By Rick Pender

You know you can find great information about local music every week in CityBeat, thanks to Mike Breen. But there are other bands we haven't covered so regularly: The Classical scene. There's plenty of it, so watch for FINE TUNING every two weeks, giving you the scoop on concerts and recitals. ... Perhaps the biggest band in town is the CINCINNATI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. With new music director PAAVO JÄRVI on board, they're offering some pretty hip and entertaining programs, often with additional twists to entice you to Music Hall. For instance, this weekend, they're playing a couple of pieces by Igor Stravinsky (the guy who composed The Rite of Spring, the part of Disney's Fantasia with the dinosaurs): The Firebird, a flashy piece of orchestra work if there ever was one, and The Card Party, based on the composer's fascination with poker. The latter piece inspired the CSO to have a card party of its own after Saturday's concert, sponsored by Encore!, the CSO's new group of young adult volunteers. Jazz pianist ED MOSS will be performing, and there will be food, drinks, cards and casino games -- and Maestro Järvi and some of the musicians will be there for the fun. (If you can't make it Saturday, check out Thursday's 7:30 p.m. concert with a complimentary buffet dinner beginning at 6:15 p.m.) Tickets: 513-381-3300. ... By the way, if you like what you hear at the concert, in a few months you can have your own CD of the Stravinsky works: They're being recorded in special sessions at Music Hall next week by the award-winning Telarc label for release sometime next year. CSO recordings (they have 34 in all, 27 with Telarc) have sold 9 million units, an impressive number by any standard. ... If you're downtown on Wednesday, stop by the CLASSICAL MUSIC HALL OF FAME, 4 W. Fourth St., at 12:15 p.m. You'll hear a free piano recital by LEI WENG of works by Ravel and Schumann. Check out the displays at this interesting facility, too. Not well-known, it's got national respect. Info: 513-621-3263.

E-mail Rick Pender

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