 8, 9, 10, 13) and Smetana's "Ma Vlast" (Nov. 23, 24, 27). New-music fans will take note of Michael Gandolfi's "Garden of Cosmic Speculation" (Oct. 11, 12, 13, 16); a mostly Osvaldo Golijov program with Yo-Yo Ma (Dec. 6, 7, 8); and the premiere of Elliott Carter's Horn Concerto (Nov. 15, 17, 20). 617-266-1200 or bso.org
St. Lawrence String Quartet: With its core sense of expressive urgency and the charismatic violinist Geoff Nuttall on first fiddle, this exciting group comes to town in November with soprano Heidi Grant Murphy, pianist Kevin Murphy, and an intriguing program that includes the local premiere of Roberto Sierra's "Songs From the Diaspora" as well as works by Chausson and Schubert. Batting cleanup, no matter where it's placed, will be Beethoven's late Quartet Op. 130. Presented by
Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra: How did a Venezuelan youth orchestra end up in Boston's Symphony Hall? The answer is El Sistema, an extraordinary national music education program that has drawn journalists to Caracas to witness its startling results with Venezuelan urban youth. This particular orchestra's leader, Gustavo Dudamel, is the most buzz-generating conductor around. It's tough to weigh hype against substance because so few people have heard him conduct, but the orchestra's current national tour will give many listeners a chance. They'll play music by Bartok and Bernstein among others. Presented by New England Conservatory. Nov. 7. Tickets at 617-585-1260 or www.newenglandconservatory.edu.
Cantata Singers: If the contemporary zeitgeist had a composer in residence, it just might be Kurt Weill. He has been recently spotted with Lotte Lenya on Broadway, and his "Mahagonny" opera seems to be popping up everywhere. But how well do we know Weill's output? Cantata Singers is devoting much of its season to exploring lesser-known Weill works, beginning with a benefit performance Sept. 23 of his "Lindbergh Flight" Cantata at the Collings Foundation Aviation Museum in Stow, followed on Nov. 9 by the first local performance of Weill's "Legend of the Dead Soldier" in Jordan Hall. 617-868-5885 or cantatasingers.org
JEREMY EICHLER
