THURSDAY 10/5

SEATTLE SYMPHONY--Hot on the heels of their all-Beethoven week, the Seattle Symphony play up to the Finnish community with two pieces by Sibelius: The Tempest, Op. 109, Suite No. 1, and the fine, if not first-rate, Violin Concerto in D, Op. 47 (Vadim Repin soloing); plus Richard Strauss' Also sprach Zarathustra--the whole thing, not just the opening bars like in 2001. Benaroya Hall, Taper Auditorium, 215-4747, www.seattlesymphony.org, 7:30 pm, $10-$69. Also Fri-Sat Oct 6-7, 8 pm.

SATURDAY 10/7

SEATTLE BAROQUE--Bach's Brandenburg Concertos have been favorites since being penned in 1721. No surprise, considering the unusual variety of keys and instrumentation, the delightful writing for soloists, and their packed, seething vitality. This concert gives you half of the six: the splendid No. 2 in F (its tenderly sad middle movement perfectly set off against the jaunty, trumpet-driven first and third); the limpid, flowing No. 4 in G; and the groundbreaking No. 5 in D, the first and still one of the finest of harpsichord concerti. Also a Sonata for Three Violins in B flat by Telemann, and Handel's Concerto Grosso in D, Op. 6, No. 10. Handel's Op. 6--now there's not a bad set of concertos in its own right. Benaroya Hall, Nordstrom Recital Hall, 323-3118, 8 pm, $25, $15 students/$20 seniors.

SUNDAY 10/8

NORTHWEST CHAMBER ORCHESTRA--The annual concerts in Volunteer Park open with Beethoven's Piano Trio in D, Op. 70, No. 1--I think the vigorous, atmospheric middle movement, source of the "Ghost" nickname, is a bit much for a lazy afternoon, but the unprepossessing flanking movements are right on the money--and the Cello Sonata in A. No call on that one, I haven't heard it. Seattle Asian Art Museum, Volunteer Park, 343-0445, 2:30 pm, $12.50.

RADIO SHOWS
by Kris Adams

SATURDAY 10/7

THISTLE AND SHAMROCK--Host Fiona Ritchie profiles the musical stylings of Scotland, Ireland, and beyond with different guests and subjects each week. This week features singer Connie Dover, harper Kim Robertson, and musicians from Chicago's Irish community, with an exploration of the Scottish American ballad tradition. 91.3 KBCS FM, noon.

E TOWN--Every week, Nick and Helen Forster meld music and environmental concerns with a different guest and the latest news. This week, Susan Tedeschi and Willie Porter will be on hand to entertain and inform. Please recycle. 91.3 KBCS FM, 4 pm.

LIVE ROOM--The ubiquitous Carrie Akre of Hammerbox and Goodness in a solo performance. 90.3 KCMU FM, 8 pm.

SUNDAY 10/8

A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION--After weeks and weeks of rebroadcasts, Garrison Keillor's 30+-year-old program returns for the grand season-opener. From St. Paul's Fitzgerald Theater, a street dance in front of the theater will feature music from Jack Knife & the Sharps and Norden, a band from Scandinavia ready for some down-home Middle-American fun. 94.9 KUOW FM, 11 am.

TUESDAY 10/10

BEYOND 2000--Rod Serling would be proud. This weekly sci-fi series has not one but two stories for the Buck Rogers in you. "Watchbird" by Robert Sheckley is about a government effort to stop homicides with a flying robot that can smell murderers. "Dear Penpal" tells the story of an outer-space desperado who begins correspondence with an innocent, unsuspecting earthling, and stars Charles Durning. 94.9 KUOW FM, 10 pm.

WEDNESDAY 10/11

THE SPLENDID TABLE--Join Sebastian Beckwith as he hunts for teas in the wilds of the Far East, Jane and Michael Stern as they visit the Swan Oyster Depot in San Francisco, and a review by Dorrie Greenspan on the wonders of stock pots. 94.9 KUOW FM, 7 pm.

REGIONAL MUSIC

PATTY LARKIN, LAURA LOVE: Thurs Oct 5, Aladdin Theater, Portland

BABY GRAMPS: Fri Oct 6, Laurelhurst, Portland

16 HORSEPOWER, CHRIS WHITLEY: Fri Oct 6, Berbati's Pan, Portland

FACE TO FACE, SAVES THE DAY: Fri Oct 6, Pine Street Theater, Portland

COMOTION: Fri Oct 6, Crystal Ballroom, Portland

ZONY MASH: Fri Oct 6, Roseland Theater, Portland

DAR WILLIAMS, TOSHI REAGAN: Sat Oct 7, Aladdin Theater, Portland

MERL SAUNDERS: Sat Oct 7, Crystal Ballroom, Portland

FEAR, UK SUBS: Sat Oct 7, Cobalt Lounge, Portland

AL GREEN: Sun Oct 8, Earl Chiles Center, Portland

TONY BENNETT: Tues Oct 10, Theater of the Cloud, Portland

MOE: Tues Oct 10, Richard's on Richards, Vancouver, BC

CHARLES LLOYD: Wed Oct 11, Aladdin Theater, Portland